It is definitely not an easy thing to do if you are an unsigned band setting up a tour for yourself. Even if you are getting help from friends, or have someone booking some of the shows for you. Here are a few tips to make sure that you won't be showing up to an empty venue where the other bands don't show, and the bartenders have no clue about your band playing...
1. Make sure to figure out what locals you will be playing with. Then email them on Myspace. Make the first contact. Ask them about the area. See if they will be making a poster for the show, or even ask them if they would be able to put posters up around town if your band sent them some.
- this really is important. You want to let the local bands that you are doing your part to promote the show- this will help ensure that they will show up to the show as well. And if you start communicating with the bands now, you might be able to get phone numbers from them to call in case of emergency, or if you get lost, need to cancel....
- Also, if the local bands feel like they know you already through emailing, they might be more willing to hook you up with a place to play.
2. YOU NEED TO MAKE A TOUR POSTER! Even if it is just black and white, 11x17. I recommend putting some sort of "press picture" on the poster- this way people will be able to figure out what your band sounds like based on your band image? Add some imagery that is eye catching. Make sure to put your band WEBSITE on it, the club, date and other bands you are playing with.
3. SEND THE TOUR POSTER TO ALL THE CLUBS! This is a must. All you need to send is like 15 posters to each club. This way, the club will be forced to put them up, and if for some reason your show was never marked down as booked, the bartenders and booking agent will know that you plan on coming. Also, it is really really nice to show up to a club and see your posters up on the walls. It's like a little confidence booster.
4. If you can, make sure to save the tour poster as an online JPEG image as well--post the online poster on the Club's Myspace pages, or see if the clubs will post your poster on their website.
(all this extra promotion and effort is usually recognized by the club- it might even help to ensure that your band will get paid more, or that the club will be nicer to you when you show up!)
5. Have a backup plan for everything!
- Don't assume that you will get hooked up with a place to stay after every show. Figure out if there are cheap hotels nearby, or cheap campsites. KOAs are a nice option. They have clean bathrooms with showers, and some of them even have pools and hot tubs! http://koa.com/
(it's always nice to have the option of a hot shower!).
6. If you have some extra time, see if you can figure out the addresses and proper people to send your music to at the local college radio stations. Mail them your cd, a poster for the show, and a letter asking them if they could help promote your show on air.
Or mail a few posters and a cd to local record stores asking if they can put them up at their store.
7. Make sure that your band has MERCH to sell at out of town shows. Sometimes this will be the only money you might make at a gig.
8. Have an emergency fund. You might not make any money at your shows. Your van might break down. You will need to eat something on the road.
9. Invest in a cooler! It will save you a lot of money if you stock up on bottled water, soda, energy drinks and all that. It is much cheaper than stopping at every gas station and buying a $1.00+ bottle of water.
Good luck.
