On The Road
Your gig takes up 25% of your day, don’t waste the rest of it. Have a set of acoustic versions of your songs rehearsed and ready. For each town where you’ve booked an evening gig, contact local coffee houses and record shops and ask if you can do a daytime performance free of charge (with a tip jar). Also see if there are local radio stations where you can play, do an interview, and spin some tracks. Even if the listenership or turnout is minimal, in-studios and in-stores are excellent video and photo opportunities that make great content for the web!
Dont break down. Make sure to get your van, car, or bus serviced. Make sure the oil is changed, brakes are good, etc. If you’re renting a van, try to find a reliable source and do your best to have it checked out before you hit the road for any extended trips.
Use social media. Your social media exploits will be more effective if they’re targeted. If you’ve played in the area before, reconnect with the folks you met the last go-round. Create a Facebook event for each show and invite attendees based on their location. Check out the venue websites where you’re going to play. Get familiar with their social media profiles. Do they have Facebook and Twitter pages you can follow? Who are their most active fans? Reach out to them. Do you have an email list you can segment by state and city? If not, now is the time to start. Send a personalized email to the groups of people who live within driving distance of your show. Keep a tour diary. This can be as simple as a few sentences and pictures from your adventures you can post on your blog. Who are the other artists you’re playing shows with? Find them online. Begin a dialogue. See if you can interact with some of their online fans, because some of them will be at your show.
Document everything. Whether a one-off show or a multi-city swing, take pictures, video, and audio not just of your concerts, but of the people you meet, the places you go, the landmarks you see, and your band cruising around. Interview audience members and upload to YouTube. Post the videos on your website and on Facebook, and Tweet away.
Sleep. Getting sleep and staying hydrated are essential to enjoying a multi-show tour. You won’t last if you’re partying all the time. You’re out there to perform: everything else comes second to keeping yourself in top physical performing shape, especially if you’re a vocalist. If you’re traveling on a budget and not always staying in hotels, finding a comfortable place to lay your head can be a challenge. Pack inflatable AeroBeds, at least one pair of earplugs, and a sleep mask to help when you’re trying to catch sleep in odd places at odd hours.
Get resourceful with accommodations. Veteran touring bands often stay in houses of people they’ve met at gigs, and these often become a regular stop if the band tours the same route again. A key to success: be a good house guest. Buy your hosts toilet paper or offer to cook breakfast. You’re cultivating relationships that could be very useful for future trips.
Make healthy choices. Eating healthy on the road can provide you with more energy and better moods, which can positively affect your songwriting, performances, and relationships. One quick tip: pass up a fast food restaurant for a stop at a local grocery store for a healthier meal that won’t break the bank. Stock the van with a cooler and with dry foods like fruit, cereal, granola, bread, vegetables, nuts, seeds, raisins, dried fruit, veggie chips, corn chips, peanut butter, yogurt, and hummus. Basically take every positive step to make your tour a great success!