Bands: Buying onto tours

J

JonWormwood

Member
Jun 16, 2007
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Jax, Fl
I know I'll probably get some sort of back lash posting this...

We've done the DIY booking thing, sell 50 tickets to play, traded shows with other bands etc.

But now we are looking into buying onto some larger tours. I don't even know where to start: Contacting booking agencies, bands management, and labels would be my best bet. Anyone have any insight on this?
 
If anyone gives you backlash then they don't know how this business works. I would start by talking to booking agents who actually do metal tours. Make your case for why you're a viable band but also make it clear you are glad to do first slots for low guarantees. It's possible you can get on something reasonably cool if you're willing to do it for next to nothing. IMHO I wouldn't pay a buy on w/o label support to cover the up front cost. Going out on the road is expensive enough w/o starting out in the hole.
Best luck!
 
egan. said:
If anyone gives you backlash then they don't know how this business works. I would start by talking to booking agents who actually do metal tours. Make your case for why you're a viable band but also make it clear you are glad to do first slots for low guarantees. It's possible you can get on something reasonably cool if you're willing to do it for next to nothing. IMHO I wouldn't do pay a buy on w/o label support. Going out on the road is expensive enough w/o starting out in the hole.
Best luck!
Click to expand...

There's a band in Orlando that bought onto a tour with Blind Guardian and they aren't on a label. I know our keyboardist talks to one of those guys...

Revson said:
Sent you a PM.
Click to expand...

Replied.
 
Hey Jon. I realize I butchered that sentence with typos but what I meant is I would avoid doing a buy on tour if you can get away with it. It's not that you won't get it without a label. It's that it means you guys are personally (as opposed to the label) paying several grand up front and then several grand more on gas/van/food etc.
 
egan. said:
Hey Jon. I realize I butchered that sentence with typos but what I meant is I would avoid doing a buy on tour if you can get away with it. It's not that you won't get it without a label. It's that it means you guys are personally (as opposed to the label) paying several grand up front and then several grand more on gas/van/food etc.
Click to expand...

Smart man right here! I was just talking to a person at Century Media on the way home from my last tour. There are probably hundreds of more things that most people do not realize are expenses, plan for, or think could ever happen on tour.

There are many things that you can do for promotion for your music business (whether that is a band or not) to make money while touring or not, and things apart from buying onto a tour that will help you potentially more.

There are so many things people are blind to in regards to having an income as a musician it is crazy! Nothing towards towards you Jon :) Just was saying as a general statement.....you have always been a killer dude to me so don't take that the wrong way bro :)

Yes, without a doubt, touring is expensive, but if the marketing, business plan, etc AS A MUSICIAN OR BAND are established with contractual guarantees you can make any sized tour happen really within 5 years. I have seen this with mostly colleagues, but also students who have been a part of bigger tours that I have!
 
I've bought onto tours before without a label ... as Egan said, its a pretty normal aspect of the business

its always "money" in one way or another but for instance the one tour we bought onto we did so by agreeing to pay for advertising the tour in several big magazines

am I dating myself here? :p
 
egan. said:
Hey Jon. I realize I butchered that sentence with typos but what I meant is I would avoid doing a buy on tour if you can get away with it. It's not that you won't get it without a label. It's that it means you guys are personally (as opposed to the label) paying several grand up front and then several grand more on gas/van/food etc.
Click to expand...

Zack Uidl said:
Smart man right here! I was just talking to a person at Century Media on the way home from my last tour. There are probably hundreds of more things that most people do not realize are expenses, plan for, or think could ever happen on tour.

There are many things that you can do for promotion for your music business (whether that is a band or not) to make money while touring or not, and things apart from buying onto a tour that will help you potentially more.

There are so many things people are blind to in regards to having an income as a musician it is crazy! Nothing towards towards you Jon :) Just was saying as a general statement.....you have always been a killer dude to me so don't take that the wrong way bro :)

Yes, without a doubt, touring is expensive, but if the marketing, business plan, etc AS A MUSICIAN OR BAND are established with contractual guarantees you can make any sized tour happen really within 5 years. I have seen this with mostly colleagues, but also students who have been a part of bigger tours that I have!
Click to expand...

Yup, we understand all of the risks and expenses and have the resources available atm.

Thanks for your input guys.
 
standard practice of up and coming bands, I know of figures between 30K and 50K being spent for a band to get a support slot on a tour.....the figures really depend on the touring band
 
I wouldn't think any less of a band for buying onto a tour. I'm in the process of buying into a collaboration with some of my favorite artists and I'm actually the lucky one. I don't work in the music industry I work in the education industry and I am discovering I earn way more money than the real bands do just by teaching guitar and drums at high schools. If you can afford it and it's something you have always wanted to do go for it. You only live once
 
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