Summer is near, and it’s time for independent artists to start preparing for a summer tour, festivals, and other concerts! Going on tour is one of the most exciting things an artist can do, and it’s a great way to grow your fan base, gain exposure, and connect with your audience. In this blog, How to Book Your Own Tour as an Independent Artist, we’ll discuss some tips for preparing for a summer tour and how to build or book a successful tour on your own.
Prepare For Tour:
- Plan Your Tour in Advance
- Build Your Network
- Promote Your Tour
- Practice & Prepare
- Be Professional
Plan Your Tour in Advance
The key to a successful tour is planning. It’s important to start planning your tour at least three to six months in advance to give yourself enough time to organize everything. Begin by identifying the cities you want to visit and researching the venues that would be a good fit for your music. Make a list of all the possible venues, and start reaching out to them to inquire about availability.
Build Your Network
Networking is essential when it comes to building a successful tour. Reach out to other artists, promoters, and booking agents in the cities you plan to visit. They can help you with booking gigs, promoting your shows, and connecting you with other people in the industry. Attend local music events and festivals to meet other musicians and industry professionals.
Promote Your Tour
Promoting your tour is crucial to its success. Use social media, email, and other digital platforms to spread the word about your shows. Create eye-catching posters and flyers to display in local record stores, coffee shops, and other community spaces. Offer incentives, such as exclusive merchandise or meet and greets, to encourage fans to attend your shows.
Tip: Need a leg up or a foot in the door? Ask to hop onto a local musician friend’s show bill. If the opportunity arises, you can offer to fill in on guitar, bass, drums, vocals, soundboard, etc. in exchange for a slot in the show your friend is performing in.
Practice and Prepare
Before hitting the road, it’s important to rehearse your setlist and prepare for the tour. Practice your songs, work on your stage presence, and prepare for any technical difficulties that may arise. Make sure you have all the necessary equipment and gear for your shows, and create a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything.
Be Professional
When on tour, it’s important to be professional and conduct yourself in a respectful manner. Arrive at shows on time, be respectful to the venue staff, and communicate clearly with your audience. Remember, every interaction is an opportunity to build relationships and grow your fan base.
Going on tour can be a great way for independent artists to grow their audience and gain exposure. By planning in advance, building your network, promoting your tour, practicing and preparing, and being professional, you can build or book a successful tour on your own. So, get out there and hit the road – the summer tour season is waiting for you!
Book Your Own Tour
Booking a successful tour as an independent artist can be a challenging task, but it’s certainly not impossible. Here are some steps to help you successfully book your own tour:
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Identify Target Locations & Venues
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Plan Tour Route
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Contact Venues
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Negotiate Fee (if applicable)
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Promote
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Prepare
- Identify your target cities and venues: Start by researching and identifying the cities where you want to perform. Look for venues that cater to your style of music and audience. Consider the size of the venue, location, and whether it has good acoustics and sound equipment.
Tip: A great way to identify your target cities is to use discovery tools such as Intercept Music’s heatmap on the Artist Dashboard. This tool provides data on your personal streaming listenership locations.
For example: If you find most of your Spotify monthly listeners are located in the United States, plan the majority of your locations, venues, and tour promotion budget in the US region (specifically in states or cities most of your engaged fans derive from).
Pair our tools with YouTube to maximize your potential return and success from your tour planning!
- Plan your tour route: Once you have identified the cities and venues, plan your route. Try to group cities together to save time and money on travel. Consider factors such as driving distance, the availability of accommodations, and how many shows you can realistically perform in each city.
- Contact the venues: Reach out to the venues and promoters in each city. You can find them online, through social media, or through industry contacts. Send them an email introducing yourself and your music, and explain why you think you would be a good fit for their venue. Include links to your music, videos, and press kit. Follow up with a phone call or another email a few days later.
- Negotiate your fee: Once you have secured a booking, negotiate your fee. Be clear about what you expect to be paid, including any travel expenses, accommodation, and food. Be willing to negotiate, but also be firm about your value.
- Promote your shows: Once you have booked your shows, start promoting them. Use social media, email marketing, and other channels to promote your shows to your fans and followers. Create posters and flyers to distribute in the cities you will be performing in. Consider offering ticket discounts, giveaways, or other incentives to encourage attendance.
- Prepare for the tour: Finally, prepare for your tour. Practice your setlist, prepare your stage show, and make sure you have all the necessary equipment and gear for your performances. Create a tour schedule and itinerary, including travel arrangements and accommodations.
Booking a successful tour as an independent artist requires dedication, hard work, and perseverance. But with the right approach and attitude, you can achieve your goals and take your music to the next level.
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