So, you and your band have been playing locally and have drummed up a bit of a following, but now you want to take it on the road?  Touring can be one of the best things about being in a band, and the experience you get from playing to different people in different venues along with the amount of time you spend together can really tighten up your act.  However, in terms of organisation there is a lot more to contend with than your usual, casually arranged local gigs.  Here are some tips to help you plan a great first tour:

Your Route

A lot of first tours come about because a show, festival or other gig opportunity comes up out of town (or even in another country) and it seems like fitting in some other dates on the way up there and back is a way to get extra exposure out of the trip.  This is a very good use of time and resources, and provided the basic things you need to make it possible are in place (everyone in the band is available, you can afford transport and accommodation etc.) then there is no reason not to go for it. Still, where you play and when needs to be carefully thought out and researched.

It seems kind of obvious that you want to keep the route around the country or countries as logical as possible (it would be a bit patronising to tell you that playing Exeter, then Glasgow, then Southampton would probably be a bad idea), but to get the best results do your research.  What else is going on in that city on that date that might draw people away from your gig?  Is there one significant live music venue serving the town, and if so can you get on there with someone with a big local following?  Don’t just get whatever gigs you can, think about it strategically and use social media to find out what the scene for your genre is like in each of your target towns, and network with other bands and venues in the city so you aren’t arriving with no connections.

Merchandising

It’s pretty unlikely, realistically, that anybody in a new town you’ve just played is going to buy merchandise for a brand new unsigned band (unless you have been very clever with your marketing and promotions and managed to create a lot of buzz about your debut in their area), so don’t expect to need to take a lot of expensive items like t-shirts.  CDs can be a way to make a little bit of money, but as CDs are a bit of a dying media you may not even choose to pursue that route.  What you should definitely have though, are some things you can give away which at the very least have your band’s logo and website address on them (or your Facebook page address if you don’t have a proper site yet) – stickers and promo cards are good for this, but the more creative you are the more it will resonate with the people at the gig.

To organise a tour for a wedding band or party band is the same principle, however you need to consider the dates you are offered and work around those, as if someone needs a wedding band in Berkshire, but the next gig is in Cornwall, you are not working effectively, ideally you need someone who wants a party band in Oxford then a date for a wedding band in Gloucestershire for example. Make it easy for yourself if possible and avoid spending more time than is necessary on the road between gigs.