Tips on Writing a Business Plan

[chris818]

Hey guys...

Have you ever written a business plan for your band?

We're a three piece band, currently planning a West Coast/Southwest Tour.

Our goal is to convince an already interested investor to finance the tour, which includes all essentials (car, food, gas, lodging). Our managers and ourselves are handling the business side (booking, advertising, merch, etc.)

Any suggestions would be great.

Also, we're looking for well-established bands to share a stage with in YOUR HOME TOWN.

Please tell me what city you live in and it's very possible that we can set it up to where we can share a night or two together in Hopefully a Kickass club in your home town (West Coast - California, Washington, Oregon) and possibly Nevada and Idaho.

We're shooting for late Summer, early Fall.

Thanks,
Chris

[guy n. cognito]

Finding capital to finance your tour isn't "the business side?" I don't know much about music promotion, but that sounds like something the manager should be experienced in and handle on his/her own.

[DemoEtc]

Financing for gas, food, lodging, etc., would be more like a tour budget proposal. For that, just don't go overboard; do the research and find cheapest places so when the guy looks at the spreadsheet he'll realize you're not trying to rip him off. Be modest with his money.

And then, obviously, know, or find out, what the investor wants in return. He's actually investing in your act, and as such, a return is what he's looking for, even if it's just his banner placed on the bandstand somewhere.

And get it in writing

[ebladeboi123]

Basically what Dem. said.

When we've had people invest, we made the mistake of never finding out what they were expecting in terms of return. In short, they expected alot, and we couldn't produce it. They got mad, and no longer will invest in us (which made our new album hard to make). But that was for recording.

Give him the projected costs, with how much going where, and where you're staying. I wouldn't think theres a thing called to much detail. Then find out what he wants from this. If he's expecting X but you were thinking he wanted Y then there's a conflict.

We've never booked/financed a tour only our album. Hope that helped.
Dan

[chris818]

Thanks guys for making clear a couple of things. We're actually on standby as alot of new stuff is coming up. I don't know all the details, otherwise, I'd share and let you have at it.

Anyway, things are moving really fast (in a good way).
I'll check back in with y'all on this matter when I can focus.

Thanks,
Chris

[Crazyeelboy]

Before you sign anything or go into any kind of arrangement with an investor, you have to talk to a good lawyer. Seriously, no, really. Have you ever heard of successful artists getting stuck without a dime - guess how that happens...