Touring for "exposure"

[Acoustic356]

I just got a random email about participating in some tour this year. I've been working hard with my personal brand, and decided that I wouldn't mind "auditioning" to provide artist support.

Then... they sent the details, and my "this is going to cost me a small fortune" detector went off.

Let's discuss the hidden gotcha's from their website to help the next up and coming musician.

The Extreme Tour

From their FAQ - I underlined the key things to be wary of:

HOW MUCH DO I GET PAID,AND ARE MY NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF WHILE I AM WITH YOU?
Of course, it goes without saying, like any other charitable effort, this is not necessarily something to do to get rich. But we do work hard to take care of the needs of the artists that participate. Unlike most other tours of this size which provide accommodations and meals for only the headlining acts, EVERY band that tours with us has their food and lodging provided for at each performance date. And, unlike most other tours of this size that take a percentage of the merch sales from the bands that are part of the tour, the Extreme Tour takes no percentage of the band’s merch sales.

Some bands may receive enhanced support for being involved in elements of the tour beyond just their performance, and some bands may also receive enhanced support based on their role in the Tour Events. Specific details will be worked out with each band that is selected after they have been notified of their selection.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Here's a reddit thread with experiences from a few people. Based on these, I'd stay away.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

The only questions for me are...
Which direction to run
And how fast

 

[sleddogn]

whoa, so much to unpack with this. 75 bucks just to apply

 

[Acoustic356]

Here's a reddit thread with experiences from a few people. Based on these, I'd stay away.

Interesting, Reddit is a little outdated. They didn't ask me to pay a fee. Instead they gave me a discount code:

We are waiving the General Applicant fee. You'll be asked for a code during the process to confirm you're with me and a "Preferred Applicant". Please use the following personalized code that I set up for you: xxxxxxxxxxx"

From their A&R Representative

 

[Finger Blister]

 

[J Wilson]

Have no clue about this situation, but you work to make a living, and each year, people die of exposure.

I used to get feelers from guys with 'major label interest' and wondered if it was Fruit of the Loom or Haines. . . .

 

[Killing Floor]

I can send you packing for only $200 per week. When can you start?

 

[Killing Floor]

No venue names means they don’t have confirmed venues and/or they don’t want you to know the size/type of facilities.

You should definitely do the West tour that has 20 days in Idaho.

Just because there’s 50 acts and none of them come up in a google search doesn’t mean they aren’t going to draw double digit audiences if it’s free.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Per "TJ's Rule", this situation is 10 times worse than it appears.

Riis

 

[SoCal80s]

I heard of something like this before. Don't know if it's the same people, but the one I heard of they performed mostly in churches and youth groups. The "accommodations" were mostly camping in someone's yard. Maybe that's worth it to you, maybe not. You'll want to have these things defined before making a commitment. They did auditions in Nashville and had some master classes talking about stage presence and that kind of thing, so the trip to the auditions had some value. Again, I don't know if its the same people.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

How do you get from location to location? My guess is that you're footing your own money to drive your van from point A to point B. Look at streams of the Artists they have listed and you can get an idea of the turnout that you can expect. Also kinda odd that they don't show any pics of the crowd at any of the previous events. This is a big commit on the artists part for not a lot of commit on the organizer. I would avoid. Now if it were a week long tour that would limit my outlay, I maybe could do it as a vacation if all else fails. It's only a week.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

The only questions for me are...
Which direction to run
And how fast

The opposite direction and as fast as you can.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

When I was a kid, there was a commercial that used to come on to the TV. (I think it was KCOP out of Los Angeles.)

It was for the Barbizon School of Modeling. A fast talking salesman would say, “Be a model, or just look like one.”

As I read this thread, I can’t help but hear his voice say, “Be a bass player, or get treated like one”.

Run. Run far, run fast, my friend.

 

[Manticore]

To each their own, but I don't respond to this kind of folderol.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Invalid Link Removed

This was informative, I would avoid if you're looking to perform. If you're looking to evangelize, probably stick with your local church.

 

[KenD]

This has the distinct odour of aging fish, all the way through the internet.

You might have fun and meet some interesting people but expect to pay all of most of your own expenses. Beyond that I wouldn't count on much at all.

 

[LBS-bass]

Sounds like somebody with a hand out trying to make a buck off people's dreams. <s> Never saw that one in the music business before </s>

 

[capnjagg]

Of course, it goes without saying, like any other charitable effort, this is not necessarily something to do to get rich.

I’m glad they put this at the beginning, because this is exactly where you should stop and decline. It most certainly does not go without saying, and if you’re trying to be musician professionally, it most certainly is something you do to get rich (or at the very least make ends meet). Plenty of ways to get exposure in this day and age, but touring with a bunch of no-name bands on a tour put together by a promotion company that most definitely does not invoke excitement from would-be patrons certainly isn’t one of them.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

This is the place that runs The Extreme Tour as one of its many ministries. You're really not allowed to be critical of anything church-related. So, I'm not saying anything critical. I'm just saying that this is the place that runs The Extreme Tour. 31542 Railroad Canyon Rd Ste 3 Canyon Lake, CA, 92587-9485 and you can zoom in on the window.