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Want to book our first tour.

O

oniman7

Jun 1, 2010
2,490
10
Saint Augustine, Florida
#1
WWe have been a band for about 6 months now, have an hour and a half to 2 hours of material, and have a good amount of merch, including a demo we have almost completed.

We are all in High School and have about a week and a half off in April for Spring Break. We would like to book some dates around our state since we live in Florida, which is packed with people and music.

The drummer's parents will come with us and pay for food, hotel, and presumably gas, since it is a vacation for them as well. What i'm saying is, this would essentially be a risk-free venture.

We would like to book 6 or 7 consecutive dates. I am thinking start in Jax (our home city), go to Gainesville, Orlando, West Palm, Boca, Miami, the Keys, then home. We have a lot of backup cities such as Daytona, Tampa, Seminole, etc.


How do I go about booking these dates in other cities? It's easy to look up venues in places like Orlando, but i'm not sure how I can find decent venues and get in contact with them. I would like to get roughly $100 a night.

Also, during the afternoon I am trying to get shows at record stores, beach clubs, anywhere with people and adequate space.


What is TB's take?
 
#2
oniman7 said:
WWe have been a band for about 6 months now, have an hour and a half to 2 hours of material, and have a good amount of merch, including a demo we have almost completed.

We are all in High School and have about a week and a half off in April for Spring Break. We would like to book some dates around our state since we live in Florida, which is packed with people and music.

The drummer's parents will come with us and pay for food, hotel, and presumably gas, since it is a vacation for them as well. What i'm saying is, this would essentially be a risk-free venture.

We would like to book 6 or 7 consecutive dates. I am thinking start in Jax (our home city), go to Gainesville, Orlando, West Palm, Boca, Miami, the Keys, then home. We have a lot of backup cities such as Daytona, Tampa, Seminole, etc.


How do I go about booking these dates in other cities? It's easy to look up venues in places like Orlando, but i'm not sure how I can find decent venues and get in contact with them. I would like to get roughly $100 a night.

Also, during the afternoon I am trying to get shows at record stores, beach clubs, anywhere with people and adequate space.


What is TB's take?
Click to expand...

I manage my sons' band, and I though I WAS nice. To drag all those kids on vacation with me? YIKES!

Get, at LEAST, a Facebook page with the Reverbnation app and get the demo done ASAP. Otherwise interest level of the venue's booking person will drop when they try to find you on the web. If they are kind of excited by the prospect of booking a 6 month old band and there's no demonstration of your musical talent, you're done. I wouldn't even expect a call back.
 
#3
oniman7 said:
WWe have been a band for about 6 months now, have an hour and a half to 2 hours of material, and have a good amount of merch, including a demo we have almost completed.

We are all in High School and have about a week and a half off in April for Spring Break. We would like to book some dates around our state since we live in Florida, which is packed with people and music.

The drummer's parents will come with us and pay for food, hotel, and presumably gas, since it is a vacation for them as well. What i'm saying is, this would essentially be a risk-free venture.

We would like to book 6 or 7 consecutive dates. I am thinking start in Jax (our home city), go to Gainesville, Orlando, West Palm, Boca, Miami, the Keys, then home. We have a lot of backup cities such as Daytona, Tampa, Seminole, etc.

How do I go about booking these dates in other cities? It's easy to look up venues in places like Orlando, but i'm not sure how I can find decent venues and get in contact with them. I would like to get roughly $100 a night.

Also, during the afternoon I am trying to get shows at record stores, beach clubs, anywhere with people and adequate space.

What is TB's take?
Click to expand...

Sounds like you guys come from wealthy families. You should contact some agencies for help.
 
#4
I wouldn't say wealthy. Drummer's dad just sold a company and is now making decent money... they're very generous and supportive,


Would you please look at our Facebook and ReverbNation page for me?

They are www.facebook.com/themagistrate and reverbnation.com/themagistrate.


I am into the whole Indie/DIY thing and hoping to pass up an agency unless they're free. Is there some way I could find good venues? Maybe a way to contact other bands?

Now that it's brought up, do you think a professional agency could bring in more money than we could? Would there be a ludicrous charge up front?
 
#5
oniman7 said:
I wouldn't say wealthy. Drummer's dad just sold a company and is now making decent money... they're very generous and supportive,

Would you please look at our Facebook and ReverbNation page for me?

They are www.facebook.com/themagistrate and reverbnation.com/themagistrate.

I am into the whole Indie/DIY thing and hoping to pass up an agency unless they're free. Is there some way I could find good venues? Maybe a way to contact other bands?

Now that it's brought up, do you think a professional agency could bring in more money than we could? Would there be a ludicrous charge up front?
Click to expand...

You guys are young and the right age for the Indy thing. Some agencies only charge if they get you something. If an agency booked a 3k deal for you, would it be worth 20% to you?
 
#10
There is a new club here in Melbourne Fl called Debauchery. My understanding is they want to book out of town bands rather than the rest of us yokels. No idea what the music preference is there but you might try them.

If you don't know Melbourne is about 2-2 1/2 hours south of you down I-95.

Link Removed
 
#13
Have a read of this article: Link Removed Although it kinds of skips over info a little bit, it´s pretty good! And it highlites one key point "reach out to the other musicians" - make friends with them, collaboate etc...They will have a contact and oftem will be willing to help. Thus my tips would be to scan and promote yourself via social networks and then go onto forums and reach out for bands in the other areas ...you need to be moving fast here like a little terrier getting yourself through the door and onto the stage!

Good luck and what is the bands name in case I see you in the future?
 
#14
I said this before on another thread, but it bears repeating: become "the band that is willing to help in ANY way". We lug other bands equipment as we do our own. That has gotten us some pretty sweet gigs and, subsequently, great exposure.

Our last co-produced festival line-up included two bands that were equal in draw and talent. One band worked their BUTTS OFF to help. The other band showed up 20 minutes before curtain, played and split within 5 minutes of being off stage. Guess who I am NOT calling for this year's festival?
 
#15
indieonethemove.com
I can not recommend this website enough for booking tours.
My singer and I have booked five and the first two we didn't know about this website and we now wish we did. It has reviews of venues and contact information and a bunch of other things.

but here are a few quick tips/realizations:
its hard
dont expect any upfront money on your first tour. Just door deals
get what you can in writing

most venues are going to try to get you to book the locals (because sense you live 1000 miles away from the venue you obviously know the right locals to book, right?)
You can use this in your favor. If they do make you book the locals on a show you can try to request a promoter fee from the venue and then you can make some cash even if you don't actually bring out anybody yourself
 

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