Going on a journey and taking your music band on tour is sooooo exciting. Regardless of whether this is your first tour and you are learning, or you are already a veteran, it is important to make sure you have a good budget so that you can reach your locations with ease.
Playing music professionally is an investment (like any business or professional activity until it generates income), unlike what many people think.
Until you achieve your “music star” status or have a record company paying for your travel expenses, much of the money you spend on the trip will come out of your own pocket. Although in reality the best, or rather, the most likely thing is that you, your band or your manager will manage the finances of your musical project, in which the expenses of the tour are found.
If you are part of a band that has a certain budget, you should know that there are certain things you can do to save some money while touring, earn some extra along the way, and have fun while doing it. For many musicians, going on tour and being able to perform shows every night is a dream come true.
Making a budget
If you are someone who is managing a band, the first thing you should do before embarking on your tour is to determine what your travel budget is going to be spent on. You don’t want to be in the middle of the trip and realize that you’ve already run out of money. Your budget doesn’t need to be extremely detailed or complicated. Making a page of estimates of the costs that will exist throughout the tour is more than enough to keep your funds up to date. Your budget should include these things:
- Food
- Lodging
- Travel
- Insurance Payments / Invoices
- Shopping
- Incidents
- Emergency funds
Once you have created your budget, think about the different things you can do to have enough money for the entire tour. One of the biggest expenses will undoubtedly be the move. If you are touring outside the country, knowing the rules of air travel and looking for the best deals can help you with your budget.
If you are staying in the country and thinking about transportation options, consider a van to save money. You can save a lot of costs by renting a van or car. It’s going to cut down on travel expenses, and if it’s big enough, you could sleep there instead of looking for hotel rooms every night. The option of vans or even caravans equipped with a kitchen and even a fridge can help you avoid eating out many times, thus saving you.
Remember to take just and necessary to save space.
Schedule your days productively
These trips can make you feel like a rock star, but when you’re on a budget, it’s important to have some kind of structure to your days. Not only is it good for your pocketbook, it is also better for your development as a professional musician. Going out every night and partying after your show is going to cause stress for everyone; you could end up being late to a show, your health could deteriorate, among other things.
One of the best parts of going on a trip is being able to get out and explore the areas you are visiting. It’s a great way to improve your relationships with other members, reduce stress, and boost your creativity.
Perhaps you are going to one of the most interesting and fun cities to visit where there are so many things to see and do. Planning your days efficiently will allow you to have a complete experience during that trip – and it will not just be the hours of the trip, mounting / dismounting, touching, removing, etc.
Making money on your tour
Without a doubt, saving money is a good thing for when you are on tour, but many bands would also like to generate some profit or at least make up for what they spent. Touring is a good way for a band to make money (even the main one), but you still need to put in the effort to get people to go see your shows. The more people that go, the more tickets will be sold and the more merchandise you will have the opportunity to sell.
It all starts with promoting your show wherever you are. Concert promotion is easier than ever thanks to technology and social media. If you have a lot of followers on Facebook, Twitter, etc., let your followers know where you are going to be. Tell them about your trip and your dates in advance, and keep your fans updated. Segment the ads, you see groups of fans to your musical style in the city in question …
Things like press releases, posters and flyers, asking the site to promote you, among other things, are good ways to advertise your shows. Even when you’re introducing yourself, you can motivate the people who attended to buy your merchandise, or tell them when you’re coming back. Never miss an opportunity to promote your band, even in the middle of the show.
Bring a friend to sell your merchandise or run contests on your social networks before each show to energize the show.
There are cases, in which artists who spend several days or even weeks on tour take the opportunity to monetize, for example, through private or even collective classes, whether they are singing, instrument … Private classes, groups, clinics or masterclasses would fall under this heading.