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Greg_L
Banned
I'm always amazed at how fragile bands/musicians are. They need the recognition. Why? I'm perfectly happy with no one liking my music. In fact, I prefer it. I'd never go on a fucking tour.
LDS
New member
It depends on the quality of the tour.
If you're schlepping from third-rate venue to third-rate venue in a ratty old van pulling a crappy trailer full of beat up gear playing in places no one has heard of in front of tiny audiences who have never heard of you or other bands on the bill, then the answer is no.
BUT, if you can tag along with an established or semi-established act opening for them and successfully entertain their crowd? Priceless.
I see bands come through the Nashville area all the time, playing at a number of local venues. They're "on tour." The only problem is, at many of thoseplaces, the only people who show up are those invited by the local bands, and maybe 10% of them stick around for the "touring bands." So in that particular example, as in many others, the best case scenario is that it helps you get your live show tighter. Worst case scenario? You get so tired of the smell of your bandmates dirty socks and fast food farts while cooped up in the above-mentioned ratty old van that the band ends up not surviving after the tour, if it lasts that long.
If you're schlepping from third-rate venue to third-rate venue in a ratty old van pulling a crappy trailer full of beat up gear playing in places no one has heard of in front of tiny audiences who have never heard of you or other bands on the bill, then the answer is no.
BUT, if you can tag along with an established or semi-established act opening for them and successfully entertain their crowd? Priceless.
I see bands come through the Nashville area all the time, playing at a number of local venues. They're "on tour." The only problem is, at many of thoseplaces, the only people who show up are those invited by the local bands, and maybe 10% of them stick around for the "touring bands." So in that particular example, as in many others, the best case scenario is that it helps you get your live show tighter. Worst case scenario? You get so tired of the smell of your bandmates dirty socks and fast food farts while cooped up in the above-mentioned ratty old van that the band ends up not surviving after the tour, if it lasts that long.
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dodgeaspen
New member
The Internet is not the same as touring. When your on tour and people come to see you they can fell the raw energy of the concert. I have been on both sides of the fence.
VomitHatSteve
Hat STYLE. Not contents.
Because touring is frickin' fun!
If I didn't need to have a day job to feed myself, I would live in my van and be on tour all the time.
Hop on a bill with a local band; play an open mic; whatever.
It's fun!
Maintaining a Myspace, not so much.
If I didn't need to have a day job to feed myself, I would live in my van and be on tour all the time.
Hop on a bill with a local band; play an open mic; whatever.
It's fun!
Maintaining a Myspace, not so much.
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Greg_L
Banned
Touring is fun if you have fans or get to piggyback an established act. It's not fun when you're a nothing, which most bands are.
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NewAgeMuttLange
New member
HR Forum Tour 2010!
Kidding.. I for one agree with the seabeast (froggy)..
I was in a band in GA for awhile called The Nuclear Option (Metal Band) and we didn't think of so much as leaving the county until we were playing capacity shows in town.. then we started branching out around GA, and then we started hitting Florida..
Though, I wouldn't consider what we did touring, never got to that level before i moved up to NC (more weekend warrior, 3-days of gigs per week.. though we did do a 2 week thing in the summer before i left the band).
But yes, touring is vital to a band.. not a musician, but a band. Especially in Hard Rock/Metal.. all about the energy and the live show.
OH.. and everybody love tee shirts.. yes they do, especially if you have something fucking awesome printed on it! haha...
-Paul
Kidding.. I for one agree with the seabeast (froggy)..
I was in a band in GA for awhile called The Nuclear Option (Metal Band) and we didn't think of so much as leaving the county until we were playing capacity shows in town.. then we started branching out around GA, and then we started hitting Florida..
Though, I wouldn't consider what we did touring, never got to that level before i moved up to NC (more weekend warrior, 3-days of gigs per week.. though we did do a 2 week thing in the summer before i left the band).
But yes, touring is vital to a band.. not a musician, but a band. Especially in Hard Rock/Metal.. all about the energy and the live show.
OH.. and everybody love tee shirts.. yes they do, especially if you have something fucking awesome printed on it! haha...
-Paul
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NewAgeMuttLange
New member
If the band was good enough and the only expenses are those associated with touring at a constant rate the day job would go out the window for me.. (food should be included with that and truck stops have showers, so fuck hotels)
Look at HIMSA.. they're touring style is my kinda life..
-Paul
Michael O'Regan
New member
If I go out and play my stuff and people don't like it that's OK - that hasn't been the case with the few shows I've been able to do since starting to write. I'm happiest when I can play the songs to people and I'm doing what I can to get my songs heard. It frustrates me that I can't get the time to play more than the odd show now and then.
If you're happy not to go out and play and just write for your own enjoyment, that's ok. I respect that.
I don't see why you shouldn't respect the way I happen to feel about my stuff.
ez_willis
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i don't care about you or your stuff. the point i was trying to make is that just because you are.....you know what, nevermind. rock on, dude.
Michael O'Regan
New member
Aw, please be my friend........
VomitHatSteve
Hat STYLE. Not contents.
I think the important thing is to find a niche such that you'll be able to play each night and such that by the end of your set, you DO have fans.
I do catchy, upbeat pop-punk type stuff mostly. Just so long as my act is rehearsed and I can play to a dozen or so people (Open mics are great for that), someone in the crowd will have a good time listening to my music, and I'll have a good time playing my music for them.
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Greg_L
Banned
Lol. Fuck open mic nights. Those are the worst.
Seafroggys
Well-known member
Well, I live in the capital of open mic nights, so its something that really can't be avoided.
Someone on the Internet once suggested that open mics are great for places that can't afford live music, such as coffee houses and small bars and restaurants, leaving the bigger bars and clubs for the paid gigs. That makes sense.
Someone on the Internet once suggested that open mics are great for places that can't afford live music, such as coffee houses and small bars and restaurants, leaving the bigger bars and clubs for the paid gigs. That makes sense.
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eeb
New member
wow...
I can't believe what I'm reading from some of you. No shit most bands never go anywhere or amount to anything if this is your attitude. Touring is probably the most important thing a band can do. Of course once you're ready that is.
First it'll expose people that would have never heard of you to your stuff
Second it's the true test to see if your band chemistry works
third it's the freaking best time ever.. yes even if you play a shitty show.. If you're all bummed out about losing money and playing to less than great venues to start then stay at home.. play your local bar and stop whining about how the music industry is so hard to get into.
You'll never do it unless you get yourself out there. I still believe the old method of building a fan base, even if it's one fan at a time is the only way to really build a successful career.. Of course if you're not interested in that than you won't want to tour but if you are start booking shows.
I can't believe what I'm reading from some of you. No shit most bands never go anywhere or amount to anything if this is your attitude. Touring is probably the most important thing a band can do. Of course once you're ready that is.
First it'll expose people that would have never heard of you to your stuff
Second it's the true test to see if your band chemistry works
third it's the freaking best time ever.. yes even if you play a shitty show.. If you're all bummed out about losing money and playing to less than great venues to start then stay at home.. play your local bar and stop whining about how the music industry is so hard to get into.
You'll never do it unless you get yourself out there. I still believe the old method of building a fan base, even if it's one fan at a time is the only way to really build a successful career.. Of course if you're not interested in that than you won't want to tour but if you are start booking shows.
Seafroggys
Well-known member
If you can't get fans at home, why waste time, money, and energy getting fans elsewhere?
I repeat....TOURING IS GOOD! IFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF YOU CAN DRAW AT HOME. Otherwise there is no point. If you can play several days a week around town and get good draws, THEN touring is a good idea. If not, then maybe you need better marketing, or better music.
Z
zero00
New member
I'm not gonna say that someone is right or wrong, maybe we are all right from a different point of view.
I just gonna say that i just arrived from playing in a shit hole, it was our first show so 0 fans, but it was awesome anyway... we had the best time, and at the end 1 guy came to me and said: "man... great band dude"... probably he was just trying of being polite or nice... or maybe he really dig our music, that means he is a potential fan, he maybe will tell a friend about us and so on. But the most important thing, now he knows us, he will see our flyer next time and will say (maybe) "hey i saw that band, it was good", will go to see us (hopefully), probably he will go with some friends, and that's how you start your fan list.
From the marketing's point of view, i think is a very good option go on touring... for a pocket's point of view is terrible... you decide what to do. Like in every business you have to lose money to win money. But sometimes we just don't have the time or the privilege to lose that money, you have to do what you can do and want to do.
Peace!
I just gonna say that i just arrived from playing in a shit hole, it was our first show so 0 fans, but it was awesome anyway... we had the best time, and at the end 1 guy came to me and said: "man... great band dude"... probably he was just trying of being polite or nice... or maybe he really dig our music, that means he is a potential fan, he maybe will tell a friend about us and so on. But the most important thing, now he knows us, he will see our flyer next time and will say (maybe) "hey i saw that band, it was good", will go to see us (hopefully), probably he will go with some friends, and that's how you start your fan list.
From the marketing's point of view, i think is a very good option go on touring... for a pocket's point of view is terrible... you decide what to do. Like in every business you have to lose money to win money. But sometimes we just don't have the time or the privilege to lose that money, you have to do what you can do and want to do.
Peace!
Michael O'Regan
New member
...and that someone will tell someone else about your music....
That's how it works.
Jim Lad
New member
I agree with Seafroggy. (If that's his real name)
That is to say, I think I know where he's coming from and I doubt that I can articulate it any better but I'll have a go.
It is extremely important that you get your chops (not you personally) before you commit to trying to make a living on the road. Touring, to me, is getting a couple of nights in a hotel/motel at the expense of the gig and driving, sleeping in the car and having a shower at the Husky (Transport cafes) for the rest of the week. One vehicular breakdown or cancelled booking can put a quick end to a tour in an awful hurry.
In short, you don't make that much and are extremely vulnerable.
Here's another important factor. ON-Line sales are where it's at now. At least for me. CD sales are plummeting as quickly as the technology is changing. I-Tunes, MP3s and Ring tones have taken over. Ring Tones? !!
I'm making about $100 a month from MP3 sales and close to zero on CDs.
No amount of touring is going to change that so I have to adapt. I have about 60 tracks on-line and need to up that to about two hundred tracks if I want to come close to making decent earnings.
So I guess my answer would be a straight "No".
Stay home, get your chops locally and keep up with the technology.
Maybe one day the need to tour will be driven by on-line interest but for now, that "Download one song at a time" mentality is killing CD sales and you really need those sales to pay for the tour.
One more thing. As long as you keep your web-site up to date, most visitors will assume you're playing somewhere.
That is to say, I think I know where he's coming from and I doubt that I can articulate it any better but I'll have a go.
It is extremely important that you get your chops (not you personally) before you commit to trying to make a living on the road. Touring, to me, is getting a couple of nights in a hotel/motel at the expense of the gig and driving, sleeping in the car and having a shower at the Husky (Transport cafes) for the rest of the week. One vehicular breakdown or cancelled booking can put a quick end to a tour in an awful hurry.
In short, you don't make that much and are extremely vulnerable.
Here's another important factor. ON-Line sales are where it's at now. At least for me. CD sales are plummeting as quickly as the technology is changing. I-Tunes, MP3s and Ring tones have taken over. Ring Tones? !!
I'm making about $100 a month from MP3 sales and close to zero on CDs.
No amount of touring is going to change that so I have to adapt. I have about 60 tracks on-line and need to up that to about two hundred tracks if I want to come close to making decent earnings.
So I guess my answer would be a straight "No".
Stay home, get your chops locally and keep up with the technology.
Maybe one day the need to tour will be driven by on-line interest but for now, that "Download one song at a time" mentality is killing CD sales and you really need those sales to pay for the tour.
One more thing. As long as you keep your web-site up to date, most visitors will assume you're playing somewhere.
Jim Lad
New member
Then I would place you somewhere between Eugene, Oregon and Victoria, BC.
They are playing for tips here.