Your first tour as a band is an exciting moment. After working on your craft for years, writing your own songs and putting your band together, you’ll finally get to the hit the road and spread your music. It’ll be a lot of fun, but there’s plenty to organise too. Below, we explore everything you should do before you on your first band tour.
Make sure the contract is right
When you’re going on your first band tour, you’ll most likely be running on a tight budget. As such, you ensure that you have written contracts with all your venue providers and any other businesses you’re receiving a service from. The last thing you want on tour is to find a nasty financial surprise when you turn up at a venue.
Research the venues
Researching your venues is crucial. For a start, you’ll want to find a venue with the best deal and with the best location in every city. On top of this, you’ll want to be fairly rewarded for the trade you’re bringing to the venue: search for UK venues signed up the Fair Play scheme for peace of mind.
Touring vehicle
If you already have a vehicle, it’s important to get it checked over beforehand to make sure it’s safe and reliable. You don’t want to break down on the way to an important gig. If you’re renting a vehicle, then it’s a good idea to shop around to find the best deal – you’re going to be putting in proper mileage in this vehicle so it’s worth getting the right one.
Insurance for the instruments
Your instruments are essential, and they’ll usually be expensive to replace. But by taking out musical instrument insurance you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll be covered from any nasty surprises.
Packing essentials
Finally, you need to consider all the items you’ll have to pack. For a start, snacks, drinks and meals are essential – you don’t want to be wasting money on fast food every night. On top of this, sleeping bags, basic tools and a first aid kit can all make your life simpler while on tour.
Planning your first band tour can feel overwhelming. But by following the advice above, you should be all set for a smooth and exciting first tour.