Going on your first music tour is exciting for everyone involved, you’re about to take your show on the road for hundreds and thousands of people to see live. But if you’re familiar with the music industry you will know touring can be hard work and if it’s your first time it can be pretty intimidating. Don't worry... there are many different ways to prepare for a tour to make your time on the road much more pleasant. Have a read...
Book in advance! If you need to book travel then do so way before you plan to leave, you do not want to end up stranded in a city without any travel plans, and we have a wide range of touring vans available for hire. Make sure your accommodation is all planned for each city, the last thing you need is to be sleeping in your car or van. Just simply avoid last minute bookings as it never ends well.
Make a plan for everyday you’re on tour as well as a list of everyone’s numbers and emails. If you have any appearances prior to your shows make sure it’s all scheduled on your plan with the address and any other necessary notes. You will want to include every single show which is scheduled and be sure to write down times for arrival, sound check and when the show starts. Your plan should have every little bit of information or contact details you may need on the road.
Know where you’re going... it may seem fun to just take a trip and see where you end up, especially when you’re touring in different countries but you need to be prepared. Make sure you’ve mapped out your route both digitally and physically. It’s important to know how long it will take to get from show to show, Google maps is your friend so use it! You don’t want to be late and hold everyone else up because you got lost.
Create a budget. Touring can be expensive and ticket and merchandise sales don’t always cut it so make sure you are aware of your spending, know how much you have and how much everything is costing you. Think about accommodation, travel, food and an emergency fund just in case. Remember if you hire a vehicle to always ask for the extra insurance. A few extra pounds upfront can save you a lot in the long run.
Work as a team. Touring is meant to be an amazing experience full of memories and fun so make sure everyone’s on the same level. It can soon turn into a disaster if everyone is arguing because someone was late, hungover or slacking so set some on tour rules so everyone will get along. Most importantly look after yourself and your team, a tour isn’t worth it if someone’s mental or physical health is declining so make sure everyone is eating, drinking and sleeping appropriately.
Going on tour is a massive opportunity that many bands and artists dream about so make the most of it and work hard. If you are looking to hire a specialist vehicle for your tour or have any other questions about touring feel free to give the BandVanHire team a call. We look forward to seeing you out on tour soon!