1. Build a strong promo presence. Create a clean press kit and website with a short bio, photos, positive press, and links to streaming songs and high-quality live video.
2. Use local listings to find venues. Locate your town’s weekly arts/entertainment publication online and use club listings to identify venues that book your genre. Call ahead to confirm the best contact before sending materials.
3. Learn from local musicians. Ask what rooms treat artists well, who pays fairly, and who has a good sound team. If appropriate, see if they’ll put in a word or offer you an opening slot.
4. Agree on terms up front. Clarify pay structure (door split vs. guarantee), set length/set times, and confirm what the venue expects for promotion. Ask about posters, press outreach, and merch policies (some venues take a cut).
5. Promote locally 2–3 weeks out. Ask nearby record stores and fan-facing businesses to hang posters. Hand out flyers at shows for similar artists.
6. Have a merch table plan. Set up a booth for shirts/records/CDs and collect emails (a simple signup sheet works). This is one of the fastest ways to turn a room into repeat fans.
7. Verify attendance for settlement. If you’re paid off the door, have someone take a headcount during the show so you can confirm the payout is accurate.
8. Track gig results consistently. Use a simple recap sheet for pay + merch sales so you can spot what’s working and forecast future shows.
9. Follow up after the show. Call or email the talent buyer the next day. Ask for feedback, request permission to quote positive comments, and keep the relationship warm for rebooking.

Tip: keep your pitch short—who you are, what you sound like, your best link, and what dates you’re targeting.

1. Secure reliable transportation. A van (and sometimes a trailer) is common. If you rent, confirm out-of-state coverage. Carry a spare tire for the van and the trailer.
2. If you don’t have a van, consider:
   • Financing (loan/credit union—may require collateral or a co-signer)
   • Benefit shows or fundraising to help purchase a van
   • Renting from a rental car company
   • Asking your fan/contact list for leads
   • Borrowing/renting from friends, other bands, or label mates
   • Touring by car and arranging borrowed backline (confirm before leaving)
3. Map an itinerary that makes sense. Minimize long drives where possible and aim for larger markets on weekends.
4. Build a budget before you book. Estimate miles and gas, set daily caps for food/lodging, and track every expense. Simple per diems can keep costs predictable.
5. Research bands and venues by city. Look for rooms that book your genre and bands with established draw.
6. Ask for help locally. Contact bands in the market—offer to return the favor when they come through Texas. They may point you to the right rooms or even a place to crash. You can also explore Couchsurfing for low-cost lodging options.
7. Send venue pitches early. Target at least 2–3 months ahead. If a venue is booked, you’ll have time to pivot while still giving the club lead time to promote.
8. Negotiate for stability. Touring has real operating costs—seek a guarantee when possible, or a door deal with a clear threshold. Ask about food buyouts/per diems. Put terms in writing when you can.
9. Promote in each market. Send your best links and/or a copy of your latest release to college radio, record stores, and press contacts in each city.
10. Prepare a tour binder. Include directions, contacts, settlement terms, and any contracts for each date. Keep it organized by city.
11. Advance every show. Call 1–2 days ahead to confirm load-in, set times, and hospitality/rider details. This can save you from wasted drives due to changes or cancellations.
12. Make the most of downtime. Use drive days to call record stores, stations, and press for additional promo opportunities.
13. Merch is still the engine. Set up a merch booth, confirm venue merch cuts in advance, and make email signup effortless (incentives can help).
14. Keep your network. Capture every useful contact on the road and add them to your list when you get home.

Gig recap tracking

Use a recap sheet to track settlement, merch, and notes by date—helpful for budgeting, routing, and negotiating better terms over time.

• Download: Gig Recap Spreadsheet (Word version).doc
• Download: Gig Recap Spreadsheet (Excel version).xls

• Tour:Smart (Soluble LLC)
• The DIY Musician’s Complete Guide to Touring (CD Baby DIY Musician Blog)
• Booking Your Own Tour: A How-To Guide (ASCAP We Create Music Blog)
• Goldstein, Jeri. How to Be Your Own Booking Agent and Save Thousands of Dollars: A Performing Artist's Guide to a Successful Touring Career (1998)
• Galper, Hal. The Touring Musician: A Small-Business Approach to Booking Your Band on the Road (2000)
• Owsinski, Bobby. The Touring Musician's Handbook (2011)
• Search the Library of Congress catalog by author or title. If your library doesn’t have what you need, request it via interlibrary loan (ILL).