epictring
Hey!
This question is just for future reference..
I'm thinking of starting planning on a tour to be held in December 2011 for my band. Along the coastal cities (beaches!!).
I thought of trying to include a couple of other bands in the tour to improve the budget and also maybe doing a few gigs along the tour with bigger bands. I already started contacting a couple of bands for this.
But honestly, I have no idea what I'm doing. Although I've organized relatively large events, I've never organized something like this.
So where can I get started to get some venue bookings etc.? SA doesn't have a website containing contact info and links to venues like the US as far as I know.
The marketing is also a issue... Most people won't go watch someone they don't know. That's why I thought of including a few bands to the tour or something like that. Nothing to lose..I think.
Rather confusing post, I know. Just tell me what you think :?
symbolofmylife
Going on tour is great but can be headache when you try to plan it yourself.
Off the top of my head i'd say get the dates in order. From when to when will it run?
Next, look at the locations. Do some research and see which are the better venues to play that are not complete holes, and initiate contact. Take down names of people you speak to, as well as contact details. If possible also try to find out which local bands (local to the stops you will be making) can possibly join you. Some bands have pretty big followings in their home towns, and it could be of benefit to you.
Discuss the possibility of gigs with potential venues. Also, decide and agree with venue on the door charge, as well as the percentage you as a band will be receiving.
Now that you have an idea about when and where, start putting a budget together, and discuss how you and your fellow bandmates will split the costs. If you are taking a band or two with you on the trip, make sure they know what will be expected of them financially.
Have a plan B in place. Sometimes venues screw you. Sometimes a band drops out at the last minute. Be prepared.
Take along enough new strings, drum skins, etc should you need them. I had to learn this the hard way. Stuck in a craphole town without a music store, and one string broke. Not funny. Next closest town: 250 km....
Some promo stops never hurt anyone. If you have a decent sounding recording, try to set up some time with campus/student radio stations along your journey. 15 minutes on air means a lot to announce you are in town.
Set up a trip itinerary. Silly idea, right? A group of people travelling can get on each other's nerves. Ensure enough time for people to get out and do their own thing while on the road. Yes, you are a band but not connected at the hip.
MIKA-the-better-one
Touring South Africa as a rock band, is generally a BAD IDEA... I say this as even the larger of Rock Bands loose money doing it.
Also consider your audience, there are very few people per town, let alone South Africa itself.
Really this is a very hard country to do a tour in, as the venues give you bad service, the crowds are terrible (really JHB is one of the worst), generally the band looses the most money.
Now this is all when considering you are a decent big band with some radio play and television stuff under your belt... For a smaller band such as yourself it will be even harder.
The most benificial thing you can get from a tour is the fun of hanging out with your band and playing some shows. But you will loose money, you will play to terrible shows, with awful sound.
Its very rare for even the biggest SA festivals to meet the full tech rider of international bands, they cut corners, and dont put the quality of work in. They can hardly (actually rarely) cover the tech riders of most local bands.... Local or on tour.....
ALl this taken in Touring SA is not a good idea if you want ot make money and do some good shows....
PeteM
There's no harm in following your dream.
Yeah, you might lose money but what you'll gain is a wealth of experience. As 'symbolofmylife' said, you might get on each others nerves after a while, but you'll also build a bond that'll rub off on your music.
Sure, there's a lot of research and other homework to be done, but I say go for it... nothing ventured, nothing gained... good luck.
nicovlogg
Planning something similar myself, here's what I've found out from more experience people than myself.
1) Don't headline unless you have loads of fans. Rather try and organise gigs opening for big local bands, of a similar style. That way they do the hard work, you'll take less at the door but can be assured of better attendance, sound etc.
2) Aim for student towns
3) Get sponsors (actually pretty easy once you have even a few fans on facebook and some airplay)
4) Get to know LOTS of people - managers, people who organise tours, event promoters, and very importantly, other bands. These are your best contacts.
Good luck man!
raithza
nico, off topic but shouldn't you be at MFM right now? ?
Manfred-Klose
I can hook you up with an event organiser from cape town that useally organises gigs for cape town bands over december holidays to gig(he's a sound guy with his own rig as well ?).
I would say over the december period the best place to gig would be stilbaai,mosselbay,hartenbos, george, plettenbergbay, jeffreys in that order.
you need to see it as a holiday as well. if you played to a big crowd of students on holiday and made some money doing, then well done.
Hammeron
We have played many major gigs but never been on tour.
Played a few fests and always enjoyed.
We have been together for 1 year.
And we live in a remote area where nothing much happens.
But when it does we do it!
We have done our demos and videos and promotional shit,
and now we are about to do Seasons Wither! THEE biggest hard rock get together in Africa!
And we are greatful. and after Seasons the sky is the limit!
To cut a long story short just do it! And good luck!];0)
Tamla Kahn
FruitarGeek
Hammeron wrote:
We have played many major gigs but never been on tour.
Played a few fests and always enjoyed.
We have been together for 1 year.
And we live in a remote area where nothing much happens.
But when it does we do it!
We have done our demos and videos and promotional shit,
and now we are about to do Seasons Wither! THEE biggest hard rock get together in Africa!
And we are greatful. and after Seasons the sky is the limit!
To cut a long story short just do it! And good luck!];0)
Tamla Kahn
That was rather poetic!
Don't really have much to add, other than Great topic!
Hammeron
As Mika said, covering Tech Riders can be problematic, so keep them as simple as possible and you will stand a better chance of sounding true.
DonovanB
Why not make connections with bands like yourself in other cities. Get them to organise a gig in each town and you jam there.
then you return the favour in your home town?
epictring
Thanks for all of the advice!
Donovan Banks wrote:
Why not make connections with bands like yourself in other cities. Get them to organise a gig in each town and you jam there.
then you return the favour in your home town?
The problem with that is those bands are rarely interested in anything of the sort. I've already contacted numerous bands and none of them seemed interested. :?
nicovlogg
raithza wrote:
nico, off topic but shouldn't you be at MFM right now? ?
If I could I would be, but unfortunately only our daddy guitarist was in Maties. The rest of us are full time students!
inflames
I say screw it, just do it!
It should be loads of fun! As the guys said, get your dates in order, the rest you can sort out in the next few months.
I have been on a tour down the coast and it was so much fun, did not play, just hanged with the band!
Rock & Roll
