You are hitting the road for the first time. No doubt you and your band mates are excited about the tour, but there are a few things you should consider. The following are five tips that can help ensure your tour is a success.
Make a List
It is important that you make a list of the things you are going to need before you take off. Encourage the same for every band member so that everyone remembers all the things they will need during the tour. Add things like personal hygiene items or band-branded merchandise just to name a few items.
Back up Schedule
You are probably going to do a number of gigs on this tour of yours. This means you need to make sure that you have a detailed schedule of all these pre-planned gigs. Make sure that you have this schedule saved in numerous devices and that you printed out a few, just in case.
Think about Finances
The next thing you want to do is to consider your budget. You are going to need some funds to get gas and buy food. Start to save money early on so that you have enough saved up. Make sure that you collect enough funds to deal with unexpected expenses because you never know what could happen on the road.
Safety in Movement
You are going to be asked to move your equipment around from gig to gig. You know how long it takes to load and unload your equipment. This could be a lot easier with the right moving equipment, so be sure to consider those. Keep in mind, some of your instruments are pretty expensive, so taking a few precautions when transporting your instruments is a good idea. You might even want to work with a professional like Wheaton World Wide Moving or someone similar.
Consider a Car Service Contract
Your vehicle is vital when you are on tour. You should make sure that the vehicle is inspected before leaving and that you have a good repair insurance for the road. If your car is older, a car service contract is especially important, unless you are renting a car. The last thing you want to deal with is repair expenses while you are on the road.
These are just some of the tips that can help your tour go as plan. Those who are in contact with bands who have gone on tour should learn from them as well. You are still going to hit a few speed bumps, so try to learn from those, too.
