Tourbinder Blog

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR TOUR – PART 5

If you’ve followed the Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Tour so far, you’ve determined that you’re ready, decided where you want to go, chosen the right venues, and successfully booked each venue. Now it’s time to decide what you need to bring on the road and make sure you don’t leave anything behind. Remember to pack light, because there won’t be much room.

Equipment

This is going to be different for every band, so you’ll have to take the time to make this yourself. Include EVERYTHING: guitars, backup guitars, guitar tools, drum keys, bass drum pedal, drum stick, cab chords, amps, mics, cable bags, pedals, tuners, even extra strings. Try to put things back into the van the same way and in the same bags each night, so that you are sure to not leave anything behind. Refer to this checklist after every show to ensure that everything get put back into the van.

In Your Tour Book

• Name of each venue and date
• Venue Address
• Directions to the venue (or use a GPS)
• Load-in Time
• Time that doors open
• Your set time
• Set length
• Set lists for each show
• Names of other bands you are playing with
• Merchandise Inventory checklist – keep track of what you sell and give away each night.
• Summary of contract agreement – are you getting a guarantee or percent of the door, and what are the agreed upon numbers? Are you getting free drinks or half-off food?
• Copies of contracts/email conversations with venues – every once in a while, you may run into a promoter who doesn’t want to give you what you previously agreed upon. Bring documents to prove your agreements.

Miscellaneous

• Healthy snacks – you are going to be eating copious amounts of cheap junk food on the road, and you don’t want anyone getting sick. You’re going to be in close quarters with everyone, so if one person gets sick, everyone’s getting sick.
• Towels and Washcloths – shower every day, and keep clean. You are going to be meeting tons of people on the road, and will be in close quarters with your band mates. Nobody wants to talk to the oily, pimply, smelly one.
• Camera / video camera – even though the flip cam has been taken off the shelves, find a way to document your trip. Uploading daily photos/videos is a great way to stay engaged with your fans from the road. But also, touring is a lot of fun, and you’re going to want to remember the incredible things that you see and do on the road.
• AAA card – just in case. Vans break down, and you want to do everything you can to not let that get in the way of a great tour. Also, take care of your van, and keep the oil changed.
• Appropriate clothes – always bring an extra pair of shows and more than one pair of pants.
• Phone chargers and laptop chargers
• MIFI card – if you can afford one, get one! It’s a great way to get Internet on your laptop from the road, so you can stay in touch with your fans. Otherwise, make sure that at least one band member has a smart phone, so you don’t disappear from the rest of the world.
• Business cards – you’re going to be meeting tons of people on the road, and you want to be able to give them something to remember you by. Business cards are standard, so try to invest in some quality business cards.
• CDs and Merch – Set a goal for how much merch you want to sell each night, and try your hardest to meet that goal each night. It’s a great way to get extra gas money on the road. I know that merch can take up a lot of space in the van, but the last thing you want to do on tour is run out of things to sell to your fans, so plan accordingly.
• Bottled water – you don’t want to be dehydrated on the road, and you definitely don’t want to live off of sodas and sugary drinks the entire time either. Water bottles are easy to refill, while gas station drinks will add up to be rather expensive.
• GPS – these are great for finding places to get food, and will also help you find the venues and get there on time.
• Extra show posters and handbills – If you get to your city early and want to try to drive in a little more traffic to your show, carry around a few extra handbills wherever you go. Ask locals for advice on where to eat and explore, and let them know that you’re playing a show and that they should be there!
• Safe / Moneybox – Keep this secure! Avoid internal arguments about money by keeping all revenue in one location. Whenever we got paid each night, we would put the money directly into an envelope inside the safe, and would use that money for gas. You can also decide on a per diem, and take that money directly from the safe each day.
• Credit Card reader – you will sell exponentially more merch if you have the ability to make credit card payments. Get a free square credit card reader and download the app for your smart phone or iPad.
• Sleeping Bags / Pillows – decide as a band if you want to have these or not. They take up a lot of space, but if you are going to be driving through the night, crashing on floors, or sleeping in the van, then these will definitely come in handy.

What are some other checklist items that every touring band needs? Share them here!

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Although Denver, Colorado may not be recognized for its musical historical prominence, it is the most populous city in the Mountain West, making it an important stop for many touring bands. The Mile-high city is well-equipped for touring bands, with many fantastic venues scattered throughout the city and fans eager to buy your tickets and merch. These are some of our favorite Denver venues. Comment and add your own!

1. 3 Kings Tavern – Capacity: 450 – 3 Kings Tavern tops our list for the best venue for touring bands in Denver. The booking staff is some of the best in the business. They treat touring bands extremely well, and are very professional with negotiating guarantees and door splits. Although they are Denver’s self-proclaimed “premier rock establishment,” they book a variety of acts from every genre, as well as hosting a burlesque night every so often. The bar is equipped with pinball and a pool table, and is a local favorite.

 

2. Hi-Dive – Capacity: 285 – The Hi-Dive has been named Denver’s Best Rock Club year after year by local press. Owned by a former Brooklyn resident and his wife, the Hi-Dive is an homage to the artsy hipster scene in Brooklyn. They host shows just about every night of the week, and also serve fantastic food and drinks at the adjoining no-cover bar, Sputnik. The sound and stage are decent, but the real perk is the coolness of the venue itself. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think you were in Brooklyn, judging by the young, in-the-know hipster crowd.

 

3. Larimer Lounge – Capacity: 250 – Larimer is quickly becoming one of the best venues in Denver. A year or so ago, they revamped their sound system, and now provide one of the greatest stages available to young emerging acts. They book a huge variety of acts, and the shows are perfectly intimate and high quality. They do however, tend book a little too much variety within one night, pairing touring bands with a completely unrelated local act that may not sound remotely close to your style of music. But other than that, Larimer Lounge has a great sound, and very friendly staff.

 

4. Herman’s Hideaway – Capacity: 500 – Herman’s Hideaway is one of Denver’s oldest, most well-known venues. The venue even helped launch the careers of Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Opie Gone Bad. They host shows Wednesday-Saturday nights, and book all genres of music. There’s a great dance floor, and the staff will treat you like family. They host local and national touring bands alike.

 

5. The Bluebird Theater – Capacity: 550 – The Bluebird Theater is by far one of the nicest, and most professional venues in the city, making it also one of the hardest to book. The stage and sound are top-notch, attractive to emerging and established artists alike. Although it is “theater”, it’s a general admission, standing-room venue. There are two floors that open up to one stage, and there is a bar on each floor. Even though the room is pretty big, it manages to still feel intimate as long as you can draw in a good crowd.

Bands love playing Denver, and there are so many fantastic venues to choose from. So, there’s a good chance that I left your favorite out. What’s your favorite place to place in Denver and why?

The capital of the United States, Washington, D.C. is a cultural and musical melting pot. Acclaimed artists of all genres have emerged from this city, and sizes and types of venues available to touring artists are similarly varied. Even if you are quite lucky enough to be able to fill the legendary 9:30 Club, there is a seemingly endless supply of D.C. venues who love to accommodate emerging touring artists. Below are some of my favorites:

1. Black Cat – Capacity: 200 (Back Stage) and 700 (Main Stage) – The Black Cat is hands-down my favorite venue to play in DC. The Back Stage is the perfect size for most emerging touring bands, and the sound is phenomenal. The staff is very friendly, and the venue itself is very accommodating. The backstage area includes dressing rooms and private bathrooms, which become increasingly important as the tour progresses. There is also load-in and parking the back alley, something that’s hard to come by in such a big city.

 

2. Rock & Roll Hotel – Capacity: 400 – Located in the emerging H street corridor, Rock & Roll Hotel has one of the coolest atmospheres and best sound systems in the city. Low-lit and adorned with occasional antique mirrors and chandeliers, this venue is the perfect blend of class and grunge. Although “Rock & Roll” is in its name, it will accommodate all genres, and can be either all ages or 21+, depending on the night.

 

3. Velvet Lounge – Capacity: 125 – The Velvet Lounge is an intimate venue that’s incredibly welcoming to a variety of acts, both touring and local. The stage is located upstairs, while the bar downstairs caters mostly to locals who will occasionally wander upstairs to see what new band happens to be playing upstairs. It’s easy to make the upstairs look packed because of the layout of the room.

 

4. DC9 – Capacity: 180 – DC9 is another fairly grungy, intimate venue that loves to host touring bands. But beware of the neighborhood that this venue is in, and be sure to keep an eye out on your van. The stage is located upstairs, and the downstairs is usually packed with locals. The stage is somewhat awkwardly located in the corner of the room, but as long as you can draw 40 people or so, the place looks packed.

 

5. Ebenezers Coffeehouse – Capacity: 100 – If you are looking for more of a low-key non-traditional venue, then Ebenzers Coffeehouse is absolutely the place for you. They don’t serve alcohol, but they have all the makings for a fantastic show, especially for lighter genres of rock, folk, country, jazz, and blues. This isn’t just a coffeehouse that happens to have live music every once in a while. They are equipped with a great stage and high-end sound and lights. Although I have never played this venue myself, it comes highly recommended from touring Tourbinder artists!

Bands love playing D.C., and there are so many fantastic venues to choose from. So, there’s a good chance that I left your favorite out. What’s your favorite place to place in Phoenix and why?

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR TOUR – PART 4

Everyone who ever booked a tour knows that this is the most tedious part of the process. Every venue is different, and every promoter books their venue a different way. But they all have one goal in common – to sell as much beer and liquor as possible. Sure, many venues will take a large percentage of ticket and door money, but they will make most of their profit from the bar. The promoter doesn’t care how awesome your new songs are or how popular you are in your hometown. The promoter is there to make sure that the club makes money. They aren’t bad people; they are simply doing their job.

Remember this when contacting venues. Your goal is not to convince the promoter that your band is awesome. Your goal is to convince the promoter that you will sell.

Get Organized

Before you contact the venue, have at least 3 dates in mind that you would be available to play. This can be difficult when you already have a tour route in mind, but remember that you simply have to be flexible. The earlier you try to book the venue, the better the chance that the venue will be able to accommodate your schedule. Also, be sure to check the venue’s online schedule so you aren’t asking for a date that is obviously already booked.

The venue is almost guaranteed to ask you about your draw. If you have played in the city before, tell them where you played, who you played with, and how many people were there. This is why it’s always important to take notes after each show. If it is your first time in the city, it helps to use fan analytics tools (like Tourbinder), so you can get a general idea of how many fans you have in the city.

Be Honest

If it is your first time playing in the city, be honest! If you use any fan analytics tools, you can give the venue an estimate of how many fans you have in the area. And if you have played there before, there is absolutely no need to fluff your numbers. It is incredibly important that you are honest about your potential draw at their venue. The absolute worst thing you can do is to tell a venue that you will bring 100 people, and only 12 show up. You are guaranteed to not play that venue (or even that city) for a very long time. Remember, promoters talk to each other about the bands they book. So don’t burn any bridges!

Be Professional

When you first contact a venue, it often helps to introduce yourself by saying, “Hi. My name is _______, representing the band _________”. You aren’t lying at all, but it sounds much better than saying, “Um hey. I play drums for this band and we’re really good… and you should book us.” Of course, if the promoter asks you if you are in the band, don’t lie.

Contact Local Bands First

Especially if it’s your first time in a new city, you are most likely not going to have a strong enough draw to support a show yourself. Do some research and find out what local bands are doing well in that city. Before contacting the venue, find a band that would be willing to share the bill with you. That way, when you contact the venue, you can sell the show as an entire package. The promoter will likely be familiar with the local band, and be more willing to book the full package of bands. This actually takes a lot of the work off of the promoter’s plate if you already have other bands lined up for an entire show.

Create an Angle

Remember that the promoter’s job is to make sure the venue makes money. Some promoters get hundred of band submissions, so make yours stand out! Make it an event, but make sure it ties into your band’s image. It may be a good idea to brainstorm some ideas for an entire themed tour. For example, I was in a band called Conshafter, whose biggest song was called “Porn Star Mustache”. So we did a “Porn Star Mustache” tour, where people could get in to the show for a reduced price if they came adorned with a mustache, real or temporary. It was a huge hit, and promoters loved it! If you can create an angle for your tour, or even just a few shows here and there, you will definitely stand out from the crowd!

Promoters will call you back if you give them a reason to. What are some other ways that have worked for you to book shows in new cities on tour? Share them here!

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There are few American cities that can top the amount of sheer talent that has borne from Seattle, Washington. From the postwar era emerged such names Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix. An entire genre of “Seattle Grunge Music” was named for the sound that came from major bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains. Today, Seattle continues to be a breeding ground for new talent, home to such bands as Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, Band of Horses, and Fleet Foxes, among many others. It is also the home of the influential record label, Sub Pop, as well as many important historic venues. If Seattle is on your tour route, check out some of our favorite venues in the city and add your favorites to the list!

1. Tractor Tavern – Capacity: 360 – The Tractor Tavern is hands down the best spot in Seattle for alt-country, rockabilly, roots, and Americana. The venues features the best local and smaller touring artists, as well as an occasional “secret show” from some of the American greats including Emmylou Harris and Ryan Adams. The “Double T” (as it’s often referred to by locals) is located in historic Ballard, just on the outskirts of Downtown Seattle. The crowd is typically a little older than some of the other Seattle venues and is strickly 21+, but they are always appreciative and enthusiastic. In addition to fantastic music, The Tractor Tavern also serves up fantastic BBQ and cheap drinks.

 

2. Chop Suey – Capacity: 500 – Chop Suey is probably the hippest venue in all of Seattle, featuring some of the most eclectic local and touring acts. The club is adorned with an assortment of miscellaneous Far East décor including black-and-white action photos of Bruce Lee and a statue of Buddha overlooking the bar. They also host giant dance parties featuring some of the best local and touring DJs. The club is almost always packed, and most shows are all-ages. The sound from the stage is superb and the staff is friendly.

 

3. Neumos – Capacity: 700 – Neumos is the reincarnation of the historic Moe’s Mo Roc’n Café, homebase of such Seattle legends as The Presidents of the United States of America, and host to everyone from the Flaming Lips to the Goo Goo Dolls. The venue is known for its punk and indie-rock, but they will book a variety of genres. It’s a larger venue with a lot of open space, so if you don’t draw well here, it will look empty. However, the fact that it’s located in the heart of downtown often brings in some foot traffic. A revamped stage and sound system provide a great venue for both bands and fans. They also take great care of the bands, with a fantastic back stage and green room.

 

4. High Dive – Capacity: 250 – The High Dive is a local favorite, located in Fremont, on the outskirts of the city. They are known for their strong drinks and cheap BBQ, as well as attracting some great up and coming local and touring bands. They host all genres from alternative, to punk, alt-country, and rock. It’s always 21+, so if you have a younger fan base, you may want to look elsewhere. They typically keep ticket prices fairly cheap to attract the local Fremont scene.

 

5. El Corazon – Capacity: 800 – El Corazon is THE place in Seattle for Punk, Rock, and Metal shows. The club has changed names a number of times, but remains true to its grungy punk roots. Even though it holds 800 people, it maintains an intimate atmosphere and never feels too empty. The crowd is always rowdy and ready for moshing. They host a variety of all-ages and 21+ shows, accommodating young and old crowds alike. If you fit the club’s image, then El Corazon is absolutely where you want to be in Seattle.

 

Touring bands love playing Seattle, and there are so many fantastic venues to choose from. So, there’s a good chance that I left your favorite out. What’s your favorite place to place in Seattle and why?

Want to getting booking information for these venues and more? Join Tourbinder today to get access to our complete venue database. Find out where in the country your fans are located, and route tours based on these “fanalytics”. See how Tourbinder can help you tour smarter at www.tourbinder.com.

Home to Ric Ocasek, David Byrne, Tori Amos, and Fank Zappa, Baltimore, Maryland is often a favorite stop for touring bands. A city rich with African American music history, it was also an important music publishing center in the early 19th century. Today, Baltimore bands produce a wide range of rock, punk, metal, and indie music, and is a popular spot for touring bands of all genres. If it’s your first time in the city, note that most of Baltimore’s clubs and music venues are concentrated in the areas of Fells Point and Federal Hill.

1. Ottobar – Capacity: 450 – The Ottobar has been a Baltimore rock, punk, and metal staple since 1997. It’s located in downtown Baltimore, and attracts everyone from Jimmy Eat World and Queens of the Stone Age to local and touring indie bands. The balcony overlooking the stage creates a great view for everyone in the audience. The stage is fairly small for a venue of its size, but it adds to the intimate appeal that attracts bands of all sizes. Most of the shows here are all ages, so the audience is typically chock full of young hipsters. The interior is a bit beat up, which adds to the punk-rock vibe of the Ottobar.

 

2. 8×10 – Capacity: 350 – The 8×10 is another great small club perfect for a touring band that already has somewhat of an established fan base in the area. The venue hosts a huge variety of genres, and is a local favorite in the Federal Hill community of Baltimore. The sound at the 8×10 is fantastic, and they feature a three floor backstage and greenroom area. For local bands, however, they often require that bands purchase 35 tickets in advance to sell to their fans. So unless the venue is confident in your ability to draw well (or if you team up with a popular local band), then you may have to jump through their hoops and sell your own tickets.

 

3. Sonar – Capacity: 150 (The Talking Head), 300 (The Club), or 1,000 (The Main Stage) – Sonar has the facilities to match any bands needs. I recommend either the Talking Head or the The Club for touring bands. The Talking Head is intimate and perfect for most touring artists that are building their fan base. Most of the shows at the Sonar are all ages, although they can accommodate both 18+ or 21+ shows. On weekends, they often have all three rooms booked with different shows.

 

4. Charm City Art Space – Capacity: 150 – The Charm City Art Space was recently named Baltimore’s “Best All-Ages Space To See Bands” from Baltimore’s City Paper. It’s a part-time venue that is run by volunteers. It’s a fantastic non-traditional venue option for touring bands. The venue is small, but the hospitality is phenomenal and they are very friendly to touring bands. However, because the CCAS is a part-time venue, there is not often a built-in crowd. This is an alcohol-free venue geared mostly toward young punk bands, but will host a variety of genres.

 

5. The Hexagon – Capacity: 165 – The Hexagon is another non-traditional volunteer-run gallery and performance space. It’s all ages and BYOB and is located in the Station North Arts District of Baltimore. They primarily book shows on weekend nights, and love to support emerging artists. The sound system is not the finest in Baltimore, but the friendly staff and atmosphere make up for it.

Touring bands love playing Baltimore, and there are so many fantastic venues to choose from. So, there’s a good chance that I left your favorite out. What’s your favorite place to place in Baltimore and why?

Want to getting booking information for these venues and more? Join Tourbinder today to get access to our complete venue database. Find out where in the country your fans are located, and route tours based on these “fanalytics”. See how Tourbinder can help you tour smarter at www.tourbinder.com.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR TOUR – PART 3

Picking a venue in your hometown may be fairly easy, because you know the local venues and have hopefully developed relationships with the local promoters. But finding the right venues on the road is a completely different story. It is often a guessing game, blindly calling promoters and talent buyers who may not have ever heard of your band. You’ve probably never even seen the club or know what to expect. So how do you know which venue to book in a city that you’ve never been to?

Talk to Local Bands

One of the easiest and most forgotten ways to research is to talk to local bands from the area. They are sure to have played the majority of the venues in the city and will give you their honest opinion of them. They will have also developed those key contacts and relationships that they could pass on to you. Venues get a ton of phone calls and emails from touring bands that they’ve never heard of, but as long as the local band has a strong reputation in the city, it never hurts to say, “So-and-so from Such-and-such band recommended that I talk to you.” It’s also always a good idea to have a local band on the bill, so this is a great way start that relationship early.

Do Your Research

Don’t just pick the first venue that you find in the city. Look around and really evaluate whether or not the venue is the right fit. Just about every venue has some sort of website that should include pictures so you can get an idea of the atmosphere of the venue. Check the venue’s calendar to see what bands have played there recently or are playing there soon to see if your genre would be compatible with the venue. Also, be sure to note the venue’s capacity so you can determine if it is the right size for your fanbase.

Check out the venue’s location on Google maps! You want to know if it’s in the center of downtown, which will attract a lot of foot traffic, or if the venue is in the middle of a strip-mall on the outskirts of town. You can even get the street view and get an up-close view of the building.

Use sites such as indieonthemove.com to read artist reviews of the venue. On Indie on the Move, bands rate venues and leave comments about their experiences playing there. Bands are typically very honest, and you can get a good idea of what your experience will be like.

The venue should be right for you and right for your fanbase. You should check Yelp.com for customer reviews. This is mostly important for your fans, because you want your fans to enjoy the show just as you enjoy playing it. You want to know if the place smells like rotting fish, or if they don’t serve alcohol, or whatever the case may be.

Check out Tourbinder’s blog series on The Top 5 Venues in City X for Touring Bands. We’re covering a different city each week, so if you’re travelling to one of the cities that we’ve covered, we’ll give you the inside scoop on which venues are best for your touring band. Finally, sign up for Tourbinder.com! For each city on your tour, we recommend venues that match your band’s genre and fanbase size.

Try Something Different

Remember that traditional venues are not the only answer! If you have a strong fanbase, or at least a few super-fans in each city on your tour, try a house party tour! It’s a great way to connect more directly with your fans and form life-long supporters. If you use email services such as FanBridge, you can send location-targeted emails to fans in a certain city. Turn it into a contest where the winner gets to have your band play at their house party for free! You may not get ticket sale money, but you’re guaranteed to sell a ton of merch, cause these people won’t want to forget the time you played in their backyard.

Smaller is Better

My last piece of advice is to remember that smaller is ALWAYS better. Know the size of your fanbase in each city (by using Tourbinder.com!), and pick a venue that will accommodate that capacity or smaller. Nobody benefits from you playing to an empty room. It’s not fun for you or for your fans, the promoter will hate you, and you won’t make any money. On the other hand, if you can sell out the even the smallest venue, your fans will feel like they are a part of something special. You will sell more merch and have a lot more fun on stage because the crowd will have a lot more energy. And of course, your promoter will love you, and love to have you back next time.

Now that you’ve decided that you’re ready to tour, decided where you’re going, and chosen the venues that you want to play, it’s time for the dirty work – contacting and booking venues… stay tuned for next week’s edition of The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Tour.

What are some other non-traditional venues that you’ve played on tour. Any other suggestions for researching and picking venues in a new city?

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This is the first installment of Tourbinder’s “Top 5 Venues” series for touring bands. Each week, we will focus on one popular touring location and highlight the best of the best venues in the city. First on our list is Philadelphia, PA:

1. World Café Live – Capacity: 650 (Downstairs) 200 (Upstairs) – Topping our list for Philly is the amazing World Café Live, a two-stage venue complete with two restaurants and live music 7 nights a week. The staff is incredibly welcoming, and the sound is fantastic on both stages. Upstairs is typically seated with tables in café style.

2. North Star Bar – Capacity: 280 – North Star Bar is a Philly staple, and a favorite for touring artists. The vibe is just right, the stage is big, and the sound is fantastic.

3. The Fire – Capacity: 125 – Although the stage at the Fire is fairly small, their hospitality toward touring bands makes it a Tourbinder favorite.  Their Wall of Fame includes Damien Rice, My Chemical Romance, OK GO, Cold War Kids, Jason Mraz, Iron and Wine, Maroon 5, Tegan and Sara, and John Legend. They host everything from rock to acoustic and indie pop.

4. Kung Fu Necktie – Capacity: 100 – Kung Fu Necktie features a small, intimate room complete with a red velvet curtained stage. They book a huge variety of acts, so no what your genre, KFN comes highly recommended.

5. Trocadero Theatre – Capacity: 1200 (Main Stage) 250 (Upstairs) – The Trocadero Theatre is the largest venue to make our Top 5 list, but have no fear! They also have a balcony stage on the second floor that fits about 250 people. But if you have the draw to fill out the 1200 capacity main stage, you will undoubtedly appreciate the beautifully ornate stage at the Trocadero Theatre.

Are we leaving your favorite venue out? What’s you’re favorite place to play in Philly and why?

Want to learn how to book these venues? Join Tourbinder (beta) for FREE to get access to our complete venue database. Tourbinder finds your fans via your social networks and routes a tour through the cities where you have the most fans. Now you can book, budget, and manage the best tour possible at www.tourbinder.com.

Home to such bands as Jimmy Eat World, Meat Puppets, and the Gin Blossoms, Phoenix AZ is a center for rock innovation. If you are touring in the Southwest, be sure to include Phoenix or neighboring Tempe or Mesa on your list of destinations. If you can land a spot on the first Friday of the month, “First Fridays” in Phoenix draw urban and suburban sprawlers alike out for a night of art of and music in the heart of downtown Phoenix. “First Friday” is concentrated on Lower Grand Avenue between Roosevelt Street and Van Buren, where you will find the first venue on our list of top venues for touring bands, The Trunk Space.

1. The Trunk Space – Capacity: 150 – The Trunk Space is an intimate all-ages venue right in the heart of downtown Phoenix. It’s part art gallery, part coffee shop, and part music venue, and is a Mecca for Phoenix teenagers and hipsters. Be warned though, they do not serve any alcohol at The Trunk Space, although you can easily stop by the Bikini Lounge just next door. They always seem to be looking for the strangest musical acts to book, and will book a huge variety of genres. The stage is very small and triangular, but the staff is fantastic. Although it may not be much to look at, The Trunk Space is a great, cheap, local favorite.

 

2. Rhythm Room – Capacity: 275 – The Rhythm Room is always a favorite for touring bands, and attracts big names and smaller emerging bands alike. It’s a fairly small venue with a consistent built-in crowd. They feature a house blues band, but will book rock and indie acts as well. They typically host 21+ shows, but will occasionally book all ages shows. Tickets are usually fairly cheap, and it’s always packed with locals.

 

3. Joe’s Grotto – Capacity: 216 – Joe’s Grotto is the quintessential dive bar to say the least. They host a lot of metal shows, but even have an acoustic open mic night once a week, and will book a variety of acts. The drinks and cover charges are usually pretty cheap, and the atmosphere is intimate and great for people watching. The bar is located a little ways off the beaten path in a strip mall, but is still a favorite for young and old locals alike.

 

4. Ice House Tavern – Capacity: 65 – Ice House Tavern is a dive bar through and trough with a very friendly staff and intimate atmosphere. The bar actually butts up against an ice rink, and the wall of the bar is the plexiglass of the ice rink. The bar’s owners always ask the bands for ideas or suggestions to improve future shows. Although the stage and sound aren’t the nicest of our “Top Venues,” the staff and welcoming atmosphere make it a favorite for touring bands. They tend to book local bands more often, so try to reach out to a local act to share the bill before contacting the venue.

 

5. The Compound Grill – Capacity: 450 – The Compound Grill is the largest venue to make this week’s list. This “Grill” is not just a restaurant that occasionally hosts bands, as you may suspect from the name. In fact, they have one of the nicest stages and sound systems of the venues that made our list here in Phoenix. It’s an all-ages venue that also boasts a fantastic menu. They generally book lighter, more family-friendly genres, including jazz, rock, reggae, acoustic, alternative, and classic rock.

 

Bands love playing Phoenix, and there are so many fantastic venues to choose from. So, there’s a good chance that I left your favorite out. What’s your favorite place to place in Phoenix and why?

Want to getting booking information for these venues and more? Join Tourbinder today to get access to our complete venue database. Find out where in the country your fans are located, and route tours based on these “fanalytics”. See how Tourbinder can help you tour smarter at www.tourbinder.com.

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THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR TOUR – PART 2

There are two big factors that come into play when you are deciding where your band should go on tour – scale and focus. How large of a tour are you ready for, and where should you focus? These questions are all a part of the pre-planning process and should be answered collectively as a band

Start Small

If it’s your first time touring, don’t come out of the gate with a month-long nation-wide tour. You will not be ready. You are bound to make mistakes on your first tour, so you might as well make them on a small scale first. You first tour should be something around a week-long tour within your own region. Your highest concentration of fans will most likely be around your hometown, so start there, and work your way out. This way, you will waste as little gas money as possible, you’ll get your feet wet in the touring world, and you’ll begin to expand your fan base beyond your home town.

Know Your Fan Base

This is probably the most important aspect of tour planning, and will help you to answer two key tour-planning questions

*Where will I be able to sell tickets?

*Where do I want to build my fan base?

Selling tickets and simply getting heads in the audience is key to keeping you afloat on tour. You might be relying on ticket sales to pay for gas on your way to your next city. So it is essential that you know where your fans live, and to tour in the cities that you know you have a built-in fan base already. Also, fandom is contagious! If you have some new faces in the crowd who see that they are surrounded by your band’s fans, they are likely to become new fans of your band. You’ll not only be able to sell more tickets in these cities, but also more merchandise. Nobody benefits from you playing to an empty room, so find out where your fans are concentrated, and go to them!

However, knowing where you don’t have fans can be just as important as knowing where you have fans. After all, the goal of going on tour for most emerging bands is to expand their fan base. So you may want to find out where your fan base is lacking, and try to hit some of those cities on your tour. Be sure to team up with a local band in those cities, and use their fan base to expand your own.

Hitting The Major Markets

Major cities are always going to have a larger built-in audience, better media outlets, and a wider range of venues to play, making them popular choices for touring bands to stop in. It’s often a great idea to hit some of the major markets on your tour, however, it should not be the primary reason to hit a city. You will often find that promoters in secondary and tertiary markets off the beaten path will be more willing to accommodate you, and you will also have less competition with other bands that may be performing in that city that night.

It also won’t do you any good to play in the big cities if you don’t have any fans there. Many young bands believe that they should play these major cities because they have a better chance of someone important in the audience seeing them and offering them a record deal. Here’s the truth: nobody is going to sign you if they see that you have no fans in this city and you are playing to an empty room. You will be much better off financially and opportunistically if you simply go to where your fans are and give them the best show possible.

Routing The Tour

This is often the toughest part of the tour-planning process. You now know what region(s) you want to tour, and you have a list of cities that you want to play, including your list of where you have the most fans, where you want to build your fan base, and which of the major markets you want to visit. Now it’s time to route an economical tour that takes you through those cities in an order that simply makes sense. You don’t want to waste gas travelling from one end of the country to another, only to backtrack for a show the next night. Although you will likely need to adapt the tour as you go, adjusting your dates as venues are available, it is important to have an optimal route as a skeleton to build off of.

Deciding when and where to tour is one of the most ambiguous processes for bands, although it doesn’t need to be at all. Tourbinder has simplified and improved this process by keeping track of where your fans are located, and routing an optimized tour based on this information. Tourbinder finds your fans via your social networks and routes a tour through your selected regions. It will also tell you your fan strength within the region, so you can truly understand your fan base in each city. Route, book, and budget the best tour possible here.

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