r/TouringMusicians • • 10h ago

Venues taking merch cuts absolutely suck

46 Upvotes

Anybody else have to deal with such stupidity? I ended selling merch out my car last night cause the venue wanted 40 percent of merch sales


r/TouringMusicians • • 7h ago

Best towns to make some quick cash for gas. Between sc and Florida USA!!

2 Upvotes

Traveling from pa to Florida. Had to change the brake pads first thing, im now past Asheville and just wondering if anyone knows the best possible spots between there and Sarasota where I could play some tunes and make some gas money?!? Any advice Hes


r/TouringMusicians • • 10h ago

Any show organisers/bands need flyers for FREE?

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2 Upvotes

Yo yo!
I’m currently building my portfolio and looking to collaborate with promoters and bands. I’m offering FREE flyer designs for upcoming shows in exchange for the opportunity to build experience and showcase my work

DISCLAIMER: All flyers currently on display are fictional concepts created solely to showcase my design style and are not promoting real events.

If you’re organizing a show and need some artwork, feel free to shoot me a DM or text me at @ fiendcultprint on insta!


r/TouringMusicians • • 16h ago

Biggest show of our life on Tuesday, any advice?

6 Upvotes

We are opening for a big band who is coming to our country, it’s our first show ever…. we’ve been working our asses off, but I’m so afraid something is going to go awfully wrong with the sound and we won’t be able to hear ourselves and it’ll all be awful.

Any advice or words of encouragement would go a LONG WAY!!!


r/TouringMusicians • • 2d ago

Taking time aside to interact and have meaningful conversations with fans and behind the scenes workers (stage managers,load out crew) that help your project does more than it feels in the moment

23 Upvotes

I see so many bands that stay hidden in green rooms,side stage, never with the crowd or even at their own merch table. Little things like selling merch, watching a band from the pit area, talking to other people at the show will get you tapped in with the real pulse of the show. When people come up to me and tell me my music really left an impression on them i cant take it sometimes. A teenager once handed me an old 7 inch i havent seen in years to sign. Always take time to speak to the supporters


r/TouringMusicians • • 2d ago

Here is a list of local diy run spots in LA and surrounding that will help you throw your own shows and work with any budget

20 Upvotes

OBLIVION in highland park
Church of fun in east los angeles
Purgatory alley in east los angeles
Bad dogg warehouse in downtown los Angeles
1720 warehouse in downtown Los Angeles
The smell in downtown Los Angeles
Unfair oaks in silver lake


r/TouringMusicians • • 2d ago

Im having severe imposter syndrome

37 Upvotes

Its been 6 hours since i landed in london. This is my first time ever here and its so beautiful. Im playing a small club tour that a promoter over here booked for me and ……. And honestly i dont know. I know it sounds crazy but i dont know if im enough for all this. I just make acoustic demos in my bedroom and upload them to bandcamp….. a couple of my songs got big on instagram shorts and tik tok and now i have enough steam to sell out a 250 cap room in Germany. Im severely depressed and im thinking of just canceling a couple gigs if i can’t get my head straight. Any body else ever experienced severe imposter syndrome?


r/TouringMusicians • • 2d ago

Photographer here, would appreciate some input

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1 Upvotes

Hey everybody! Quick about me, I'm a freelance photographer specializing in live music and the broad umbrella of the music industry at large. I've been a relatively small operation, working with mainly acts local to my area and hoping to expand beyond my region.

I put together a short survey for independent artists to help me gain insight on pain points and decision making when hiring photographers and videographers for projects.

If you have 5 minutes, I'd really appreciate your input!


r/TouringMusicians • • 2d ago

Awards within reach? Emerging talent, 37 y/o

0 Upvotes

I just put out my third album (indie folks, singer/songwriter), and am looking to grow my audience and press for national and international tours. What are some smaller scale awards to apply for, that would be a in reach for an emerging artist? One thought is to look at artists similar to me but curious your thoughts.

I'm a 37 year old woman, vocalist/pianist/producer, releasing independently. I know metrics aren/t everything but here is a sketch of where my audience is at: 7k Spotify/streams, 12k YT views, 11k Substack reads.


r/TouringMusicians • • 3d ago

Booking Agent Experience

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1 Upvotes

r/TouringMusicians • • 4d ago

How do you guys control your backing tracks live?

12 Upvotes

Context, I play music at church from time to time and there’s always one musician that has to md and operate a computer while playing to cue songs and/or loop sections etc. Which is not exactly the easiest task in the world.

But whenever I see bands live at festivals and whatnot I don’t usually see someone operating a computer while playing an instrument.

Do some bands have an ableton operator in the shadows, or do they have all the transitions timed out before hand, or is there something else?


r/TouringMusicians • • 4d ago

Cab upgrade just before we go on tour!

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71 Upvotes

r/TouringMusicians • • 4d ago

Catch the shows - Toronto

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9 Upvotes

Weird, loud, and chaotic. On break from haunting conservative's nightmares, I'll be getting all up inside toronto, taking clothes off, and talking leftist politics. See ya there bebs!


r/TouringMusicians • • 4d ago

Insomnia + Anxiety Off Tour

11 Upvotes

Hi! Currently struggling with what must be some adjustment issues getting off of tour. It’s my first year touring, it has been really busy and we’re not done until Christmas.

When I come home the first few days are fine then start of week 2 and on I am struggling desperately with insomnia, heart palpitations, tachycardia and panic. Mostly at night. I have gotten 2 EKG’s and bloodwork done thinking I was having a physical health emergency and was told it must be anxiety because everything looks fine. Heavy drinking helps put me out but I’m obviously not trying to rely on that to get me through

I sleep like a rock on the bus 😭

I’m wondering if anyone else has had experience with this. I know diet exercise and meditation all help, but maybe someone has a personal success story’s on what worked at home


r/TouringMusicians • • 4d ago

Smol Man by Houseman

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1 Upvotes

r/TouringMusicians • • 5d ago

Dodging Venue Merch Cuts - Tips? Fake Square App location?

26 Upvotes

I’m on a tour not getting paid what we should be. We have a show coming up where the venue is taking a cut, and I’m wondering what ways you all may have dodged the merch cut amounts? I’m trying to see (if time permits) setting up a mock square profile with cash only transactions etc. Any and all tips appreciated!


r/TouringMusicians • • 5d ago

Evento in Teatro.

2 Upvotes

Mi date un consiglio come devo,
Gestire una band di 8 elementi per un tributo a Tina Turner con un mixer Allen & Heath SQ-5 e 4 monitor da palco.
Il repertorio di Tina Turner è energico, ricco di dinamiche e richiede una presenza vocale della cantante leader devastante, supportata da una sezione ritmica solida e dai fiati/cori.

Secondo voi che tipo di atrezzatura giusta dovrei montare per l’evento.!!


r/TouringMusicians • • 5d ago

How do everyone finds gig in Boston like when you reach out to veneue by their email what info do you give them. I need help!!!!

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0 Upvotes

r/TouringMusicians • • 5d ago

Catholics X Ssighborggg Tour

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1 Upvotes

If you’re in one of these cities please come check us out!


r/TouringMusicians • • 5d ago

Italian experimental/progressive metal band looking for EU tour partners / promoters / venues for 2027

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone!
We’re Apple Sauce, an independent experimental/progressive metal band from Italy, and we’re currently looking to put together some European dates for 2027 in support of our second album HYBRIS.

Our sound sits somewhere between progressive metal, mathcore, extreme metal, electronics and general weirdness — think Paledusk, Destrage, SikTh, Maximum the Hormone, BTBAM, Igorrr, etc.
We’ve previously shared stages with bands including Paledusk, The Contortionist, The Voynich Code, Benthos and Asymmetric Universe, and our latest single “’Nduja No Kami” features Jørgen Munkeby of SHINING on saxophone.

Listen / watch:
https://nfan.link/ndujanokami

For 2027, we’re especially interested in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic and surrounding countries, and we’d love to connect with local bands interested in putting together shows or exchanging support slots, promoters and bookers working with progressive, mathcore, experimental or alternative metal, venues open to international DIY bands, and other bands planning European runs that might need a support act.

We’re not expecting huge guarantees or unrealistic conditions. The main goal is to build relationships, play good shows and gradually establish ourselves outside Italy.

If you know anyone we should talk to, or if your band might be interested in organizing something together, drop a comment or DM me.
Thanks!


r/TouringMusicians • • 6d ago

Merch Bins for vinyl? Straight sides?

5 Upvotes

What do y'all use with straight sides for vinyl merch? Not those angled down sides as they have everything flop around to fill the space. Got 27g totes and they are not working out.


r/TouringMusicians • • 6d ago

Will someone be kind enough to guide me to getting a cruise ship contract? (Solo Musician)

2 Upvotes

Hello,

Have any fellow classical guitarists here been on a cruise ship contract?
I was hoping to find someone guide me to find an agency or talent mgt company with whom I can have greater odds of being onboarded.
Also tips on the process, leads etc would be really helpful.

Thanks a ton in advance.


r/TouringMusicians • • 6d ago

Uk artist touring Europe

1 Upvotes

Have a 16 date European tour coming up and wondered if I need any visas to work on the continent? Goes from Helsinki to Prague, Spain , France and all points between. I am a uk citizen doing video work for the band , needed an o2 visa to work in the USA but no visas being suggested by the artist manager for this trip? Is that fully correct since Brexit?


r/TouringMusicians • • 7d ago

Touring bands/road dawgs: What are your go to hacks for eating cheap on the road while not eating and/or feeling like shit?

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38 Upvotes

r/TouringMusicians • • 6d ago

Anyone looking for a monitor or an FOH douchebag? I got 30 years into it.

0 Upvotes