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Prototype Band Tour
and Work Schedule
by Christopher Knab - Fourfront
Media & Music - July
2002
Back to Music
Business 101
Most aspiring recording artists have a somewhat romantic idea about going
out on tour. After years of watching tightly edited versions of band tours on MTV, few developing artists ever
get a glimpse of the everyday life of a band on the road. When a tour is financed by a record label there is more
to it than just showing up for soundchecks in every city you visit. The label will put their bands to work. The
following fake tour schedule is based on a three-week tour schedule by a nationally known major label alternative
rock act.
Read over this document closely. Read every line of it, and when it gets to the daily work schedule, remind yourself
that going out on tour is really about hard work. Interviews with the press at every tour stop. In-store visits,
and 'meet and greet' schmooze events, then the soundchecks, and the endless routine of checking in and out of anonymous
hotels, and driving
lots of driving. As you read through this think about what kind of food you will be eating,
what kind of industry people you must deal with, let alone the time you will have to set aside to meet with fans,
sell your merchandise, sign autographs, get your mailing lists ready for people to sign up on.
And then, it's showtime
and you better be ON, because in every city your fans have been waiting to see you. They
have spent a lot of money to come to your show, and they expect you to be at your best
every night, week-in and
week-out.
Remember
this is only one, three-week tour. If you pay close attention to this tour schedule, you will notice that
early-on there are many details that show hour-by-hour what the band will be doing. However, as the schedule continues
to unfold, far fewer details of the band's activities are listed. This is very common because, depending on the
success of the marketing plan, there may not be that much interest in a fairly new band in every city of the tour.
So, labels leave things open, and can plug in new promotional opportunities as they develop. If the record is a
hit, the band will go out for many more weeks and months, and along the way repeat the daily work routines. So,
the band's management company will stay in close contact with the label, and alert the band for any new tour dates
or other marketing arrangements that have been setup.
Now you know why that classic old Mott The Hoople song said "
it's a mighty long way down rock n'roll."
Tour Overview/Highlights
Dates City Promotional Activities Venue
june 1----detroit, mi CXOX / 92X radio show @ phoenix plaza
june 2----cleveland, oh WTXM / xstream radio show @ tower city
june 3----state college, pa crowbar
june 4----lancaster, pa chameleon
june 5----day off
june 6----old bridge, nj birch hill
june 7----philadelphia, pa WYPL / new 100 radio show @ tweeter center
june 8----norfolk, va WWWR / the boathouse - new venue
june 9----boston, ma WBCOO / wboo radio show @ cmgi field
june10----new york, ny press
june 11----clifton park, ny northern lights
june 12----new york, ny press
june 13----new york, ny press
june 14----new york, ny tape mtv2 "rock show"
june 15----off
june 16----off
june 17----off
june 18----detroit, mi in store performance at tower birmingham
june 19----chicago, il in store performance at tower schaumberg
june 20----cleveland, oh in store performace at fye in mentor
june 21----off / travel
june 22----seattle, wa KDDN / alternative rock @ gorge amphitheatre
Daily Work Schedule Details
sat, june 1: detroit, mi:
92X radio show @ phoenix plaza amphitheatre
promoter: clear channel cap / ticket: 6500 / all ages
*l2 pm: station will do live interview at the venue and a meet and greet for radio winners
press: the news herald is a detroit paper - wants interview with steve at the venue
feature to run in the real detroit (weekly newspaper)
feature to run in the oakland press (detroit suburban daily newspaper)
feature to run in the real detroit paper to promote the in-store and new release
sheets: liberty hotel 1245 w. levin st. detroit, mi.
wheels: aftershow travel to cleveland
other acts: the dives, slimm, pasttie, simpletomes
guest list: check local press contacts, and retail contacts
*1:00 pm: load in
*3:00 pm: doors
*6:30 pm: in-person interview with the news-herald- at the venue
*7:00 pm: in person interview with 92x at the venue
*9:15 pm: prototype on stage
after show meet and greet with station winners
sun., june 2:
cleveland, oh: WTXM xtreme radio show @ tower city amphitheatre
promoter: clear channel cap / ticket: 6000
radio: this is the 89.3 xfest- xtreme wants a live on air interview from the venue
press: none
sheets: holiday inn 68597 n. columbia cleveland, oh.
wheels: station to provide shuttles to and from hotel to venue
other acts: fanta, zoup kitchen, town hall, almost ready, elbowroom
guest list: check local press and retailers
*11:00 am: load in
*1:00 pm: doors
*5:00 pm: in person interview with xtreme radio
*5:15 pm: take photos with the xtreme staffers
*5:25 pm: autograph posters backstage for 15 mins
*6:20 pm: prototype on stage
mon, 6.03 state college, pa:
crowbar
promoter: concerts east
cap / ticket: 650 / $15 / all ages
radio: none
press: cd review to run in the centre daily times (state college
daily newspaper) on june 3
sheets: overnight in state college guest dorm
*1:00 pm load in
*4:30 pm soundcheck
*8:00 pm doors
*10:15 pm prototype on stage
tue, 6.04 lancaster, pa:
chameleon
promoter: stan livingston
cap / ticket: 750 / $13 / all ages
radio: WQQT presents - pre-show "meet and grub" with the band at the venue's downstairs bar
press: the selfless owls a student newspaper of tinytown college - wants interview
wheels: overnight drive to new york
guest list: check local press and retailers
*1:00 pm load in
*4:30 pm soundcheck
*tba in person interview with (the e-townian at the venue -
*6:00 pm meet and greet with contest winners and staffers for wqqt at the venue
*7:00 pm doors
*9:00 pm prototype on stage
wed, 6.05 off
sheets: paramount hotel 235 w. 46th street new york, ny
wheels: overnight in new york
thurs, 6.06 old bridge, nj: birch hill concert hall
promoter: steve livingstone
cap / ticket: 1350 / $15 / all ages
radio: tba
press: palpablemagazine is a new jersey based tri-yearly arts / music
fanzine -wants interview at the venue
sheets: paramount hotel 235 w. 46th street new york, ny
wheels: none-overnight in new york paramount hotel again
guest list: check local press and retailers
*1:00 pm load in
*4:30 pm soundcheck
*5:30 pm in person interview with (fan magazine) at the venue
*7:00 pm doors
*9:30 pm prototype on stage
fri, 6.07 philadelphia, pa: tweeter center on the waterfront
venue: @ the waterfront in camden
promoter: clear channel 215.569-9400
cap / ticket: 25,000
radio: wyuu on-air interview not yet confirmed -this is the y-100 show.
station would like an in person interview at venue, station ids,
photo with staffers, band to sign posters
press: none
sheets: hilton, cherry hill 8567 30th ave. philadelphia, pa.
wheels: overnight in philly
other acts: yanniyawn, bold face lie, transit x
*9:00 am load in
*10:00 am soundcheck (must take place before doors)
*12:00 pm doors open
*4:00 pm go to the backstage "green room" to interview, record liners, sign
*posters for staffers, etc (label rep to organize)
*5:00 pm prototype on stage (main stage)
sat, 6.08 virginia beach, va: WRU / the boathouse
promoter: clear channel
cap / ticket: 2460
station contact: pd
radio this is the wru radio show
press: tba
sheets: founders inn 5641 indian river road virginia beach, va
wheels: after show travel to boston
other acts elephant fainting, watchoutnow, cymbol crazzy
*12:30pm load in
*9:50pm prototype on stage
sun, 6.09 boston, ma:
venue: cmgi field
promoter: clear channel
cap / ticket: tickets on sale april 27
station contact: pd-wboo
radio: this is the wboo "cave-in 2002"
press: none
sheets: swissotel 1 avenue de lafayette boston, ma
wheels: overnight in boston
other acts: dwan of destruction, roach motel invaders, the sticks, h.o.d., barefoot, I-know
*11:00am doors
*3:15pm prototpe on stage
mon, 6.10 new york, ny:
off day
sheets: paramount hotel 235 w. 46th street new york, ny
wheels: overnight in new york
tue, 6.11 clifton park, ny: northern
lights
promoter: stan levinstone / concerts east
cap / ticket: 1200 / 16+
radio: tba
press: tba
sheets: paramount 235 w. 46th street new york, ny
wheels: overnight in new york
*1:00 pm load in
*4:30 pm soundcheck
*7:30 pm doors
*8:30 pm opening act on stage
*9:45 pm prototype on stage
wed, 6.12 new york, ny:
press day being setup
sheets: paramount 235 w. 46th street new york, ny
wheels: overnight in new york
retail: in-store Tower Records midtown store (pending)
thu, 6.13 new york, ny:
press day being setup
sheets: paramount 235 w. 46th street new york, ny
wheels: overnight in new york
radio: college radio day (pending)
fri, 6.14 new york, ny:
press day being setup
sheets: paramount 235 w. 46th street new york, ny
wheels: overnight in new york
retail: long island indie store (pending)
sat, 6.15: day
off
sun, 6.16: day
off
mon, 6.17: day
off
tue, 6.18 detroit, mi:
instore performance @ tower birmingham new single in store!
radio: 101x is presenting the show and doing an live weekend 6/8 and 6/9 to build up show. will be broadcasting
live from the event from 4pm-9pm
sheets: holiday inn 34952 woodward avenue birmingham
wheels: overnight in birmingham
tba: in person interview with 101x at the store
*6:30 pm in store performance at tower recorda birmingham
aftershow meet and greet with 20 station winners at the store
wed, 6.19 chicago, il:
instore performance @ tower schaumberg
sheets: springhill suites 1550 mcconnor parkway chaumberg, il
wheels: overnight in chicago
*6:30 pm in store performance at tower records e. golf road / schaumburg
thu, 6.20 cleveland, oh:
instore performance @ fye sheets: best western 8434 mentor avenue mentor, oh
wheels: overnight in cleveland
*6:00 pm in store performance at fye store 7850 mentor avenue mentor, oh
fri, 6.21: vancouver,
day off
sheets: holiday inn 711 w. broadway avenue vancouver, bc
wheels: overnight in Vancouver
sat, 6.22 seattle, wa:
KDDN /alternative rock-radio
venue: the gorge
promoter: house of blues
cap / ticket: 20,
station contact: pd
radioL tba
press: tba
sheets: west coast wenatchee 201 n. wenatchee avenue wenatchee, wa
wheels: overnight in wenatchee
other acts: tba
*11:00 am: doors
*1 pm: prototype on stage
In Summary
I hope this gives you a little taste of indie promotion and life on the road. It's not all after-show parties and
groupies--it IS hard work. Are you ready for it?
-----
Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington. He
is available for private consultations on promoting and marketing independent music, and can be reached by email at: chris@chrisknab.net
Chris Knab's new book, 'Music Is Your Business'
is available NOW from the Music Biz Academy bookstore.
Visit the FourFront Media and
Music website for more information on the business of music from
Christopher Knab. |
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