Touring Tool: AAA Membership

No, no, not AA - you can get yourself a membership there after the tour. AAA or the American Automobile Association is a service organization that is best known for their emergency roadside assistance, but offers many more handy services for drivers of all kinds. AAA can be a lifesaver both for booking a tour and for any assistance you may need once you get out there.

A Classic Membership for $67 buys you a year worth of the following services:

24/7 Roadside Assistance: This is the reason most people join AAA. And when you're touring the country in a busted up 10-year old van, this is reason enough. AAA's roadside assistance will come to your rescue for anything from keys locked in the car to a flat tire to a dead battery to a breakdown. A Classic Membership will get you towing for 7-miles. For a $96 a year Plus Membership you can get free towing for up to 100-miles.

Personalized Driving Directions: This takes all the guesswork and complications out of mapping your route from one show to the next. Let someone at AAA do it for you so you can focus on promoting your gigs. They provide you with a TripTik Map designed exclusively for your stop-and-go journey.

Discounts. You can receive anywhere from 10% to 30% off shopping, dining, and hotel accommodations as well as car repairs. The membership pays itself back pretty quickly when you're doing lots of roadside dining and hotel-staying. 

After a year, the Classic Membership fee is $47 annually, and the Plus Membership becomes $76. Have everyone in the band pitch in $15 bucks to protect yourselves from the hazards - and expenses - of life on the road. 

Hit up AAA.com for more info and to become a member.

Reports From the Road: Fixer, "Horns Up, Tops Down"

Rock n' roll road dogs, Fixer, are at it again: wreaking havoc across the US with their gloriously filthy testosterone-charged ROKK on the "Horns Up, Tops Down Tour". The kings of the New York music scene were awesome enough to offer us a glimpse into their down and dirty life on the road with this blog, written by frontman, Satan Evan Saffer: 

Last night Fixer did one of three gigs in the massive state known as Texas.  We played in Beaumont, TX.  Anyone who thinks the news is hyping these hurricanes, think again.  We drove through a destruction zone, houses blown in, fences and rooftops caved in, trees down and debris everywhere.  I was a little worried that no one would come out to a rock show if they were busy repairing the roof.  I was also worried the venue wouldn't be standing.  It was called the Outlaw Drinking Club and for good reason.  First of all, it's a solid brick bunker with no windows.  Reminded me of the movie "From Dusk Til Dawn".  Tumbleweed and highway and all rock, metal and country music on the jukebox.  We rocked that club and the owners and bartenders were awesome people.  There were plenty of southern boobs out all over the bar and the rock n' roll was flowing loud and clear from the stage.

To become a member of the Outlaw Drinking Club one must drink (all in one pint glass):  1 shot of Crown, 1 shots of Jim Beam, 1 shots of Jack, 1 shot of Jager, 12 shakes of Tobasco and a shot of Grenadine.  Fixer was warned this is not a light drink and to take it easy, in true Fixer fashion we became legitimate Outlaws.  The drink is titled "Lucifer's Sweat" which may have inspired a song in me if not a stunning hangover.  You get a thick chain to wear on your belt for being a member.  Seeing as I have no ass to begin with the chain would pull my pants down, it's so damn heavy (must be 10 lbs of chain), so in true outlaw fashion I told them to keep it.

The fun didn't stop there.  We were 6 hours from Laredo, TX (our next gig) and have the Best Buy in store acoustic today.  We decided to make some time and drive a few hours after the show.  EVERY hotel was completely sold out because people are living in all the hotels because their homes are destroyed!  We went to town after town as the sun started to rise.  We're all nursing terrible hangovers and no place to sleep.  I woke up to the van parked in a parking lot with the sun baking our sticky, sweaty, aching bodies, all the doors and windows of the van open, feet sticking out of windows like hillbilly hippies, and people arriving with their families to a shopping mall where we parked.  I woke the guys after some not so savory glances from concerned moms.  I took over driving (which is rare) and we headed south.  

Laredo, TX is right on the Mexican border and is not for the faint hearted touring band.  It's quite a drive of sunny highway to get here (and don't forget barely sleeping in the parking lot).  My left arm is baked from hanging it out the window singing along to the Doobie Brothers with Rev. This place is the real deal: Sunny and beautiful, in the desert, and everyone speaks Spanish.  

I just had an incredible steak fajitas with the perfect combination of steak, fresh salsa, cilantro, lime juice, raw onion, poblano pepper, rice and beans....mmmmmm, I took a picture for the food gallery.  I was the only white dude in the place (all mexican) so you know it was authentic.  That's how I like to travel and experience food and culture.  You're not going to get it hanging out in McDonalds.  The guys are sleeping, it's sometime in the afternoon.  I have to grab my gang and head to Best Buy.  The promoter Carlos is super cool and hooked us up with a hotel room to shower the grime and road off of us.  I just walked down the street in my Great Britian jeans, studded vest and sunglasses in 100 degree blazing sunshine for that damn fajita (was worth it).  I got a few honks from passing cars with the horns up (no tops down...sad face).  Now the sun is waning and it's time to Roll (then ROKK!).  Stay tuned.

Cheers,

Evan

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As though you're not enticed enough, Fixer's live show is incomparably loud, wild, and entertaining. You need to catch this band on stage to truly get the full Fixer experience. Hit up FixerMusic.com to buy their latest album, "Before the Sun" and plug into MySpace.com/Fixermusic for the latest tour dates, photos, and more insanely delightful blogs.

Get the Support of Local Bands.

Before you book a gig in an unfamiliar town, seek out the support of a local band to open the show. You'll want a band who has a good draw, but doesn't play to that particular market too much, as many local bands tend to do.  Do your homework on this one and find out just how many people they draw, how many people are on their mailing list, if they've played recently, and if they have a street team to help promote the show. You may also want to find out if they know of any other local bands that would be a strong addition to the show.

Your opening band can do a lot more than warm up the crowd for your ear-splitting set: they have the benefit of living in a town that you're only visiting, so they can flyer the heck outta' the place and promote the show to neighboring markets as well. More promotion equals more people at your show! 

Offer to pay the band back by supporting them the same way when they roll into your town. 

Rock on!

Reports From the Road: Otto's Daughter, Part II

Now midway through their "Angels and Monsters" Tour, female-fronted electronic rock band, Otto's Daughter, is checking in with another report from the road. This time, we get to hear from the whole band!

IRW: Now a couple weeks into the tour, what have you learned about life on the road?

JvB: It's fun; it's liberating. Just the road and music. This is what I'm supposed to be doing. Learning how to pack smarter and for every season.

Jim: I've learned that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I've also learned that if you're touring north, don't forget your coat.

Ro: Maybe take the rear seat out of the van and put a bed down!

G: Be ready for every kind of weather condition.

IRW: Where has the band been sleeping? Any interesting sleepover stories?

JvB: It's been pretty awesome so far...We've been very blessed, having some amazing friends and family members let us stay at their homes. Staying at Kristy's in New Orleans was fun, we helped them clean up after the hurricane mess. Pretty much everywhere we stay it's interesting and fun, especially when there are pets in the house - makes me happy! Ro has a great story from while we were in Florida!

Ro: Yeah, I could go into detail, but I'll try to make it short and sweet. In Florida, we stayed at Jim's sister's house. They have a huge cat that weighs at least 25 lb. that stays outside, but comes in every now and then. Having very little sleep, I decided to crash on the floor. My foot had been cramping earlier in the night due to me being flat-footed. As I was about to enter my first REM, I felt a sharp pain in my foot. I didn't know if it was a cramp or if a snake or alligator attacked me. Jacqueline was supposed to leave the cat outside, sure enough it was the cat that attacked my foot! I put the attack-cat outside, while cursing JvB, and went back to sleep.

A little while later I hear dbanging on the door. I went to the door, my face still smeared with eyeliner, and find Jim's sister's neighbor standing their. Did I mention he happens to be a cop? Let's just say he didn't know who I was, saw the van and trailer backed up to the garage, and thought I was robbing the house! I couldn't even unlock the dead-bolt to open the door! So here he is about to shoot my ass, and I'm yelling for Jim to come and clear things up. Luckily, he knew Jim and refrained from killing me.

Regardless of my heart beating a mile a minute from all the Monsters I drank that night, the cat attacking me, and nearly getting shot by a cop, I decided to go out to the lanai to lay down in hopes of getting some sleep. I noticed a lizard crawling on the screen, and as I was checking it out, I heard a hissing noise behind me. As I turned around to see where the noise was coming from, a big-ass stork with it's wings stretched apart comes charging at me! At this point, I'd really had enough and went in to crash on the couch.

G: No interesting stories for me, I'm just glad I brought my blow-up mattress along!

IRW: Have you had any crazy catastrophes happen? What were they?

JvB: No, and we like it that way!

Ro: Thankfully, not yet except for almost getting shot by the cop in Florida.

IRW: What have you been doing in between shows?

JvB: Sleeping, booking more shows, promoting on Myspace, photoshopping pictures, writing lyrics, keeping my journal up to date, walking around whenever I get the chance, exploring new territory.

Ro: Sleeping and driving.

G: SLEEPING and watching sports when they're on TV.

IRW: What's been your favorite show and why?

JvB: Club Midnight in Washington DC. That was the show that got the tour started. We did very well there, played to a full house and everyone loved us! Plus, I got to dance my ass off after the show!

Ro: Other than DC, I'd say Greensboro. Greensboro, North Carolina is where all my old friends are from and it's always great to see them. I'm always grateful for their support whether they like the music or not! DC turned out to be the best show by the reaction from our fans.

IRW: How has it supported the band to be on the road?

JvB: I can see why bands break up after touring: It's a great test for everyone. You learn to compromise, to think as a team, and to communicate. We all love doing this and people can feel that energy coming from the stage. No matter how tired we are, as soon as we hit the stage, everyone is ON. It's an incredible high for all of us.

Jim: We've been doing quite well between selling merch and club guarantees. We've also gotten way better as a cohesive unit on stage.

Ro: We have gotten a lot closer as a band, and we all realize it's not about any one person, but about the band as a unit. That has helped us out tremendously.

G: You said "unit", huh-uhhh-huh.

IRW: How have your fans supported you along the way?

JvB: Oh my god - it's been incredible! Our fans helped us get shows and then help us promote them online. They come to shows and sometimes have driven 4 hours to see us play! They bring us food, and sometimes let us stay in their homes. I'm very grateful for all of it.

Ro: Coming to the shows supports us for sure! the promoting helps too.

IRW: What have you been doing to stay healthy and stay in shape?

Jim: Loading and unloading the trailer; setting up and breaking down the backline; and eating less than I normally would when at home.

Ro: Same for me!

IRW: What's the longest you've gone without a shower? Who gets the stinkiest?

JvB: Ro smells, period! He needs to put a plug in his ass. So far, no one has smelled bad.

Ro: Maybe JvB is the stinkiest.

Jim: Only two days without a shower. Thankfully, I haven't smelled anyone else yet.

G: I think I only went one day without a shower. That's pretty good!

IRW: What's been your favorite moment of the "Angels and Monsters" Tour?

JvB: Every moment is special. Meeting our fans in person, making new friends, seeing old friends and family, discovering new bands, building relationships with club promoters. It's great to hear from club promoters that they want us back.

Jim: Every single show. Meeting new friends, and speaking to everyone at the shows. I also got to see my nephew, Daniel, in Florida.

Ro: Performing live, meeting new fans, seeing kick-ass bands, seeing family, and seeing parts of the States I've never seen before.

G: Being on stage and meeting new people - and meeting people we've been talking to online.

Check out Myspace.com/Ottosdaughter for tour dates.

Reports From the Road: Otto's Daughter, Part I

Before embarking on their "Angels & Monsters" Tour, Otto's Daughter front-woman, Jacqueline Van Bierk, took a moment to share with Indie Road Warriors what it's been like booking the tour as well as what there is to look forward to out on the road.

IRW: Tell us about the preparations for the upcoming Otto's Daughter tour. What have you been experiencing?

JVB: Lots of phone tag and back and forth e-mails with clubs, promoters and bands. Definetly important to stay organized and delegate. We kinda found a system that works for us. It can get a bit frustrating but at the same time it's exciting, I see it as a game, a challenge ;) We've experienced big time support and help from our fans and friends on myspace. Asking for support works! 

IRW: How have you been booking clubs and other bands to gig with? Who are you playing with?

JVB: Some bands we know, others we found, a lot of times the clubs get the line-up. So far we booked almost everything through myspace. Thankfully most clubs are getting with the program and do it all online, which saves everyone time and money. I'm not a fan of sending out press-kits. That's what EPK's are for. We are playing with some bands we've met through myspace (Cockfight Club) and/or played with in the past (Pillow Theory). Honestly, I don't really know most of the bands we're playing with. 

IRW: What's the biggest challenge facing indie bands booking a tour?

JVB: Getting a guarantee.

IRW: Where will the band be lodging along the way?  

JVB: No idea. In some places we have friends and family. Pretty much everywhere we go we have at least a handful of fans. We shall see. We're being extremely adventurous.

IRW: What's your tour vehicle and what's great about it? Who does most of the driving?

JVB: Ro got a Van. Pretty big one too. The guys will switch up. I don't really drive when on the road. I'm a great co-pilot. I'm almost always up when upfront, I keep the driver awake by being my goofy self, annoying the shit out of whoever is driving. muhahahahahaha

IRW: What's the band's favorite road food?

JVB: Jack in the Box & Subway

IRW: What are you looking forward to most about being on tour for a month?

JVB: Going out there and just doing it. Meeting all our myspace fans, especially the ones who've been helping us along the way.  And of course seeing old friends and fans. Going to NYC and New Orleans, my two favorite places in the world.

IRW: How do you plan to spend your down-time (time not spent on stage)?

JVB: I personally plan on doing a couple remixes for other bands and writing a ton of music for my other projects. And maybe finish a couple of books I've been wanting to read.

IRW: What's the hardest thing about leaving home for a month?

JVB: Leaving my cats with a stranger.

IRW: Is there anything you want to tell your fans?

JVB: We are extremely excited to meet you all!!!!

Somewhere between Pantera and Gwen Stefani lies Otto's Daughter. Combining contrasting worlds of brutality and beauty, OD succeeds at seducing the listener with tantalizing female vocals only to suckerpunch 'em with a fistful of bone crushing guitars.

Check out MySpace.com/OttosDaughter for a complete list of tour dates and to pick up a copy of their latest release, "A New Kind of Heroine".

Stay tuned to Indie Road Warriors for Part II of "Reports From The Road: Otto's Daughter".

Touring Tool: The Rand McNally Dist-O-Map

The Rand McNally Dist-O-Map is much more than a map, and it's not just some gimmicky gadget. This handy tool provides 11,000 city-to-city mileages for the United States. Plus, it's easy to use - just turn the dial to your starting point and mileages to dozens of destinations appear in the windows of the map.

Use the Dist-O-Map to reduce unnecessary driving and most importantly, to plan your budget. It's a quick and easy way to add up the total distance covered. Once you get that number, divide by the gas mileage of your tour vehicle, and multiply that by the average cost of gas.

Considering that it only costs $7.95, this is one investment that every touring musician should make!

Touring Tool: The Press Kit

You've played all the local venues, built a loyal fanbase, and developed a strong following. Now what? You're ready to branch out, ready to hit the road and bring your music to places it's never been. But where to begin?

Before you run out to book gigs and build a tour, you'll need some basic marketing tools so that you're prepared to make a lasting impression and secure the venues you want in this very competitive field. Many bookers and promoters want more than a Myspace site to visit. Below are some suggestions for building an effective press kit. It's important to note that these days, all of this can be done electronically.

The Demo

It is important for bookers to hear your music so that they know if you're a good fit for their venue as well as what bands to bill you with. It's always a total buzzkill to be booked with bands that play entirely different genres and draw very different crowds. For booking purposes, your CD presentation does not have to be extravagantly designed and packaged. It does however need to be simple yet professional. The band name, song titles, and contact information should be easily visible. Writing on a CD with a Sharpie marker doesn't cut it. If you want to be taken seriously, invest some time in creating printed labels or purchase printed CDs that can be packaged inexpensively paper sleeves.

The Bio

Keep it short, focused, and to the point. One page should be all you need. Include a very brief history of the band and its members. Nobody needs to know about the first time you picked up a guitar or how you and the drummer met, only include the vitals. Follow up with a descriptive paragraph about the band's music and artistic vision. Your band's name and contact information should be easily visible at the top of the page. You may also want to jazz it up by including a picture.

The Press

This is usually where bands falter. They either include every shred of press they've ever received or share none at all. Keep it between one full page and three pages. Keep the press current. A review from two years ago is worthless to a booker. If you have no press to speak of, go get some! Many online sites and Ezines will gladly review your record or live show. You can also hit up local college publications and music magazines. Your band's name and contact information should be easily visible at the top of each page.

The Promo Photo

These days it is easy and cheap to print promotional pictures. Depending on your budget, a professionally shot and enhanced photo is advisable. Be sure that your band's name and contact information is easily visible below the picture.

The Poster Sample

When you book a gig, you're going to need posters and flyers to promote it. I recommend designing a template that can be easily altered to include the show's specifics. 11x17 sized posters stand out best. By including a poster in your press kit, you are demonstrating that you're ready to promote your shows. Your band name and contact information should be easily visible on the poster.

The Flyer Sample

You can adjust your poster to a smaller size or create a different template. Once again, create a template that can be easily altered with each show's specifics. You should be able to fit four of these on a standard 8.5x11 piece of paper. By including a pocket flyer, you are demonstrating that you're ready to promote your shows.

The Stage Requirements

While this may not be necessary for all gigs, it's a good idea to include it anyway. Draft a simple document that outlines each instrument and each musician's microphone or monitor needs. Your band's name and contact information should be easily visible.

The Website

Include your band's URL where all of this info - music samples, photos, bio, press, contact info, poster & flyer samples - can be easily accessed.

Since licking stamps gets old real fast, and mailing weighty packages can get pricey, Electronic Press Kits are becoming a popular alternative to snail mail. EPK's make the press kit process easier and faster to use both on the sending and receiving end. Plus they can be used for much more than booking gigs! Be sure to keep your EPK up-to-date and easy to read. The site I recommend using is SonicBids.com.

Rock on!

Creating Lasting Professional Relationships to Increase Publicity & Bookings

As in any business, being in touch with the right people is often the vehicle that will get you where you want to go quickest and easiest. Whether it's securing a spot in a choice club or getting reviewed in a hot music mag, it can be a simple name drop that gets you in the door. 

For touring musicians, the road to success can be tricky to navigate if you don't stop to ask for directions. Keeping that in mind, it's important to nurture the relationships with people you meet along the way. You never know when one person or another will show you a shortcut in the path. These people are known as your contacts, and I highly suggest building relationships with them. Treat your contacts as a part of your ever-growing industry family and you will be well rewarded! 

Below are some simple suggestions for building better, stronger relationships with your contacts. Follow these simple steps and watch how easy it is to book gigs and gain some publicity along the way - I dare you!

1. Ask! So that it can be given.

All too often people don't ask for what they want. They just wish and hope that it will appear, then get frustrated and damn the world when it doesn't. Instead of wasting your time with that nonsense, just ask for what you want! If you're booking a gig in Austin and want to play in Houston as well, ask the booker in Austin if he knows anyone you could talk to in Houston. you'd be surprised at how easy it is to book gigs when you come with a referral. 

2. Extend the Invitation

Invite bookers to your gigs. In many cases, the booker may be too busy to attend, however what you've just done is implant your band into the forefront of this guy's mind and kept him informed on the progress of your career. The more he hears you're gigging, the more attentive he will be to your band. if things work out, he may eventually make it to one of your shows.

This also works for music critics. When you're working on getting reviews, invite music critics to your gigs. This works especially well when you're opening for someone of interest. As you keep media contacts informed about your gigs, you're once again putting your band in their minds and keeping them up-to-date with your career's progress. Eventually, they just might accept your invitation and make it out to a performance.

3. Use the Guest List

Once you've extended the invitation, it's important that you put that person on the guest list. If your contact gets to the door and find out they have to pay, they may just turn around and leave. Most clubs offer a limited number of guest list spots, so invite accordingly. When your contact arrives to the club and sees they're on the guest list, they will surely appreciate it. These little acts of courtesy add up pretty quickly and may help you achieve the goal you've set up to achieve as it relates to a specific contact.

4. Follow Up

Relationship-building is always a work in progress. A few days after you've played a venue, call the booker and thank him for the opportunity. More importantly, ask him about his experience. You want to know if there's anything you can do better next time. Making a phone call to follow up on the results of your gig shows that you truly care, and a little care goes a long way! This simple act usually leads to the booker asking you to come back and play another night and will support you in solidifying a lasting professional relationship. In my personal experience, this tiny task has yielded the greatest results.

This is also recommended for bookers and media contacts who have actually shown up to your gigs. Follow up after a few business days, thank them, and see what they thought of your performance.

5. Send Thank You Notes

I can see you rolling your eyes from here. All too often media contacts, industry reps, club bookers, and promoters feel taken advantage of by artists. And with good reason. After all, we do want something from them, right? Those artists who zip out a friendly "thank you" email or drop a postcard of appreciation in the mail are the ones who get remembered and will be appreciated in return. Trust me, taking the extra step is equal to going the extra mile in your music career.

Rock on!

A Touring Musicians Guide to Owning the Road!

Welcome to Indie Road Warriors - a comprehensive guide for independent touring musicians and the fans who love them!

From booking venues to selling merch to keeping fuel in the tank, we'll cover it all. Plus you'll get to hear from warriors roughing it out there on the road in our exclusive Indie Road Warrior Interviews. Be sure to keep an eye on this page for a hearty dose of fresh rock from hot up-and-coming indie artists.

To create an incredible experience next time you hit the road, stay tuned to IndieRoadWarriors.Blogspot.com!