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!