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.