Hey,
In light of the article I stumbled across earlier regarding the "dark side of touring" (http://www.theguardian.com/music/20...chological-dangers-willis-earl-beal-kate-nash) I'm seeking some advice about something I'm quite anxious about.

My passion is music, it always has and always will be. I love writing and recording music and like performing it. The thing is, as much as I'd love to network in the music industry I just don't see myself ever wanting to tour for 2 years straight after releasing an album.

Now while this topic was complex enough to keep awake last night I guess the questions are simple. Is touring necessary in order to successfully promote your music? Is the gruelling full-time touring schedule artists embark on necessary or is there a way to keep it to a minimum?

I feel like with the advancement of technology and globalisation via the internet that touring should no longer hold the importance it once did. I'd appreciate any feedback especially from those of you who are touring musicians as I know very few and the ones I do know unsurprisingly are not around to catch up for a chat.

Cheers,
Luke

 

That's kind of something I get man.
The problem is that it depends of your situation on the market. Touring, shows, have become a very important source of income for many artists because of internet in a way. The industry has lost money since its arrival, and as much as it gives many artist the opportunity to show what they create, well, it also has meant that they have to rely less on music distribution and more on touring or others.
So it depends what you do and what your situation is. But you might not have the choice.

 

Last edited: May 22, 2016

Well I have almost gotten myself to a point where I can work remotely, which is ideal for a touring musician but I simply don't want to sacrifice everything in order to live on the road permanently. Bands rarely even do any sightseeing in the 700+ days they spend in transit. If the only reason an artist toured was to earn money then I wouldn't need to. However, that's probably far from reality.

 

From what i've learned in the music industry, touring is what can make an artist's career long lasting and fruitful. A solo guitarist and singer who lives up the road from me has been independently touring the world since his music became recognised and has built his home (and stashed retirement funds) from the money he's earned from being booked for functions. His fan base ranges from 30-70, he is turning 70 this year and has survived everything the tour life has thrown at him.

His fan base is not massive but i'm sure he falls into the ' 1000 fan ' rule which in today's world would have to be like 20 000, Google further into that topic if you wish and apply it to your scenario.

When I look at how the industry works today, I see a similar pattern for Hip Hop acts to rock acts etc..
1.)Record album
2.)Promote album
3.)Mix/master album
4.)Release album
5.)TOUR
Repeat.

I'll use Drake and Future's What A Time To Be Alive 'mixtape' as an example.

They promoted the collaboration A DAY BEFORE IT RELEASED.
Released and sold like crazy the first week
The next week the album sales dropped by 89% (all estimates from sources obviously)

And now with the release of Drake's new album they're going to be touring together and are going to fill out every venue they book.

Look at the estimates Billboard did of Taylor Swift's 2015 figures

This info is just from my observations of the industry, so take what you need from it. I'm sure if you could sell enough digital copies, physicals, generate Youtube revenue and sell merch you could make it. OR you could be like me and get upfront cash from artists and produce their music. Upfront money is always nice.

In terms of ' the dark side '. Eat healthy, don't dabble in drugs and cigarettes, exercise, and have someone to talk to about how you feel and I rate one could survive, everyone reacts differently though.

Nice display picture btw, I had a good laugh.

Peace

 

Last edited: May 22, 2016

Are you already successful or well-known enough to book an extensive tour? Who would be doing the booking? Are you signed to a record label that has paid your recoriding costs and obliges you to tour to promote a release and to recuperate its costs or an advance? Does your music even have a following, which would warrant or enable you to tour?

I am a non-performing musician, because I'm not much of a performer, I'd never liked having to keep a band together, and it's too great an undertaking to form a band and try to get local gigs with it, much less to book an extensive tour. People try to "advise" me with, "Playing live is how musicians make money now," even though most mainly do so from merchandise sales, and, "Touring is how musicians get their music known," even though these people have no idea of the scale of economics of keeping a band together, outfitting it with gear, keeping humans' expenses paid, and so on. One can't just get up out of bed one morning and announce, "I'm going to book a 70-city tour for my yet-to-be-formed band!"

The thing is that one would think that the Internet would have made promotion of one's music easier, but it's made it more difficult. Now, on the Internet, more people with no talent are able to rise to the same level of prominence as those with a lot of talent, so it would seem necessary to promote one's music in a real-life setting where people go to listen to music performed.

The article, by the way, is fairly accurate. It didn't mention that one reason why bands' music sucks after they get signed to a major label is that they have to tour their butts off and burn themselves out. Before signing, they'd had the leisure to come up with their good stuff and were connected to the source of their collective inspiration, the life from whence their music had come. That all gets left behind on tour.

 

Guys, play front of a crowd is a meeting, a junction between people, between artist and fans, people who discovered your band etc …
Music needs real connection to take it in the global message, live sound characteristics etc… Because it's live and not just an album production.
First of all (in the majority of cases) it's a meeting between musician, creators, composers who decide to work and build something together and then to show it live.

I'm in the music industry since more than 20 years. As musician, composer, producer I've never saw the live show as something we could eliminated,for any reason. People needs to see you live, that's why the live show industry is working as hell as never. Ok it's hard, very demanding for sometimes nothing. But this is the way to be in real connection with people, talking after show around a drink.
This article http://www.theguardian.com/music/20...chological-dangers-willis-earl-beal-kate-nash is quiet interesting but hey! Come one! Touring is far from hell! If you decide to not being on stage, as on tour, but just sometimes, why not.
But you are missing something here, believe me. the Repetition of a live show in tour is a real good way to practice your art, instruments, your way to compose, arrange, re-arrange, because front of you it's direct.The crowed will let you know. Again its a meeting between two world.

Artists / Musician on live show tell stories to people like back in the days, when troubadour came across village to village to tell stories about king, war, marriage, bla bla ect … This is where it from. If you cut it, stop it. Well, no more tiny ultra cool club (usely tones better than fucking huge sudo hype expensive venue). No more access to art, poetry, culture for lambda people.
Internet is great but please don't mix, misunderstood the point: some stuff needs reality, organic, Life god sake!!

 

Point well made, Reminds me of every time I skim past a cover song on Youtube recorded with autotune

 

I appreciate the replies so far guys. Just to clarify, I'm more concerned about the sacrifice of giving up everything to live on the road for large periods of time after releasing an album. I have a source of income that can be turned into a remote working arrangement if necessary, which would enable touring. However, I'd like to know of other avenues that an artist can take to expand their fanbase that allows the importance of touring to be alleviated. I'm an original musician. I play instruments, sequence, sing and invest a large amount of money in recording at professional recording studios. I take my art very seriously and want to be up there with the best of them. If living out of a van and eating, shitting and sink-showering at McDonalds for two years doesn't interest me does that mean that my music does not deserve to be heard?

I got a bit worked up there.

 

There are several questions before, like stevitch said ;)

But as general point, if you make your own music :
- streaming your music will give you NOTHING, money wise. Internet is a b*tch.
- real money will come from everything witch is NOT virtual, but REAL things : touring, merch, paid shows...
Of course, some ppl will pay even for virtual...but don't count on them.

As a side note from an old fart : NEVER work for nothing if you want to push your music.
I've seen too many friends loosing their time and energy playing for (almost) free in bars and small venues.
It is great for fun, not for anything else. You already have Internet to promote you with nothing in return :D
But those f*ckers, cheap *ss ppl can't show a video instead of real artists. They want artists ? They pay...or they die.

You don't have to go "big" at first. You don't need top studio, to record top quality first record.
You don't need big venues at first, too. But meeting the right ppl can help, ppl in the same spirit than yours.
I've seen countless impressive ppl, still making music even without big venues and media coverage.
Like "Diary Of Dreams". Or "Senser".
You can have your head in the stars AND your feet on the ground.

Did you heard "Birdy" first album ? Almost all songs are "one take piano/voice", you can even hear the piano chair when she moves...and it still a top album, even if i'm a metal head ;)

At the end, it is more a question of philosophy than answers.
Good luck with anything you do, fail or success :D

 

Essential these days, to make money and sell merch. Weasel your way into touring with known acts, hang out in the clubs and get to know the house DJs and management - at as many facilities as you can. But, try not to drink while you're doing it. A national tour is the best for promotion, but your day job has to allow for it.

 

I think it's the most important things nowadays, mostly because of internet that killed most things regarding albums and such. But it always depends on the situation, if you can perform live then yes, but if I cannot (like me, for certain reasons) then there are other ways to make the money, but touring will always be the best choice for that I guess.

 

Touring is harsh. Been there, done it, sold the T-shirts etc. Constantly on the move, not knowing where you are, what the venue's going to be like, nor the day of the week, nor whether you're actually going to make it through the day without wanting to kill someone (preferably twice). Go home after twelve weeks solid, sleep without waking for three days and do it all again. It's f****ing hard.

On the other hand, giving audiences an unforgettable experience is where it's at. It's everything and nothing - just smoke and mirrors, right?

Money. Sure. It helps. It's not why you do it, though. You do it because no force on earth can prevent you from standing on a godforsaken stage, soul-naked, bleeding out from self-doubt and stagefright and pouring out your heart.

Touring will change you. Absolutely. For the remainder of your life. Once you disconnect from "normal" society, once you get the bug, once you've had the massive highs and lows, the breakdowns and the comebacks, you're different. Always and for ever. That's show business.

If money is your only motivation, don't do it. Be safe. Go do something better with your life, something meaningful like selling cars, or insurance, or stacking shelves in a supermarket. The people who tour purely because they essentially need the cash are mostly the crew. That's a good life, too. But whatever you do, always remember one thing...... never, ever forget who shines the spotlight on you. You need them - they don't need you.

 

I feel like I haven't explained my questions clear enough.

 

You did.
You can sell your music (to live from it you have then to be very successfull), you can sell products through your music, or you can go meet the fans and sell them tickets and products. Or a mix of them all.
More important enjoy making music.