The Tour Book: How to Get Your Music on the Road (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: getting onstage, industry overview, backline techs, The Tour Book, Get Your Music, Millions of Americans (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Live music is a huge industry. In 2006, concert ticket sales totaled $3.6 billion in North America alone! Playing live is an integral part of the success of any musician, band, or artist. There is a huge difference between writing and recording your songs in your home studio or rehearsal space and going out and putting on a show. If you can't cut it live, then you really won't impress any audience, let alone gain a record deal and sell your music. So how do you make sure your show has the maximum impact? How do you appear professional and knowledgeable in an industry that has its own conventions, language, and baffling technical terms? How do you get booked into a venue and get paid? How do you then get bigger and better shows? The Tour Book: How to Get Your Music on the Road answers these questions and many more. It provides practical advice, hints, and tips on every aspect of putting on a live show, including rehearsal, equipment, travel, accommodations, show booking and promotion, sound checks, contracts, taxation, working abroad, and marketing. Featuring interviews and quotes from key industry figures and contemporary artists and musicians, The Tour Book is a must-have for any band or musician who is serious about playing live and making it big.

About the Author

Andy Reynolds has worked as an international concert tour manager and audio engineer for 18 years. He has toured continuously during this time, working on an average of 200 shows per year. Reynolds has worked for such bands as All-American Rejects, House of Pain, Machine Head, Nightmares On Wax, Pavement, Roots Manuva, Super Furry Animals, Skunk Anansie, and Squarepusher. He has also worked on tours by such acts as U2, Whitney Houston, Manic Street Preachers, The White Stripes, and Foo Fighters. His touring experience encompasses stadiums, arenas, theatres, pubs, bars, clubs, outdoor festivals, rooftops, subway stations, cruise ships, mountainsides, and very, very muddy fields. Reynolds has also lectured about sound engineering and modern tour management at Red Tape Studios in Sheffield, Liverpool University, and City College Manchester. You can learn more about the author at www.tourconcepts.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Artistpro; 1 edition (July 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598633716
• ISBN-13: 978-1598633719
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #318,304 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for anybody interested in modern concert touring, January 18, 2008

By	Barry Jepson (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Andy has, uniquely, written a book on modern touring that is authoritative and entertaining, but most of all- authentic. Most of the alternative literature I have encountered about touring seems to be based on opinions and observations of 'how it should be' rather than how it actually is- leading me to conclude that they were written by lawyers or other non-touring professionals. The live industry is conducted on a very professional level these days, but for newcomers there is little in the way of written material that can help them avoid the most common mistakes. The 'music management touring by numbers' approach is certainly not going to be of much use to the aspiring TM or new act on their first major support slot. I lecture on tour management and have made Andy's book required reading for my course- I might also add that my students have all been very enthusiastic about the book, so you can safely conclude that its a good read! Well done Andy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Job Andy- Extremely Comprehensive Resource, December 16, 2007

By	James S. Castaneda (LA and OC, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This has been an entertaining read and I really picked up a lot from Andy in this book. I bought it from a Barnes and Noble at the Grove shopping center in LA 3 weeks back and sped through it over the course of 3 days! There is an abundance of information regarding not only the business of touring, but also a chapter covering technical aspects and an explanation of equipment used and recording engineering theory. As both a tour manager and FOH engineer, Andy is able to explain touring more thoroughly than the many dry entertainment lawyers out there currently writing music industry literature (except for Don Passman and the Brabec Bros. of course!) I also enjoyed the international aspects of this book as Andy explains the differences between touring in the US and Europe. This would really be a good read for both artists looking to go on tour as well as people interested in working in the business. I will be lending this title to my lead singer and guitar player very soon if not buying them a copy for Christmas it was so informative!

My only gripe with this book was that it seems like it was rushed/ put together in a hurry. There are quite a few spelling errors that don't necessarily detract from Andy's credibility although it makes you wonder if an editor ever even went through the book. The copyright year is 2008 although I picked this title up in November of 2007, maybe a sly marketing strategy to keep the book looking current to potential buyers...The USD to English Pound conversion rates are also off although that is inevitably something Andy can not help! For the most part this book is extremely current and up to date.

Do youself a favor and pick this book up on Amazon for a good holiday read :)

-James Castaneda
Future USC Music Industry Student (Fall '08)
[...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Written by someone who actually works in the industry! , November 19, 2007

By	Eileen (UK) - See all my reviews

A brilliant and detailed guide for anyone learning about the industry, wanting to put on bigger and better shows or work behind-the-scenes. He obviously has a wealth of experience and is passing on the knowledge here.

This book contains extensive information about how modern concerts are booked, the main people involved, contracts, contract riders and some really useful technical tips.

There are some invaluable screen shots of example contracts and contract riders, tour budgets and technical documents, stuff like this is hard to get when you first go on the road. He actually explains the way it all works, how ticket prices are worked out for a show and how much money the artist should be paid and loads of other little gems. There are sections on marketing, health and safety as well as a couple of tour diaries that really spell out what happens at a modern show! Could save you many pounds/dollars/yens....

I mostly liked quotes and information from the people who work for bands like All-American Rejects, My Chemical Romance and the Artic Monkeys which for me makes it all real.