From packing the right equipment to keeping enough gas in the tank to get home, every aspect of making a successful tour with a band is addressed in this comprehensive guide. More than 100 luminaries and leading organizations from the world of touring—among them Chris Connelly, Henry Rollins, the House of Blues, and the Vans Warped Tour, as well as club owners, tour managers, and even sex advisors—provide handy insider know-how along with insight on mistakes commonly made by novice bands. Chapters address the nitty-gritty of touring, with instructions on how to secure venues and publicity, how to stay healthy on the road, and how to keep the budget in the black. Loaded with hundreds of years' worth of collective hands-on experience from those steeped in the music business, this is a must-have resource for creating an unforgettable tour.
Tour:Smart: And Break the Band
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"An inveterate self-promoter, Martin Atkins is, as usual, talking a mile a minute. But it's hard to resist being charmed by his rapid-fire banter, because as always, he has plenty of impressive accomplishments to tout." —Chicago Sun Times
"Tour:Smart functions as an uncensored companion text to [Martin Atkins'] classroom teachings." —Chicago Tribune
"In my six years of college, Martin Atkins was the man to clarify all the other instructors' psychobabble! He prepped me for the industry in a single semester." —Michelle Cho, PETA
"This is not advice. This is the Holy Grail." —Kraze
"If you are a music business major at university, this should be on your syllabus. —Blogcritics Magazine
"Atkins embodies the entrepreneurial spirit with a unique merger of creativity and business sense"—Dr. David Herrera, Belmont University
"Having been a part of seminal bands like Pigface, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Killing Joke, and Public Image Limited, when Atkins talked about the business of music, people listen." —Richi Corelli, soundsect.com
"The ultimate touring manual. . . . Tackles every conceivable aspect of getting the show on the road in a highly readable style." —Mojo
About the Author
Martin Atkins is the owner of the record label Invisible and has been organizing multiband tours since 1995. As a professional drummer he was a member of the bands Killing Joke, Nine Inch Nails, Pigface, and Public Image Ltd. He is a member of the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association and a professor at Columbia College Chicago where he teaches the seminar "The Business of Touring." He lives in Chicago.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 61 people found the following review helpful
By Jane Vincent
Format:Paperback
Man, I wanted to like this book, but I was really disappointed.
I'm in a bad that tours the country about twice a year, and has for the last few years, and I'd hoped this book would have some good advice. However, this book is aimed at bands who already play to a few hundred people a night, rather than for someone at my level. Also, it doesn't give you much advice on doing things without a big team behind you: for example, it tells you that you could book a tour without a booking agent, but doesn't give you much advice on how to actually do that.
I also felt like this book was aimed at men, and assumed that the audience it was speaking to was male (lots of sections seemed uneccesarily gendered) and HATED HATED HATED a lot of the sections about being a woman on tour. Ugh. The advice was things like "Don't pack too much makeup" and "Don't lose your keys." Srsly?
I've been booking tours and in touring bands for about 5 years now, and I felt like this was an interesting read for a peek into the life of a big band on tour, but was pretty irrelevant to a small band, and kind of insulting to female musicians.
I'm in a bad that tours the country about twice a year, and has for the last few years, and I'd hoped this book would have some good advice. However, this book is aimed at bands who already play to a few hundred people a night, rather than for someone at my level. Also, it doesn't give you much advice on doing things without a big team behind you: for example, it tells you that you could book a tour without a booking agent, but doesn't give you much advice on how to actually do that.
I also felt like this book was aimed at men, and assumed that the audience it was speaking to was male (lots of sections seemed uneccesarily gendered) and HATED HATED HATED a lot of the sections about being a woman on tour. Ugh. The advice was things like "Don't pack too much makeup" and "Don't lose your keys." Srsly?
I've been booking tours and in touring bands for about 5 years now, and I felt like this was an interesting read for a peek into the life of a big band on tour, but was pretty irrelevant to a small band, and kind of insulting to female musicians.
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Mike
Format:Paperback
After reading this book, it's almost painful to look back at some of the mistakes I've made and the money I've lost over the past several years, and to think about how many of them I could have easily avoided by using the advice and tips that are in this book. This book is enourmous, and every page seems to contain information that could have helped me out at least once. It's great to finally have this book available, and I can't wait to start using some of the strategies it outlines. Could not be more highly recommended for anyone in a band, with a label, or in any way involved in or interested in the music business.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Please do not buy any products by Martin Atkins, he is a predator with no morals. Martin views people with goals in music as suckers to be taken advantage of, I've worked with him and know this for a fact. He also has done nothing to further anyone else's career, just name-drops successful artists in an attempt to make money off their fame for himself, truly a disgusting loser.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Chris
Format:Paperback
This book is a legitimate how-to guide for any musical group that wants to tour. Where it fell short for me was the process of going from group of musicians with successful day jobs to successful touring musicians. It appears there is no way of making the jump without either financial support from your family or the willingness to dump your current life and live on the road. Our group was living in Manhattan/Brooklyn and would not have been able to tour for a month without quitting our jobs that paid our rent. This book does not provide an answer to these questions.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Musicians, Promoters, Roadies, Club Owners, Merch Teamers, Street Teamers, Tour Managers, Band Managers, Production Managers and everyone else that ever thought about having anything to do in the performance music circuit....
... meet your holy grail.
This book is AWESOME! It is an extremely thorough overview of the gears that make up the live music and touring scene. Its not all polished up and proper - but thats what I love about it. The language and narration are real with sometimes crude or cleche phrases that are direct to the point but proficient in painting a picture.
Most of all, it is evident that the information provided is backed up by tried and true experience of a rainbow of contributors organized in a way THAT MAKES SENSE. I wish all industry books were written this way. All too often I pick up a book that some random guy wrote from his basement providing tunnel vision prospective with a 2+2=4 attitude.
Arithmetic is great and common logic is important but its the experience that lies between the text that reference books fail to capture. Not this one.
Perhaps you are trying to research a specific part of the industry such as a musician's prospective or a promoter and happened to stumble upon this. GET IT ANYWAY. To understand your gear's specific role, you have to understand the entire machine and there is probably some information in here to help you.
I am an Audio Engineer. Before that I was a performing musician. I have managed a technical team on the road and now I am researching perhaps opening a music venue. Although I could have just skimmed through this book to find the information that pertains to me, I find I am glued to every page with thoughts like, "huh, why didn't I think of that?... Read more ›
... meet your holy grail.
This book is AWESOME! It is an extremely thorough overview of the gears that make up the live music and touring scene. Its not all polished up and proper - but thats what I love about it. The language and narration are real with sometimes crude or cleche phrases that are direct to the point but proficient in painting a picture.
Most of all, it is evident that the information provided is backed up by tried and true experience of a rainbow of contributors organized in a way THAT MAKES SENSE. I wish all industry books were written this way. All too often I pick up a book that some random guy wrote from his basement providing tunnel vision prospective with a 2+2=4 attitude.
Arithmetic is great and common logic is important but its the experience that lies between the text that reference books fail to capture. Not this one.
Perhaps you are trying to research a specific part of the industry such as a musician's prospective or a promoter and happened to stumble upon this. GET IT ANYWAY. To understand your gear's specific role, you have to understand the entire machine and there is probably some information in here to help you.
I am an Audio Engineer. Before that I was a performing musician. I have managed a technical team on the road and now I am researching perhaps opening a music venue. Although I could have just skimmed through this book to find the information that pertains to me, I find I am glued to every page with thoughts like, "huh, why didn't I think of that?... Read more ›
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Now I know why the failure rate is so high with bands. This book doesn't sugar coat anything. Finally, a music business book that doesn't have the "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough,.." self help mentality. All the ugly realities exposed!
It's a major reality check for anyone that wants to become a full time musician.
It's a major reality check for anyone that wants to become a full time musician.
19 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you're leasing a tour bus and getting $1000+ a night for gigs, then the examples in this book might interest you. I found it beyond the practical level of most indie bands I know.
I was surprised and unappreciative of the level of profanity. It is possible to glean some good insights from the book, but it is more a compilation of several events and happenings in the authors life. The touring information was beyond the scope of 99% of indie bands wanting to book a tour...which is probably the audience for this book. So while it is interesting to read, it lacks continuity and misses the mark on practicality...in my opinion.
I was surprised and unappreciative of the level of profanity. It is possible to glean some good insights from the book, but it is more a compilation of several events and happenings in the authors life. The touring information was beyond the scope of 99% of indie bands wanting to book a tour...which is probably the audience for this book. So while it is interesting to read, it lacks continuity and misses the mark on practicality...in my opinion.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
good book to have
good book to have to understand the ends and out of way you need to know before booking a show
Published 25 days ago by Darrin Walters
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Info From A Passionate Guy
Martin is an energetic and intelligent guy with tons of real world knowledge. I run a music blog called Musformation and we spoke and one of Martin's seminars and he's just really... Read more
Published 1 month ago by todd
5.0 out of 5 stars
i've shared this book with other musicians and they agree. IT IS THE...
This book is so full of wisdom. You cannot skim through it like so many other music business books. Many music biz books were written by attorneys who talk about different types of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by alex
5.0 out of 5 stars
ohhh martin atkins!
This book has wonderful guidelines and advice for those looking to tour full time and how to avoid certain mistakes!
Published 4 months ago by Erin Maddock
4.0 out of 5 stars
Read this before you quit your day job to "Make It Big"!
I laughed a lot and learned a lot while reading this book. I've been in bands that are based locally and do not tour - EVER - but I still found the book very interesting and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by S. W. Ramsdell
1.0 out of 5 stars
Rubbish
The five star reviews for this book are funny to read because they were obviously written by Martin Atkins. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Meg Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE ONLY BOOK ON TOURING PERIOD!!!
Plain and simple there is only one "complete-book" in the Touring/DIY Music field & this is it!!!
If you're band is just starting out, use this book as guide for "WHAT... Read more
If you're band is just starting out, use this book as guide for "WHAT... Read more
Published 15 months ago by joshdiymusic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
This book is one of the best music industry books out there, I think my professor even refers to this as the "Industry Bible". I agree with him. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Kylie the City Girl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Guide
This is the kind of book any local band should have. All tour agents should have it and learn the tricks. It is very insightful and useful.
Published 22 months ago by eyeslikeice
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
Great book that contains a ton of useful information regarding touring.
A must have for anyone who's serious about making a living performing music.
A must have for anyone who's serious about making a living performing music.
Published on April 18, 2011 by John Gray
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