Mike Grutka on tour

This blog post has two lessons, so please pay attention as there will be a quiz at the end.

First is this: The best resources are our peers/colleagues/fellow-musicians. All you have to do is ask a question. Most of us who are swimming in this pond would be flattered to be asked for an opinion or what our advice would be on a certain subject. It always helps to get as many POV’s as possible. I am planning to do another tour this summer and noticed a musician on Twitter that has a similar vibe and was doing a solo tour. We even played the same club in Pittsburgh (not the same night) last summer! While my tour was fun, I want to do more this summer. So as a preparation I decided to ask Mike Grutka for some touring advice. After you read it check out Mike’s music and follow Mike on Twitter @mike_grutka and Facebook

Which brings us up to the second part of the lesson: Mike’s response. I will reprint it as I got it since I feel that would make it more effective to see exactly what I got from him after I asked. Feel free to take notes!

Hey Mike -

Happy New Year -

So let me hear how you go about setting up your tours. It sounds like it is just you (solo).

Do you book it yourself?

Do you use something like Tourbinder.com or IndieOnThe Move.com?

What’s your goal when you tour?

Do you make any money – break even – lose?

My issues in setting up a little tour last summer was finding appropriate spaces that are in a logical route and communication with venues – bookers are slow to respond and then when they do I’ve already booked something else. I did not break even, but I was traveling with my wife and son so we stayed in a nice motel or two. I guess if I was ‘hard-core’ I could’ve saved money by sleeping in the car or a cheaper place.

Interested in your take on this -

Thanks
Darryl

Ah- as if I know what I’m doing…. haha!

Well, here’s what I did:

I thought about where I wanted to go/get to and how long I wanted to go out for.  I figured since I was driving, I’d get to NC.  Then I figured I could swing back up or go into SC or Georgia based on where I could get a show.

Then all I had was the Indie Venue Bible.  This is a great and awful thing.  It takes a lot of research to see what the place is even like.  They list a ton of stuff, but some of it is pizza places with open mics so you have to weed them out.

As far as contacting venues,  I found that once I had a date, it got easier.  Once you have someplace to get to/from you can work off that.  It gives a little urgency to your request.  I was a ble to start requesting a show between date A and B cause I’d be in their area.  I also looked at their calendar as much as I could to see if they had an opening in that date range.  If you can say you need Jan 10-14 cause you’ll be in Philly area and you see they have Jan 11 open that gives them less to think about.

Some only like e-mails some like phone calls.  Never hurts to call  the venue either way and get the scoop from someone other than the booking person.  And once you get any response, try to get them on the phone.  Of course, save ALL e-mails so they cant’ argue details with you later if that occurs.

My goal in touring is to play for as many people as I can.  Meet people.  Other bands/musicians and see what they’re doing.  EMAIL LIST!!  EMAIL LIST!!

Selling merch is great too.  I think if you do a good show then at least 1 person will get something.  And that’s like 2 meals at subway!!!

I tried to eat cheap.  Subway is obviously great and they’re everywhere.  Grocery stores RULE!  Most have the ‘pre made meal’ section and have salads/subs etc so you can eat healthy.

Hotels– I tented most of it.  Cause it was nice out, and cheaper, and i called it ‘Tent Tour 2010′ to use some cool alliteration.  When I had to stay due to weather, i can tell you that Travelocity has a ‘secret hotel deal’ option.  I got into a beautiful place in Pittsburgh for like $70 which was a 4 star $225/night room.  Hotwire is good too.   Sleep is important and I learned that you get what you pay for….When I was In NC, I had to get out of the tent cause it rained like 4 inches in 2 days.  I found the cheapest room I could find that was close by–$45/night:  SCORE!!  Well, the room smelled like smoke and mold and some kind of bad cheese and the bed felt like plastic was stretched over some wood.  And I didn’t trust the lock on the door so everytime I left I had to lug my equipment in and out of my car (didn’t want to leave it in the car overnight either)  so…..it costs to stay.   Always ideal when you know someone where you’re going to crash with them.

If you have enough dates, and enough lead time you can pick a chain and tell them you need rooms in such and such a city for x amount of nights you’ll be touring and sometimes you can get a deal.

Making money——–

It’s hard.  As you know.  Most places don’t want to pay you.  especially the first time you are there.  I was lucky enough to get a small fee plus….the plus could be tips, door fee, meal etc.  Always try to get food!!!   For the whole tour I probably came out a tiny bit behind or even.  I was lucky to have my Florida Shows.  It cost me a plane ticket, but i have family there to stay with and I sold out a show at $10/person.  and I sold the most CD’s there ( could be cause it was a big festival)  so that whole leg paid for itself.

Once you go, i think just play your show.  You can’t worry about the crowd whether big or small.  I ‘ve played to 150 people and got not applause or email sign ups cause the venue had a sports game on, and I’ve played to 2 and sold each one all my CD’s and a T-shirt and emails and asked if i need a place to stay.

Be on time, don’t over play your time slot, play your best songs, talk, tell stories like it’s Madison Square Garden.

Get your posters etc out to the venue on time if you promise that.  Do as much press as you can.

SAY THANK YOU no matter how you think it went.  Ask about coming back in 4-6 months right then if you can.  Assume they want you back.

some of this is stuff you already know.  Not sure it helps!?!??

As far as slow booker responses, see above, but if they DID get back to you, and you had another show in the area, you should have set up a future date.  Same as what I said before, assume you’re coming back, and now that you’ll have the other show under your belt, you have a bit more ‘ammo’ with the second venue–you played the area, now have fans, and they need to give you $17,000 cause you’re in demand!!

I gotta check out that tourbinder thing.  what is it? never heard of it.

Anyway, this is getting a little long.  Hope it’s what you were after.

Let me know if there’s anything you want more detail on.

peace

Mike