r/TouringMusicians

Let’s say your band operates as a sole proprietor for tax purposes, would my personal liability insurance cover me if I’m found at fault and wreck someone else’s ride?

I just don’t want to leave myself open to something avoidable. Any insurance agents/musicians able to weigh in?

EDIT: I’m looking at doing little weekenders a few times a year not looking for a full blown entertainment insurance package.

Right now i’m thinking adding a commercial use clause to my current insurance might be easiest if we use a personal vehicle which we might. Otherwise sporadically renting a van and buying the supplemental insurance might be my other best choice. I’m open to learning new things here.

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice from people who have done large-scale UK theatre tours before.
I’m 37, based in Northern Ireland, and I’ve been lucky enough to work fairly consistently as an actor since I was 18. However, this is my first major UK tour of a large commercial musical. We’ll be rehearsing in London throughout December before heading out on tour from January until August, playing top-tier theatres across England, Scotland and Wales.
I’m incredibly excited, but I also feel like there are loads of practical things that nobody really teaches you, and I’m struggling to find much information online.
I’d love any tips, tricks or hacks you wish someone had told you before your first tour. For example:
How many suitcases did you take, and what size worked best?
What are the absolute essentials to pack (and what did you realise you didn’t need)?
How do you manage constantly living out of suitcases?
What should I buy now for my dressing room that makes touring life easier or more comfortable?
How do you create a routine when you’re moving city every week?
Any recommendations for keeping fit, eating well and looking after your mental health while touring?
What’s the best way to find reasonably priced digs, and are there any websites or tips beyond the obvious?
On travel days, how does luggage usually work? Does your luggage travel with the production lorries, or are you expected to take everything yourself on trains, coaches or flights between venues?
Are there any purchases you made that ended up being absolute game changers?
We do have one week off in April, so I’ll be able to head home to Northern Ireland, swap things over, see family and friends, and pick up or drop off anything I need.
I’m genuinely excited to experience touring life, but I’d love to start off on the right foot and avoid making any obvious rookie mistakes.
Any advice at all—big or small—would be hugely appreciated. Thanks so much!

What’s the most frustrating part of touring or your live show (Setting up lights, Managing backing tracks, Synchronizing cues, Cable messes, etc.)?

For me it’s setting up lights and synchronizing cues, but curious what others struggle with.

Wanted to see if anybody else does this or js familiar with it.

Shortly before our last rip through Europe last January, my bandmate (who sings a lot in our group) told me that for 2 weeks before a tour, he drinks like 5 liters of water a day (1.3 gallons) to prep his voice for the road. Calls it "pre-hydration". I also sing a fair bit in this band, and this seemed like a cheap and win-win tactic to try, so I did it. I already drink a decent amount of water, but def ramped my h20 consumption up for this period. And low and behold, my voice really DID feel better during our run (which, to be fair, was only like 10 days). Combined with vocal warmup before the gigs, it really felt good.

Anybody know anything about this? Do other people do this? Is this just what being hydrated feels like? Lol

Title says it all. I’m currently in a band that tours,I don’t make a lot of money doing it but I love touring. I’ve always done manual labor as my day job at home but it’s getting painful. Would love to start working remote so I can work from a laptop while on the road. Currently don’t have any degrees/certificates but I’m about to look into taking classes to earn whatever to make this goal doable. Any advice would be helpful!

Not a touring musician, but looking for advice: I'll be renting a U-Haul trailer and moving cross country with guitars and amps. Trying to limit my overnight hotel stays to 4-5 nights. What do you guys do when you're on the road to protect your gear on overnights? Loading everything in and out of the room each night seems impractical (I'll have 10 guitars and two amps). Any tips on how the pros do it without roadies appreciated.

Hey Friends! I’ve got my very first fly date next Friday, and I would love some reccs and advice for flying with a guitar. My rig is entirely digital and fits in my backpack, so my main worry the instrument itself.

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone!! I made a post here a while back looking for guests and I met some really awesome people and I wanted to say thank you so much for allowing me to post and also announce that said podcast, called From Url to Irl. On the show I will talking to musicians, former recording space owners, the owner of some tour relevant apps, etc. It will be releasing 7/9/26 if anyone wants to have a listen! i will be releasing my first 3 episodes, two video and audio, one audio only. it will be wherever you listen/watch your podcasts!! Thanks again!!

I recently went to a concert and spoke to a roadie who said he could get me a backstage pass. Can he actually do this or is he lying LOL

Hi all,

Coming up on my first international tour, will be in the states for around 2 months for west coast tour and some studio recording with my band.

We are still smaller level and therefore will be a net loss for me financially. Due to this and the shorter nature of the stay (under 90d), I’m assuming I would not require a work Visa or similar? If I am being paid less than I cost day to day and have no earnings to bring home would this be correct?

Any advice would be appreciated, I’m 19 and there is lots of conflicting information out there, many thanks :)

Hi all, currently play drums in a 6 person tribute band (guitar/vocals, bass/vocals, keys/keytar/vocals, 2 additional vocalists, drums)

We recently started discussing the use of in ear monitors to reduce stage sound and allow band members to do their own mixes. After finishing a show last night, the sound guy recommended traveling with our own rig for this exact purpose. He mentioned the wingrack by behringer, but I’ve also heard about the x32. We are looking to hopefully build a budget friendly option in the relative future, and I don’t know much about this stuff so any advice or guidance would be tremendous. At a minimum level what would we need to make this happen? Thanks in advance.

Suppose you’re in a situation where you and your band is playing a couple of shows a week, having fun, networking with bookers and interacting with fans in a wholesome way and then a person who is jealous of this fact. decides to start a rumor about your band. The rumor spreads so quickly that people don’t even have the chance to read into to and ask proper questions that it’s now regarded as truth.

Words are exchanged, people hear about it across state lines, band breaks up. Months go by and then you see a flyer including a band by the person who spread that very same rumor and the show booker who sided with you during the fallout. How is that supposed to make me feel? What do I do when I know I have been wronged but can’t do anything about it? What does it say about the booker, what does it say about our band?

The truth is greed compromises art in every way. These people booking your shows don’t care about the music. They care about the algorithm, posting flyers at specific times on Instagram and ticket sales. They care about what looks good on the surface level instead of what is right. They aren’t doing you a justice by booking your favorite middling band, they aren’t risk takers. Their goal is to make money and any risk to that money they will avoid.

What hurts me most is knowing this person personally, actually developing a friendship with them and then having them forsake that over something that would make them lose out on pocket change. After defending our band to our face and then still working with the ones who manipulated and lied. You’d throw out what we had because you want money.

Whatever man

I genuinely can't tell what the unspoken rules are for asking for promoters emails from other bands, online, or from friends. Like, half the folks I talk to are willing to give out emails and contacts like candy and the other half tell me it's the most unprofessional thing in the world to ask someone for a contact like that. What are your guys thoughts? Do the rules change depending on how popular/well-known you are in your scene or in scenes where you regularly tour?

Robyn performing "Dancing on my Own" from the 2010 album "Body Talk" on The Sexistensial Tour at Coop Live, Manchester on Saturday 27th June 2026.

#robyn #sexistensial #tour #dancingonmyown #live #music #manchester #2010

Hey!

I'm in a punk adjacent band called Attack Dog from Philly. We are booking a five week DIY tour and I've had some trouble booking a few shows in the midwest (mountain west?). Namely,

Fort Collins/Denver/Boulder (9/16) Wednesday

Salt Lake (9/17) Thursday

Boise (9/18) Friday

Let me know if any of y'all have any connections that might help us secure something. We had Boise but that fell out. We also have some gaps in the west coast so let me know if you got any cool connects to DIYs, house shows, etc, anywhere on the west coast. Thank you!

Always happy to help on east coast stuff, too.

Dylan

Edit: Feel free to hit me up on Instagram (@attackdogmusic)

Aloha from Hawaii!

Our punk band Kauz of Affliction is doing a PNW run in October and we’re looking for some bands to fill the following bills with us at these PNW venues. If possible for some backline help that would be wonderful too.
We host bands in Hawaii from all over the world and would be happy to return the favor if you’re ever out that way. 

Thur 10/8  Olympia-Le Voyeur 
Sun 10/11 Everett-The Bayside

Thanks!!!

Is there anyone who could test my New app Strofa on App Store? It is for gigging musicians, both solo and banda. There is a 7 day free trial. Would really appreciate feedback what you are missing etc. Shared recording is on its way. Perfect for temporary session members who needs the newest version of arrangement.