Ignoring the obvious spelling mistakes in the poster UK Bands are a trusted brand and have helped us get many gigs in the past they have just started the project above. I was thinking of buying on to this tour but as it doesnt say where the money goes I wasn't sure. Does it sound about right for a tour cost?
It seems a lot of money.

Our band has five members so we'll have to save a while but if it can get our name out it will be worth it! We havent toured before so it would be nice to have a manager keeping us in line the we've only done big gigs in our home town and the odd gig-swap out of town.

How do bands get noticed these days? Are there any showcases we could be featured on?

Thanks in advance!

Kim

I've spotted 6 grammer and spelling mistakes in the ukbands ad. Can anyone spot anymore?

Whilst I can see the value of playing a good support tour I see no need for the tourbus.

Mr Bronson wrote:
I've spotted 6 grammer and spelling mistakes in the ukbands ad. Can anyone spot anymore?

Yes - grammer - wot that?

You are right the amount of literals in the copy is appalling - one wonders if they gave the same attention to organising their offer.

On the tour thing - it is very non-specific offering generalities. Some things are of questionable benefit, like if I'm in Land's End does being in the local John O'Groats newspaper (circ: 20k?) actually help? After-show party - woo-hoo.

This is pay-to-play under another guise. Could your

This is pay to play so don't do it.

Paying "key money" to support a known band can be, for very obvious reasons, a good idea, but that is a different matter to what the guys in advert are offering. At least in that instance, you will have an audience and be able to shift some product and win some fans.

Forget going national for now. Try going regional first by expanding your own big gigs into the next local area and so on. Then think about taking things further.

And have a good read of Rods' post 'cause he's talking sense.

Big End is right, go regional first and plan your budget. There is a big audience out there, but you want their money, they don`t realise they are taking yours even if the adore you.

closer inspection reveals seven. "Construsted" brings a new, fresh and exceedingly rich verb to the English language although it does sound a tad painful.

Thanks for the advice guys. I've seen bands who have bought onto tours before and played to full houses so I had to ask! It can be difficult playing away from home because we can't bring a crowd unless we hire a bus. Playing the same venues in our town over and over doesn't really help us expand much.
We have tried a few gig swaps but theyre so slow to organise

Ok i'm gonna wade in here. I don't give a monkey's about pay to play or no pay to play the fact is simple if you want to launch your product you have to put your money in your pocket. The key issue is how much does it cost and what do you get from it.

Organising your own tour has lots of hidden costs including phone calls, advertising etc etc. Not to mention er no audience if you are unknown.

Do a plan and add up all the costs and compare it with what these guys are offering. BTW they also have a smaller package which cost less. Ascertain what the benefits are and make a decision.

This is not pay 2 play gig this is tour production.

THIS IS THE SERVICE ORIENTED MUSIC BUSINESS.

Old school ways of doing things are outdated and outmoded.

Have you asked yourself how much it will cost you in van hire fees plus petrol ? Advertising, securing a PR person to get the same level of profile. Coming from a pop perspective where you had to do a schools tour and nightclub tour to raise a profile (albeit a transient one) this is reasonably cheap but only if you can make it turn a profit for your band. No point in doing live for the sake of it. IT MUST MAKE MONEY OR IT IS WORTHLESS.

Now also coming from a DJ/club perspective we do not do gigs to raise promotion bollox to that we do gigs to make money and if a little tinpot garage/jungle/gabba/hardstep/handbag or whatever gig can make money so can a band. You just have to realise that it's not about you but about entertaining the punters.

Furthermore to my last point. I think you guys should go to the www.ukbands.net site and read the threads and the way ukbands have answered questions about what they are offering.


How to recoup some of the costs:

1. Sponsorship/Advertising. Get local businesses to sponsor your band. Failing that get your fans to sponsor you.

2. Release a download single off the back of it.

3. Merchandise sales.


I think the main thing is the profile of the gig and you dont need to do it too often but as far as the image is concerned i would rather tour in a massive posh bus than a beat up old van which i have to drive myself.

I think this is marketed at bands that actually have no hope of earning a living at music. I.e, any band that is prepared to put up that sort of spend has no business sense.

It smacks of "selling a lifestyle". Imagine the number of kids (and adults) that will be turned on by thought of aftershows, laminates, A TOUR BUS!!!, and all that. For five shows, it will be immensely hard for a band to make this viable.

But I do think it is a good business idea, the marketing isn't right.

It should be sold in the same way that limo hire is sold.

"Feel glamorous and important for a night/week"

Buy ons are risky, but probably fair if you get in front of the RIGHT audience of a good size and are given a fair crack (sound check, dressing room, water).

I know of a band that paid circa

We have a hope, we work hard at what we do but it's difficult to find a booking agent without a label and even harder to convince venues on the other side of the country to give us a chance.

thats why this seemed like such a great idea

if you can make it work financially, go for it. But there are cheaper ways of achieving what this offer is promising. You don't need to pay for laminates, aftershow parties etc.

My advice is similar to what others have said. Focus your efforts locally, push your merch, save the cash and then go further affield. You don't need a luxury bus to do a good gig.

But hey, this is just a messageboard, you've got to do what you think will work.

Good luck.

Take your own PRS/MCPS forms if you decide to do it.
There is no guarantee your songs will be logged by anyone else.

Yes we need to start doing that..Many of the venues we play don't have PRS forms available.

Some promoters and venue owners won't even acknowledge us with the forms.

We never know what to do!

Once you establish a relationship with a PRS official who excepts your integrity you will not have a problem, it`s the same as any aspect of a business, get a "name" to deal with.

I despaired when some friends of mine got a pay to play European tour with one of the truely big all time acts and played 90% covers and did not invest in merchandise either.
That`s exposure, but a money pit.

There is allways someone about who will acknowledge a royalties form, even due to naivety, but it is not the performers fault, if they as a venue have not fully registered themselves for live performances, anymore than is their fault if a speaker falls from your performance onto a punter and they sue you if you are un-insured.

Cover your backs on buying into tours, if I ever did it again, I would seek out an investor.

hmm you really don't have a clue what you are taking about son, this is an amazing concept and I take my hat off to ukbands for getting this off the ground.

there is no one else out there doing anything to help new bands like these people are.

Here here ukbands, you rock


Rods wrote:
[quote]Whilst I can see the value of playing a good support tour I see no need for the tourbus.

..In fact in re-reading that whole thread this morning, it has sadly occured to me that I have more money now that I am not that interested in touring any more.
A considered point in this observation is the amount of solo artists touring these days and I noticed in the paper that there is an accoustic festival In Nantwich later in the year.
Virtually all solo acts playing, including notably Captain Sensible(!).

Keeping a band on the road costs a fortune and the last thing you want, is to leave skint in the first place by paying a tour fee.

I think the best way to do it for exposure these days is to continually hastle for local support slots.
As some friends on here may recall, I searched and searched to find an e-mail for Marti Pellow`s people and eventually found his colleagues Chris Diffords address who was very helpful indeed.
A lot of the acts are a lot more approachable than people think and do want to help the next generation of music, many are very worth contacting, without driving them mad in the process of course.