In this interview we speak with organizational music legend Kevin Lyman, leader of the summer long concert series leviathan that is Vans Warped Tour, about the direction of the tour and the complex logistics that go into making it work. ___________________________________ Guest post by Dave Brooks from the touring industry…
Category archives: Live & Touring
Musicians Need To Tour Like A ’90s Band
In this article we look at the life of an up-and-coming band in an era before Spotify and YouTube, and why the practice of perfecting one’s touring chops which was utilized by many ’90s bands is something artists of today should consider adopting. _________________________________ Guest Post by Brennan Haelig on…
Festicket Raises $6.3M For Festival Travel Booking
UK based startup Festicket has closed $6.3 million in funding to expand its festival experiences and travel booking service. Lepe Partners led the Series B round, with participation from current investors Wellington Partners, PROfounders, and Playfair Capital. New backers from within the industry include Arthur Kosten, ex-CMO of Booking.com) and…
Van’s "Off The Road": Avoiding Vehicle Accidents On Tour
Going on tour for the first time is certainly an exciting prospect, and while many artists are eager to pile into vans and hit the road, these same vans run into accidents with an alarming degree of frequency. Here we look at some ways artists can avoid, or at least…
Dweezil Zappa Renames His Tour Again After Cease And Desist Order From His Own Family
In the latest from the Zappa family’s ongoing legal squabbles of the trademark/copyright ownership of the late great Frank, it seems Dweezil has escalated things somewhat, renaming his tour ’50 Years of Frank: Dweezil Zappa Plays Whatever the F@%k He Wants – The Cease and Desist Tour’ ________________________________________ Guest post…
How to Book A European Tour Without An Agent Or Label (Part 1)
With its golden hospitality and government funding of the arts, touring Europe can be a musician’s dream, provided it’s done correctly. Here musician Brett Newski shares some wisdom from the road on how to make your next European tour a success. _______________________________________ Guest post by Brett Newski on The DIY…
Is Narcissism Ruining the Live Experience?
Alicia Keys recently joined the likes of Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Guns N’ Roses and many more who want you off your phone at their events by turning to Silicon Valley startup Yondr – a company dedicated to creating "phone-free spaces" at concerts, events and other places. They’re not alone,…
Image Matters: Making Every Gig Memorable
Although performing in a band should, of course, be all about the music, there’s no denying that the visuals are also of great importance. Here we look at some interesting ways that bands and artists can start to cultivate a unique onstage image. ________________________________ In this recent piece from MusicThinkTank,…
Music Industry Reacts To UK EU Brexit
It is too early to know the full affect of yesterday’s vote by Britains to leave the European Union, but its almost universally believed that the musicians and the music industry will be hit hard. Here’s the latest Brexit reaction from across the music industry. _______________________________________ The Music Industry Reacts…
5 Ways To Make Your Band Rehearsals More Effective
For any band trying to hone their sound and become performance ready, practice time is critical, unfortunately, most bands don’t use this time as effectively as they ought to. Here we look at some ways to make practicing more efficient and productive. ___________________________ Guest Post by Casey van Wensem on…