Indie Ambassador

In this week’s episode of Indie Ambassador TV, we caught up with former Sidehatch teammate, entrepreneur and road warrior Ben Hoffman to see how he conducts musically and socially productive tours on a budget.

Many musicians tend to overlook the intricacies of touring and are forced to learn from their mistakes. It may not be evident at first, but while on tour the time put in before and after a show is just as important as the performance itself. Being prepared for breakdowns, tech malfunctions and other unforeseen issues is critical. When you've been driving all day, haven’t slept well in weeks, and don’t smell too pretty, being prepared for any issues that come up will make a huge difference.

“If you’re not a good driver, I wouldn’t recommend being a tour manager, at least while starting out.”

-Ben Hoffman

No matter how lackluster the realities of the road are, they don't make touring any less important. That said, the coordination and preparation for each gig will undoubtedly pay off and unbeknown to the guys and girls in front of the stage, the performance behind the scenes will likely determine your overall success each night. If this responsibility doesn’t sound like much fun you may consider finding a tour manager! Feel free to leave us your worst or best tour stories in the comments below!

Episode 3 Quick Tips:

In general...

• Make sure everyone in the band is mentally prepared for the road. Spending every waking moment around the same people will try everyone’s patience, so clear up any outstanding issues before you head out.
• Plan your route carefully. Gas is the biggest expense while on the road, so scheduling shows within close proximity to one another is very important.
• A few weeks before you go out on the road, take some time to call the promoters you’re working with and make sure everyone’s organized and on the same page with show details including financial issues like guarantees.
• Bring a GPS. Smartphones work for this purpose but no one wants to sacrifice their phone as a map for the entire tour. And in case all gadgets die, have some good old-fashioned paper maps lying around as a back up.
• Bring as much backup gear as you think you might need. As soon as you travel west of the Mississippi River, guitar centers are few and far between.
• Always have merch to sell. Even if the show's attendance was disappointing, the people who did come out and liked your band will most likely want to buy something.

For aspiring tour managers...

• Find a band that you really like. You’re going to see this band play for anywhere from a week to two months straight, so you better enjoy their tunes. If you don’t enjoy the tunes, it may be tough for you to work hard for them.
• Be willing to do stuff for free or really cheap, especially when you’re first starting out.
• The more skills you have (mixing, mapping, tech, etc.) the more of an asset you’ll be to the band.
• Be willing to drive. A lot. The last thing band members want to do after finishing their set is drive an hour to wherever they’re sleeping that night. Also, responsibility is key. Being sober and able whenever you’re called on will take you a long way.
• Don’t help a band that doesn’t need help.

Aidan Rush, & Chris Cave contributed to this article.