How To Book A Band Tour

Step 1

If you are lucky enough to live in one of the country's big centers for live music -New York, L.A., Austin, Chicago -you'll be able to play in town for a long time before you run out of potential new fans. More likely, though, you are in a college town with only a few clubs -and if you are good, you'll dominate those quickly. Time to hit the road, even if only for a long weekend here and there!

Step 2

Touring just isn't as scary as it sounds. Punk bands have been getting in vans for years, now, and this kind of do-it-yourself approach is appropriate for all kinds of artists in 2010. As long as you have a reliable vehicle, the Internet will help you get much of the rest of the way there.

Step 3

Henry Rollins led one of the most legendary punk acts ever -Black Flag. They were road warriors; Rollins even later wrote a book of essays called Get In The Van. He's no crusty grandpa, though. He still tours to this day, using the street-level wisdom accrued over the years. Read the man's invaluable advice in his contribution to Tour: Smart and Break the Band. Editor Martin Atkins has gotten some of the most legendary road warriors to cough up their best advice in this book. What better way to learn than from those who have been there, done that?