View Full Version : Touring
The Establishment
03-08-2006, 10:28 PM
So my band, The Establishment, is planning on going on a 2-week Midwest Regional tour in July.
Right now we are looking into means of transportation.
The obvious way to go would be to rent a tour van, but these seem to add up to $1,000 plus at least. Other options are using 2 cars, but gas would be a killer. We also could rent a trailer, but none of us have cars with trailer hitches.
If anyone has any tips on what we can do to travel and save money, we would be MOST appreciated.
Thanks so much.
David
Phototropic
03-09-2006, 07:17 AM
Recently my band went along with another band to London watch them play
It was a 52-seater bus and everyone who went along payed £13
Seemed like a great idea, all the gear in the luggage department, lovely day out :thumb:
Atomic Rain
03-09-2006, 10:16 AM
Complaining about petrol prices?
An american?
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
A van'd probably use a fair amount of petrol compared to 2 cars anyway.
Nicko_Shmicko
03-09-2006, 04:42 PM
take 2 cars and have races!
Seafroggys
03-09-2006, 11:17 PM
a van would get like 20 mpg. If you have cars with good mpgs (Corollas, Civics, Jettas) that'd be about 35, maybe 40 depending on age.
Two cars would be less efficient gas wise, more dangerous for your equipment (your equipment is less likely to get smashed in a van), and you all get to hang out in the van!
My band is going on tour this summer, and we bought a van, and will rent a trailor. We figured that it would be more efficient (for us) to just buy a van instead of renting one.
Also, I'm assuming that you are having someone set up the tour for you? If not then do it, make sure you get a written contract stating that you will get payed everynight that you play, preferably enough to cover gas atleast.
Don't even think about staying in an hotel room everynight. Maybe everyother night at the most. Sleep in the van on those off nights if at all possible. Infact, try and work out a deal with the hotel manager about possibly just renting a room for a few hours just to shower and get cleaned up.
Limit how much food you each buy. Try to get as much free stuff from the venue that you are playing at. Hell, steal food if you can.
This is probably the most helpful advice that I can give. Touring is not easy, and your best off alway expecting the worst to happen. Good luck.
Atomic Rain
03-10-2006, 09:48 AM
a van would get like 20 mpg. If you have cars with good mpgs (Corollas, Civics, Jettas) that'd be about 35, maybe 40 depending on age.
Two cars would be less efficient gas wise, more dangerous for your equipment (your equipment is less likely to get smashed in a van), and you all get to hang out in the van!
40 mpg for 2 cars = 20mpg
van = 20mpg
I wouldn't say a van was any safer than a car
the only way in which a cvan is safer is that no-one can see that there's equiptment inside
actually an american shouldnt complain about petrol prices but anyway
Dand is right.
it is better to buy a van than renting one (if you want to tour more than once in your life)and it is more comfortable than two cars.
PremierManiac
03-10-2006, 10:18 PM
So my band, The Establishment, is planning on going on a 2-week Midwest Regional tour in July.
Are you playing anywhere in Wisconsin?
As far as transportation goes I would rent a U-HAUL van.
Seafroggys
03-11-2006, 12:52 AM
40 mpg for 2 cars = 20mpg
van = 20mpg
I wouldn't say a van was any safer than a car
the only way in which a cvan is safer is that no-one can see that there's equiptment inside
i meant in cases like accidents....if you were driving like a fuel economy car, it'd proabbly be small, and wouldn't really protect your gear at all.
Atomic Rain
03-11-2006, 09:27 AM
ah.
Yeah, i suppose.
Either way, you'd want all your equip to be fully insured anyway.
Phototropic
03-11-2006, 09:42 AM
ah.
Yeah, i suppose.
Either way, you'd want all your equip to be fully insured anyway.
Are you moaner or did you steal his avatar?!
You ****in prick (just in case you did steal it)
Hadji
03-11-2006, 10:30 AM
Are you moaner or did you steal his avatar?!
You ****in prick (just in case you did steal it)
It's moaner.
RushHourSoul
03-11-2006, 10:33 AM
Are you moaner or did you steal his avatar?!
You ****in prick (just in case you did steal it)
:lol:
Atomic Rain
03-11-2006, 11:45 AM
:lol:
I'm glad my visual asociations are defended so strongly.
Phototropic
03-11-2006, 12:10 PM
Aight cool :D Glad to see everythings in order
The Establishment
03-12-2006, 10:50 PM
Yeah we are playing in Wisonsin. Madison and Milwaukee I think.
Ok so the general consensus seems to be to take one car, preferably a van.
Now we have looked around alot, and it seems the cheapest van big enough to rent is about $1,000 for the time period.
I have also been looking into buying a van, but can't seem to find any decent used ones.
Any tips?
Keep checking the classifieds in the paper for a van. There's always Auto-Trader, Ebay if you're really careful and you know what you're doing, police auctions, or just keep your eyes peeled for vans for sale around your area.
Atomic Rain
03-13-2006, 10:06 AM
It'd be hell to insure for you if you bought a van.
If you would've asked maybe a month ago, I could've shown you a decent sized van for $600...
You going anywhere in eastern Iowa/western Illinois?
PremierManiac
03-13-2006, 09:11 PM
Yeah we are playing in Wisonsin. Madison and Milwaukee I think.
Where in Milwaukee? I might stop by if I can get down there.
The Establishment
03-13-2006, 09:48 PM
Well I'm not exactly sure but I'll def. be sure to talk to our booking guy and tell you exactly where we will be in Milwaukee.
And as of right now I think we took Iowa out of our tour, but we may be hitting there, we'll see.
It'd be hell to insure for you if you bought a van.
You can buy temporary insurance just for when you need to use the van... or just go with out insurance.
Atomic Rain
03-14-2006, 10:06 AM
You can buy temporary insurance just for when you need to use the van... or just go with out insurance.
If it's not illegal to drive without insurance in America then god help thee all.
Oh it's illegal all right, but when your in a band and money is tight, these are the kind of things that you got to risk.
Atomic Rain
03-14-2006, 04:53 PM
no.
Don't teach people ot be so hopelessly irresponsible.
What if you crash and paralyse some guy from the neck down and because you're not insured they don't get any compensation they can't look after him properly?
Being in a band is not an excuse for being irresponsible.
If four of you work 10 hours a week in Tesco for a month you could easily fund everything you needed.
Sorry if i sound really harsh but I'm a very cynical person.
PremierManiac
03-14-2006, 08:05 PM
Oh it's illegal all right, but when your in a band and money is tight, these are the kind of things that you got to risk.
It's legal in some states (e.g. Wisconsin). But it's just dumb to not be insured.
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