Question about touring around.

Hey guys, im brand new here, had a question for anyone who is touring or has been on tour. how do i get started? say this summer i wanted to follow a bunch of festivals, maybe some upcoming dead shows. how do you afford this? I know all about the "lots", but what besides other obvious things can i sell there? and how do i make a profit?, how can you make this work financially? im 20,have a passion for music and freedom and would like to get going soon. just need help! thanks guys.

(P.S. I have an apartment which the lease is up for soon, so will have no rent or anyhting to worry about. just want to go show to show and see the country!)


BTW. my names Joe, nice to meet you all!

 

Hey Joe. I'm trapped in a 4-year college right now, but I too dream of touring during the summer of 2010 and beyond. My advise is to save as much money as you can before you head out. Debts are buzz kills. One obvious thing that there will always be a market for on the road is bud, but there are some legal risks with that I guess. Other than that, I can't think of any way to make much of a legal profit out on the road, hence why I suggest you save money.

This girl I work with went out touring last summer and she said she was volunteering at the festivals and that got her free admission, but that requires you have to do upkeep work and such. These days it's hard for me to imagine much of anything financially working, so good luck out there!

 

volunteering is definitely a good way to go. but try to get good shifts/jobs. parking is no fun, neither is trash clean-up. i've volunteered at the Telluride Bluegrass festival for a couple of years by checking wristbands. you chill out at one of the funnel points where people are walking into the venue checking wristbands, backpacks for glass, etc.... it gives you a chance to talk to everyone at the festival - it's pretty fun. i was also "working" next to a stream, surrounded by beautiful mountains, and i could still hear all the music that i wasnt able to watch. plus, it's like you're part of the festival, not just attending. this can also give you some special privileges (like you're able to sneak in whatever you want since the person who'd be checking your bag is a volunteer just like you).

at a different festival, a friend of mine had the job of looking for clouds of smoke. she was told to find groups of people smokin weed and politely tell them to be careful about where they smoke, just in case cops were around. she got a free ticket to the festival for THAT.

but keep in mind that you're going to wind up missing some sets you might love to see. but then again, you're there for free, so..... it's a trade-off.

as far as what else you can sell, if you're willing, try food or beer. with the right deal, the right location, and the right product, you'll have people lining up. think late-nite grilled cheeses, veggie burritos, good beers that arent available where you currently are, etc. a friend of mine was at Coventry (phish's last fest.) and had set-up at this one spot selling beers, 1 for $3, 2 for $5 or something like that. turns out, he was in a location that made him the first person selling beer to all the people that had just walked 2 miles or more to get into the fest. everybody was dying for a beer at that point. he made out like a bandit. just make sure you're making enough on what you're selling.

or think of services. chair massages, ..... well, that's all i can think of for services....

of course, watch out for rules against vending and getting caught doing anything in general. that would put a major buzzkill on yourself.

try to be economical in other ways, too. find some other people to split gas money, cut down on your spending (like, dont go to that many restaurants in between fests, go to a market and get groceries instead). always, always, always camp instead of going to a hotel.

above all, have fun man!