About Digital Tour Bus
Beginning in January of 2009, Digital Tour Bus is the only All-Access Pass that brings fans behind the scenes and into the home-away-from-home of touring musicians and bands. With countless miles and endless horizons ahead of them, the touring vehicle that gets bands from gig to gig is just as vital as the band members themselves.
Bands are known for their creativity on the stage, but what few realize is the creativity that bands must first put into their home on wheels. Though some bands are fortunate enough to travel in the luxury of a tour bus, a majority of touring musicians find themselves creating makeshift living and traveling quarters out of unlikely vehicles. For some, that means traveling in a beat up old car with their merchandise packed into the trunk or even a 15-passenger van (likely with the floors littered with dirty clothes, fast food remains, and empty water bottles). No matter what ride they are cruising in, a band’s wheels can hold just as much personality as the band members rolling along on them.
Owner and founder, Josh Weidling, started the website after having attended, worked, and promoted countless local shows. Working with a wide variety of bands, ranging from regional bands on their very first tour to international superstars, it soon became evident to Weidling that one thing remained constant regardless of their level of success – every band lives on the road and has a unique story to tell about their rolling digs.
After getting a glimpse into the backstage lives of touring bands through his promotions company and previous editorial work, Weidling decided it was time to make a more personal connection from their lifestyle to the lives of their beloved fans. With a camera in one hand and his dreams in the other, Weidling hit the ground running with his idea of personalized bus tours. Weidling’s “little” idea has officially evolved into a full-scale project covering the tour buses, mini-buses, RVs, and tour vans of both Indie label, Major label and unsigned acts. Whatever the band chooses to roll up in on filming day quickly becomes the hot spot of the day.
Although Digital Tour Bus has only recently celebrated its first birthday this past January, the archives already boast over 280 video tours. Whether you’re into Boys Like Girls, A Day to Remember, or Bowling For Soup – Digital Tour Bus has got something for everyone, by covering nearly every genre, every age group, and every musical demographic you could desire.
So what makes Digital Tour Bus so unique? Well, besides giving you a personalized tour of the band’s headquarters, each video also gives you a one-on-one session with the band in the comfort of their own “home.” No cue cards, no time to tidy up – Digital Tour Bus keeps it real and keeps it gritty. Digital Tour Bus brings it home, by bringing YOU into your favorite bands home-away-from-home. Their wheels may not be much of a distinguishing feature, with so many bands on the road today, but what does make each tour so unique is the diversity of personalities appearing in every single video. Digital Tour Bus’ owner states, “Even though it is called Digital Tour Bus, the most important thing in the video isn’t the vehicle, but the people in the video. Each band member brings a different personality to the table.” Digital Tour Bus is finally here to show the good, the bad, the ugly, the amazing and the downright unbelievable lives of your favorite musicians. Digital Tour Bus is only just getting started.
Bands are known for their creativity on the stage, but what few realize is the creativity that bands must first put into their home on wheels. Though some bands are fortunate enough to travel in the luxury of a tour bus, a majority of touring musicians find themselves creating makeshift living and traveling quarters out of unlikely vehicles. For some, that means traveling in a beat up old car with their merchandise packed into the trunk or even a 15-passenger van (likely with the floors littered with dirty clothes, fast food remains, and empty water bottles). No matter what ride they are cruising in, a band’s wheels can hold just as much personality as the band members rolling along on them.
Owner and founder, Josh Weidling, started the website after having attended, worked, and promoted countless local shows. Working with a wide variety of bands, ranging from regional bands on their very first tour to international superstars, it soon became evident to Weidling that one thing remained constant regardless of their level of success – every band lives on the road and has a unique story to tell about their rolling digs.
After getting a glimpse into the backstage lives of touring bands through his promotions company and previous editorial work, Weidling decided it was time to make a more personal connection from their lifestyle to the lives of their beloved fans. With a camera in one hand and his dreams in the other, Weidling hit the ground running with his idea of personalized bus tours. Weidling’s “little” idea has officially evolved into a full-scale project covering the tour buses, mini-buses, RVs, and tour vans of both Indie label, Major label and unsigned acts. Whatever the band chooses to roll up in on filming day quickly becomes the hot spot of the day.
Although Digital Tour Bus has only recently celebrated its first birthday this past January, the archives already boast over 280 video tours. Whether you’re into Boys Like Girls, A Day to Remember, or Bowling For Soup – Digital Tour Bus has got something for everyone, by covering nearly every genre, every age group, and every musical demographic you could desire.
So what makes Digital Tour Bus so unique? Well, besides giving you a personalized tour of the band’s headquarters, each video also gives you a one-on-one session with the band in the comfort of their own “home.” No cue cards, no time to tidy up – Digital Tour Bus keeps it real and keeps it gritty. Digital Tour Bus brings it home, by bringing YOU into your favorite bands home-away-from-home. Their wheels may not be much of a distinguishing feature, with so many bands on the road today, but what does make each tour so unique is the diversity of personalities appearing in every single video. Digital Tour Bus’ owner states, “Even though it is called Digital Tour Bus, the most important thing in the video isn’t the vehicle, but the people in the video. Each band member brings a different personality to the table.” Digital Tour Bus is finally here to show the good, the bad, the ugly, the amazing and the downright unbelievable lives of your favorite musicians. Digital Tour Bus is only just getting started.
Staff
Contributors
Links
11:11 A.M. / ABC PR / Adrenaline PR / The Alpha Agency / Anderson Interactive / Better Than The Van / The Digi Tour / Earshot Media Fearless Radio / I Am The Trend / Indie On The Move / The Metro / Mikey Kay Photography / SJC Custom Drums / Sumerian Records / Highlight Magazine
Email Us
Contact Digital Tour Bus
About Joshua Weidling
Keep up with Josh on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Google+, Soundtracking and Get Glue.
Also, check out my music industry advice blog on MicControl.
If you need to contact me, please email digitaltourbus@yahoo.com for business and joshuaweidling@gmail.com for personal.
Digital Tour Bus owner/founder Joshua Weidling, of Bartlett, Illinois, is no stranger to the music industry. Despite being only 21-years-old, Weidling has owned his own concert promotions company, created an annual Chicago music festival, and has launched the ambitious web project, Digital Tour Bus – all while pursuing a degree in Business/Marketing, full-time, at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Five years ago, while attending Bartlett High School, Weidling began promoting and booking shows for local venues under the moniker Chi-Town Productions. Within no time, Weidling found himself booking national acts including The White Tie Affair [Epic] and The Ready Set [Decaydance / Sire]. Finding success in the booking of such shows, Weidling decided to create an annual festival to showcase even more emerging acts in one grandiose event. The day-long music experience, known as Stick it to the Man! Fest, takes place each summer in the Chicago-land area. Bands that have graced the Stick it to the Man! stage include: The Color Morale [Rise Records], Just Left [Standby], and Lights Out Dancing.
After graduating from high school and moving on to the University of Iowa in 2008, Weidling’s desire to become well rounded in multiple verses of the music industry led to a shift in his focus from promoting, to a more involved, behind-the-scenes approach. Joining the staffs of Chicago’s Crescendo Magazine and ForTheSound.com, Weidling was able to do just that. Serving as a chief news poster at ForTheSound.com and as an editor, contributing writer, and director of marketing and advertising for Crescendo, he was able to utilize his previously acquired skills in marketing and promotions, while adding an entirely new set of interpersonal and interactive communication skills by conducting interviews with several up-and-coming bands. Digital Tour Bus takes Weidling to the next level, by creating the ultimate blend of Weidling’s previous experiences – interviewing, networking, and promoting – with his newfound appreciation for capturing a unique industry perspective, from behind the camera lens. Digital Tour Bus has that extra edge to dig deeper into the backstage antics of touring musicians – and quite literally – goes where most fans and friends have never gone before.
Juggling so many projects and commitments would be a disaster for most, but for Weidling it’s a chance to showcase his dedication, hard work, and versatility across all platforms of the music industry. Weidling lives his life by making the most of each individual day. He states, “My goal of every day is to accomplish everything I can. If I fail to accomplish some sort of task I feel that I have wasted my day.” It’s not just about the development of ideas, but rather the process of turning those ideas into a final product that can be shared with the masses and enjoyed by all. Every single day is a chance to turn a new idea into reality. Grounded by the discipline and focus he learned from 13 years of playing baseball, the ongoing support of his friends and family, and a relentless passion for exciting, new music, Weidling certainly seems to have hit a home run with the enthralling endeavor of Digital Tour Bus and is on his way to greater success in the music industry. The future only knows what else will be in store from the innovative mind of Joshua Weidling!
Also, check out my music industry advice blog on MicControl.
If you need to contact me, please email digitaltourbus@yahoo.com for business and joshuaweidling@gmail.com for personal.
Digital Tour Bus owner/founder Joshua Weidling, of Bartlett, Illinois, is no stranger to the music industry. Despite being only 21-years-old, Weidling has owned his own concert promotions company, created an annual Chicago music festival, and has launched the ambitious web project, Digital Tour Bus – all while pursuing a degree in Business/Marketing, full-time, at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Five years ago, while attending Bartlett High School, Weidling began promoting and booking shows for local venues under the moniker Chi-Town Productions. Within no time, Weidling found himself booking national acts including The White Tie Affair [Epic] and The Ready Set [Decaydance / Sire]. Finding success in the booking of such shows, Weidling decided to create an annual festival to showcase even more emerging acts in one grandiose event. The day-long music experience, known as Stick it to the Man! Fest, takes place each summer in the Chicago-land area. Bands that have graced the Stick it to the Man! stage include: The Color Morale [Rise Records], Just Left [Standby], and Lights Out Dancing.
After graduating from high school and moving on to the University of Iowa in 2008, Weidling’s desire to become well rounded in multiple verses of the music industry led to a shift in his focus from promoting, to a more involved, behind-the-scenes approach. Joining the staffs of Chicago’s Crescendo Magazine and ForTheSound.com, Weidling was able to do just that. Serving as a chief news poster at ForTheSound.com and as an editor, contributing writer, and director of marketing and advertising for Crescendo, he was able to utilize his previously acquired skills in marketing and promotions, while adding an entirely new set of interpersonal and interactive communication skills by conducting interviews with several up-and-coming bands. Digital Tour Bus takes Weidling to the next level, by creating the ultimate blend of Weidling’s previous experiences – interviewing, networking, and promoting – with his newfound appreciation for capturing a unique industry perspective, from behind the camera lens. Digital Tour Bus has that extra edge to dig deeper into the backstage antics of touring musicians – and quite literally – goes where most fans and friends have never gone before.
Juggling so many projects and commitments would be a disaster for most, but for Weidling it’s a chance to showcase his dedication, hard work, and versatility across all platforms of the music industry. Weidling lives his life by making the most of each individual day. He states, “My goal of every day is to accomplish everything I can. If I fail to accomplish some sort of task I feel that I have wasted my day.” It’s not just about the development of ideas, but rather the process of turning those ideas into a final product that can be shared with the masses and enjoyed by all. Every single day is a chance to turn a new idea into reality. Grounded by the discipline and focus he learned from 13 years of playing baseball, the ongoing support of his friends and family, and a relentless passion for exciting, new music, Weidling certainly seems to have hit a home run with the enthralling endeavor of Digital Tour Bus and is on his way to greater success in the music industry. The future only knows what else will be in store from the innovative mind of Joshua Weidling!
