Chris Rose – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the singer-songwriter, Chris Rose, gives you his tips for being on tour. You can check out the feature, after the break.

1. Get yourself some flyers
I’ve found that being on the road, especially on support tours, it’s not enough to just ask new fans to follow you on social media, because while they might be excited at the time, it’s likely they’ll have a great night and forget to look you up. Having flyers or ‘fan cards’ with all your social media and website details to hand out at gigs can be a great help! It’s something cool you that can give to people for free like a business card, it’s a great conversation starter, and you can design it with an artwork that represents your act. It’s also something that you can sign for people, a souvenir that they can take home, and it might just be what gets them over the line to buy your CD!

2. Meet the locals
When you’re in a new town, I think it’s a great idea to drop into the local cafes and stores and introduce yourself, have a chat and let people know about your gig. You can leave your flyers at the shops so the locals can pick them up and check you out and hopefully get down to the gig. It’s also a great way to get to know new people in the towns and leave a lasting impression. Getting photos and posting them on your Facebook and social with the local people can also add to the buzz of a tour!

3. Use your socials
It’s no secret that Facebook and Instagram are great ways to build a buzz when you’re on tour. But I think that heaps of bands and musicians don’t use it to its full potential. It’s important to post regularly when you’re on tour, so your fans who aren’t there still feel involved. I love getting photos with fans, doing shout-outs and getting photos at local cafes or music stores with the people who work there. Getting some photos and videos of the performances, before gigs, after gigs, the scenery along the way; the possibilities are endless! I feel like it’s super important, to be honest and share the fun along the way with your followers. It’s like a big story that paints a great picture of you and your act; be creative and just keep it going!

4. Make relationships with venues
One of the best things you can do is have an awesome gig at a new venue and leave a great impression. It’s important to meet all the staff at the venues, make sure you say thanks before you leave, and follow up with an email thank you to the booker and a polite message to book another show! Leave the best impression possible, not just with your music, but with your work ethic and personality. The staff are the ones who will put a positive or negative word in for you to the booker, so make it count!

5. Have fun!
The most important thing about touring is having fun. It’s not every day that you get a great gig or an opportunity to open for someone with a huge audience; so really enjoy those moments. Rehearse for the show, take care of your vocals and stay fresh (so no hangovers haha) Make the most of every opportunity; hang out with the headline act after the gig get photos with them, ask fans to meet you in the foyer during the interval and sign flyers and take photos. This has always been one of the most rewarding times for me, meeting my fans in person and having a chat. In general, just make the most of every opportunity that gets thrown at you and try to enjoy every moment.

Touring isn’t always easy, it involves endless driving, sometimes sleepless nights and a heap of nervous energy that comes with performing to new audiences, but if you can be mindful enough to be grateful for the opportunity you’ve been given and enjoy the moments, you’ll have an awesome time!

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