Playing National Gigs

[willo]

Looking for a few tips from the guys out here who've played round the country.

Basically, what's the cheapest/most cost effective way of doing it?

We're a 4-piece band and we've got two dates lined up over the summer, down in Oxford and Bristol. We've got accomodation at a friend's sorted, but only one of us drives and we're coming down from Newcastle.

Anyone had any experience/any tips to share on making these kind of gigs not an entirely loss-making venture?

[TwilightOdyssey]

VAN!!

[Sekhmet]

TO got it in one,  get a van with an extra seats in the front, that way you can fit 6 people in, also if you haven't got accomadation sorted get some hammocks hung up in the back.

We have an old AA van like this, but i've yet to use the hammocks :(

Also, live cheap, blag what you can and have a good time, there's nothing more fun that touring :)

[Muzzzz]

Best way is to get real famous, so they come to you

[PhilKing]

+1 on the Van.  I toured Germany for 3 months living out of a van with 5 other guys.  We would wash in the venue or at motorway service stations.  We got petrol and limited living expenses, so finding that many German petrol stations sell beer, and being able to get receipts for just the total helped with drinks!  We were very luck with the weather, and most nights slept outside the van at either rest areas or in the car parks of the gigs themselves.  We played the US base circuit, so could eat cheaply and pick up stuff in the base supermarkets.

It is hard work living with someone in those cramped conditions though.  It will make any small problems become much larger.  We ended up splitting up after the tour.  Hope you have better luck, it was a fun time in spite of the problems.

[TwilightOdyssey]

I've done cross country fesitval gigs here using a van ... and this country is BIG!!  It's a living hell, but you will have a lot of great stories when it's all said and done. :)

[38thBeatle]

I have done a couple of tours along the lines here and we obtained a van (and driver-very big tip there btw) that was big enough for the gear and had seats too plus a mattress for the "romantic" interludes (sadly lacking in my case but looking back, maybe not a bad thing) for post gig liaisons prior to loading the gear back in. As has been said, gigging in a van acts as a kind of magnifying glass for any issues that are there to kick off with(they will be huge by the time you finish)but the stories you will be able to tell! It is a thing to do when young.We did have an extra car with us and we used to argue over who'd get to sleep in it. In this day and age I would say that it is better to sleep in the van if only to guard against little scrotes trying to pinch it and/or your gear.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Or try to book a travel-lodge and take it turns to sleep there with someone staying in the van.

It can be hell for anyone who is a non smoker if the other guys do smoke  PDT_047

Or make a lot of friends on myspace and hope that they can put you up

[willo]

Cheers guys.

Yeah, I think the myspace thing is a definite option actually. I just put up a band from Leeds we played with the other night. Seems to be how quite a few bands do it these days. They've already extended the favour back to us, so all's well.

I am expecting to see a few things flare up if we have to live in a van. I'm just that kind of person - its no real reflection on the rest of the band but I love my personal space. In all honesty, if there are 3 seats up front, then the rest of the band can have them and I'll crash in the back and do some practice!