Do You Need "The Touring Musician"???????
Do you know if you have what it takes to run your own small business?Do you know how to plan your business strategy?
Do you know how to find leads for gigs?
Do you know how to talk to prospective clients?
Do know how to negotiate a workable fee?
Do you know how to start a band and organize it's business?
Do you know how to route a tour?
Do you know how to create a tour budget spreadsheet?
Do you know how to book your transportation and accommodations?
If you answered just one of these questions "No" then you need this book.
Review the September 2007 Alfred
Publisher's reissue of my book The Touring Musician, A Small
Business Approach To Booking Your Band On The
Road
GETTING YOUR ATTUTUDE TOGETHER...7
ORGANIZING YOUR BUSINESS... 31
SELECTING AND PACKAGING YOUR BAND...54
MANAGING YOUR TIME AND INFORMATION...66
RESEARCHING VENUE CONTACTS...93
CONTACTING VENUES AND NEGOTIATING GIGS...105
MANAGING TOUR ROUTING AND BUDGETS...143
ORGANIZING YOUR TOUR FINANCES...215
What they're saying about The Touring Musician
"Record companies would have us believe there is no money in jazz. Hal Galper's book shows the newcomer, as well as the jaded road rat, that this is simply a self-serving untruth and gives us the ammunition to maximize the global marketplace. This is an important book for everyone in the business, from players to club managers. Loaded with tips on getting to the gig, even with a bass. I laughed, I cried, I learned!"Phil Woods
"The definitive tour manual. This book will help transform road worriers into road warriors. Hal has left no stone unturned when it comes to the business and mechanics of taking a band on tour. Great for musicians, managers, road managers and agents alike. Keep it on your desk and pack it in your suitcase...it's a complete reference guide to the road."Michael Brecker
"There is so much that I could say about the virtues of this book. It is exhaustive in its detail covering every possible contingency; it is savvy in comprehending the peculiarities and quirks of the jazz business specifically; and above all it is inspiring in that it empowers the reader to make headway through the complexities of the music business. Besides that, Hal's humor, anecdotes and friendly tone make the reading itself pleasurable. This has to be a milestone in how to books!!"Dave Liebman
"THE TOURING MUSICIAN has information brilliantly and meticulously compiled for surviving as a traveling musician. This text has incredible detail in every section that only actual experience can give. There is also a great deal more than just pertinent information for traveling. There are sections that will help you search within yourself for your true convictions for being a creative musician in the first place. Reading this book will help you better understand you and be more in control of your career as we live and function in the new millennium. All of us can learn from the straightforward, sometimes hilarious, clarity of Hal Galper‘s hindsight experience, good and bad. All who travel need to include this book in their personal library even if they have management. Bravo Hal!"Rufus Reid
"Musicians have traditionally relied on others to direct their musical careers: wives, girlfriends, agents, bookers, managers, club owners, landlords, et al. These people have to a large degree determined when,where and what type music they play. Hal's book clearly and humorously shows how to effectively control your musical life and pursue your musical career goals with confidence. No longer can we say "we didn't know." This brilliant book leaves no stones unturned and will save many musicians from unnecessary detours. Thanks Hal!"Jamey Aebersold
“I have been reading your book, Touring Musician, and find it fascinating and informative. There are a lot of things that I have tried or seen tried that did or didn't work for whatever reason, but you've brought it altogether in one place with a lot of helpful tried and true examples of how to go about getting things done.“
Cecil Bridgewater
My name is Bob Reynolds. I am a 22 year old saxophonist who just graduated from Berklee College of Music where I was a student of George Garzone, Hal Crook, and Bill Pierce. I bought your new book today - it is by far the most informative, complete and helpful music business book ever. I took several music business courses while Berklee that were great, problem was that they were geared more towards the mainstream music business, not the jazz business. I am devouring your book rapidly and will probably have it finished by tomorrow.
Although I'm not looking to book a tour of my quartet yet, I know this is going to come in great handy even as I try to develop a career as a sideman. No one has ever laid it out so thoroughly as to how things like fees and payments work, or how to talk with a presenter on the phone. I write a lot of music, and although I eventually want to perform my own music with my own band, I realize that in jazz, one has to have credentials, or a "name" before they can do anything on their own, so, I'm about to move to the Big Apple. Although it is somewhat frightening, I know many people there and it is my hope that I will get to gain experience with lots of great artists.
........, thank you for writing this book.
Best,
-Bob Reynolds
