PropertyOfZack Contributor Blog : : Nate Dorough
Nate Dorough is a promoter from Michigan that runs Fusion Shows, puts on Bled Fest, and does work with Phantom Creative Group as well. In his sixth blog for our ongoing Contributor series, Nate goes above and beyond to discuss “club package tours” and what bands are doing right and wrong with them. Nate also lists fantastic pointers that are helpful for both bands and fans to check out. It’s a great read and is certainly relevant, so check it out and enjoy!
For my first POZ contributor blog in far too long, I’d like to take a moment to address the package tours hitting clubs this spring. “Clubs” are the venues that are 150 to 1200 capacity rooms. Therefore, I’m not talking to Coldplay or Foo Fighters about their arena tours, and I’m also not talking to Squid The Whale or Jeff Pianki about their DIY tours. Strategies vary for different room sizes and types of tours.
I run Fusion Shows in Michigan, an independent concert promoter whose calendar is made up of about 80% of bills fitting this description. 3, 4, 5 band packages playing in 200-500 capacity rooms. I’ve done about 300 of these shows over the past 4 years, so I guess I’d call myself a bit of an expert on the subject.
While you (the bands or the agents responsible for these bands) are putting together your 2012 tours, please take a peek at the following ten (OK, thirteen) suggestions that will make your tours sell to the best of their abilities (because that’s what we all want, right?)
SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL PACKAGE TOURS
#10 - KEEP TICKET PRICES LOW!
This one seems obvious, but I don’t think that the casual fan realizes that it’s generally the band’s team (manager, agent, band) that sets the ticket prices for tours. People are broke, and they have a ton of options these days, especially during the busiest touring seasons (spring, fall). Keeping ticket prices low will ensure that more people come to the shows and have some extra dough to spend on merchandise.
