Why do musicians tour? by Ryan Haberfield, Guitarist for Jessie J

There are lots of reasons why bands and artists choose to tour. As a session musician there are many ways to make a living from music so have you ever wondered why we choose to go on tour? 

Money

This is obviously a big part of why musicians tour. These days with the decrease in physical record sales, touring is an alternative way for artists and signed bands to make more money - through ticket sales, merchandise, signings/appearances etc. As a session musician, taking on a pop tour is a good way to make a living from music by performing live.

Personal Growth and Improvement

I have always been a believer in that there is only so much you can learn in the practice room and gigging is vital for improvement. You can learn something from every experience, whether it is a small club tour of the UK or a worldwide arena tour. The more touring you do the better you get at it, whether it be programming a live guitar rig or learning how to effectively live out of a suitcase. Further, if you are an unsigned band you will really learn if you are cut out to be a band after spending 24 hours a day stuck in a van on the road!

Exposure

The more gigs you play the more people will see you. For unsigned bands looking to build up a following touring is an essential way to do this. With ‘pop session’ touring you will play to big audiences creating a fan base and increasing your social media following. Additionally, with big tours there often comes some sort of promotional TV and radio work which is a fantastic opportunity to get exposure. Whether its local or national, all airplay is fantastic to add to your CV and also is a great way to promote instrument companies to build up relationships for endorsements and further work opportunities.

Fun

Even though touring is “work”, it can be a very enjoyable experience too! You may get to travel the world and visit places you’ve always wanted to go. You may land a gig with a group of friends and get to have some amazing experiences together. If you are in an unsigned band touring for the first time, you will have unforgettable experiences with your band mates. Having fun is a very important part of touring otherwise nobody would do it!

Love of playing live

At the end of the day we all started playing music because we love it! Playing live is the chance to do everything you’ve practiced for, in front of an audience. On tour, you get to play live pretty much everyday, from bars and clubs, to arenas and festivals! For me this is one of the main reasons I continue to tour.

Fans

Touring means you can reach an extended fan base. As an unsigned band with an internet following, it gives your fans chance to watch you perform live. For signed artists, touring is a chance for fans around the country/world to see their favorite singers and bands perform. Even as a session musician, you will likely build up a following of fans who may enjoy your playing with a certain artist. Fans are what keep the mainstream music business ticking over so it’s really important to give something back to them. It can be very satisfying to see fans really enjoying a show and it really makes it worthwhile.

Obviously these are just a few reasons and a small insight into touring life and why we do it. Judging from my own personal experience of touring, if you are a band, musician or up and coming artist, I would highly recommend going out and experiencing it for yourself and expanding your horizons!

With thank to Ryan for this article.

Photo credit: Aga Tomaszek http://www.agatomaszek.com/