TOUR:SMART

By Martin Atkins: Artist, Label Owner, Entrepreneur, and Educator

With contributions from over 100 of the top experts and industry professionals on: mistakes to avoid, myths about touring, sex, drugs, software, marketing, better sound, opening bands, sponsorships, immigration, real stories, booking yourself, 61 proven strategies for a better show, and a combined 500 years of experience that will make a difference to your band tomorrow.

That's right – Hundreds of years of experience, triumphs and catastrophes crammed into over 550 pages from: recognized educators, managers, crew, journalists, venues, publicists, musicians, merchandisers, tour managers, accountants, immigration attorneys, bus companies, sponsors, Al Gore's national campaign scheduler, radio personalities, sex advisors, artists and professionals who are out there doing it...and more!

Including a stunning array of luminaries and lunatics from the real world of touring:

Henry Rollins, Cynthia Plastercaster, Zim Zum, Kevin Lyman, Steve Blush, Chris Connelly, Curse Mackey, Jason Pettigrew, Chris Payne, Jeff McClusky, Nixon Suicide, and The Enigma...from in and around such revered institutions as: Time Out Chicago, University of Southern California, Alternative Press, House of Blues, Jam Productions, Adrenaline PR, Q101, CMJ, Lollapalooza, Columbia College Chicago, PETA, Senator’s Coaches, The SuicideGirls, Jagermeister, Revolver Magazine, Woodstock Tattoo and Body Arts Festival, The Metro Chicago, Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, Presonus Audio, DSG Accounting, Plastichead Distribution, SmokingGun.com, the Vans Warped Tour, and more!

This book is a distillation of Martin Atkins' 30+ years in the business, from backing strippers at the age of 11 on a Sunday afternoon at Newcastle Labour Club, to appearing on ABC's American Bandstand and BBC TV's live Old Grey Whistle Test, to touring the world with Public Image Ltd, Killing Joke, a spell contributing to Nine Inch Nails, and Ministry. Atkins formed the bands Pigface, Murder Inc, The Damage Manual, and Brian Brain. He is the owner of Invisible Records and The Mattress Factory Recording Studio. In addition, he teaches The Business of Touring at Colombia College Chicago, conducts his own seminars, and guest lectures on many topics around the world. Atkins married Katrina in 1996 to and is the proud father of their three boys, Ian, Harrison, and Sidney.

Not to mention chapters on:

Planning, Routing, Marketing, Booking Yourself, Promoters, How to Be a Better Opening Band, Why Tour?, Press and Publicists, Radio, Sponsorships, Merchandising, Revenue Streams, Using the Web, Creating Your Own Event, Building Blocks, 42 Strategies for a More Successful Show, Excel Basics, Agents, Buy-Ons, Management, Guest Lists, Crew/Production, How to Get a Better Sound, Scenery, Sex, Drugs, Personalities, Software That's as Hard as Nails, Accounting, Settlement, Contracts, Transportation, Health Tips, The Future of Touring, Stories from the Front Line, Good Advice from Baaad People, Being a Grrrl on the Road, Case Studies, China, and even more.


HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING:

"Finally, a book that is the real f***ing story and not some fairy tale." —Jim Cuomo, Ryko Distribution

"A piece of art about our industry." —Steve Traxler, Jam Productions

"[Tour:Smart] should be in the car, van, or bus of every band trying to make it." —Trevor Fisher, Illinois Entertainer

"Really an outstanding publication - content rich and beautifully produced." —Jade Dillinger, author

"This is the bible!" —Sarah Dope, merchandiser