Be a High-Tech Rock Star on the Road

For the bourgeoning community of musicians, summer connotes cramming into an AC-less van and setting out for the brightly lit stages and basement dives of America. But drumming up a crowd can be hard with so many likeminded roadbandits filling the clubs. So how does one come to shred above the din? Technology, of course.

To guide us through the digital world of modern touring, a cast of bands and musicians out of Burlington, Vermont (sorry, not Phish) has agreed to share their road-worn know-how. Introducing Waylon Speed, Nuda Veritas, Heloise & the Savoir Faire, and Lowell Thompson.

This how-to should be played loud.

This how-to was written by John Flanagan, a freelance writer who lives and writes about music in Vermont.

Be Here Loud

When it comes to promotion, any band worth its salt knows about Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Waylon Speed go above the usual roundup by adding digital press kits via ReverbNation and Sonicbids, and by bombarding the web with their speedwestern anthems.

 

The Internet Archive

While SoundCloud is the current go-to for making streaming audio accessible on a mass scale, different (The Internet Archive) and perhaps more lucrative (CD Baby) song-sharing options exist. Waylon Speed have their own archivist, Bryan Smith, who records, edits, and uploads each of their shows. While most bands won't be so lucky, the Internet Archive makes sharing huge files a free and easy cinch. There, you can make your tunes available for streaming or download, get reviewed by listeners, and track how many ears you've reached.

 

CD Baby

While releasing your music for free has its perks, you're going to need money for gas and beer in that tour bus. Therefore, in addition to the free services you should try CD Baby, iTunes (if you meet Apple's requirements, and Amazon. Go to CD Baby first. From there, your music can be distributed to the aforementioned honchos and other bigwigs, including Facebook, Google Play, and Spotify. What's the catch? CD Baby charges $49.99 to upload an album ($9.99 for a single) and also takes a modest percentage of your sales. The alternatives? Brave Apple on your own by filling out an application, or just sell your own merch at shows.

Sonicbids

Sonicbids provides one-stop shopping for music marketing. At $4.99 per month for an annual “sonic” membership, Sonicbids will connect you with promoters, agents, and business folk looking to put fresh new hits into ads and movies. The site also sends your music to brands such as Gap and Converse — should you choose to sell out — and it hosts a platform for connecting with fans and promoting your shows via social media. Don't want to commit for a year? Choose the one-month $6.99 option and use it only while you tour. Upgrade to “supersonic” status at $9.99 per year or $12.99 per month.

 

Songkick

Waylon Speed keep fans posted on upcoming shows via JamBase and Songkick, the latter of which distributes tour dates to Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, and other social media giants.

Where's the Stage?

Nuda Veritas, aka Rebecca Kopycinski, tours the Northeast in her black Honda Accord, crooning out her haunting brand of operatic, digital folk to the masses. Instead of using a smartphone to find her way, Kopycinski maintains her indie cred with a Samsung Intensity II, which she describes as “essentially a little brick with a screen.” Along with a GPS unit handed down from famed composer David Ludwig, Kopycinski relies mostly on texts to Google. “I swear people don't know about this meek yet powerful tool,” she says. “It's limited, sure, but it gets me around.”

 

Just Get an iPhone

If you've upgraded by now, do as James Belizia, axman for Heloise & the Savoir Faire, does: Use Google Maps. You won't rock any less because of it.

 

Shut-Eye

Occasionally while touring, you'll need to sleep. The first, and most DIY option, is to remove the rearmost seats from your van, and build a loft above your gear. This construct blocks would-be thieves from peeking in on your stuff, too. Don't have a van? Or perhaps you tour with a choir? There's always Facebook. Most bands interviewed for this how-to cite Facebook as the only tool needed for finding “friends” with couches and/or floor space. You could also try begging locals at your shows to let you crash, but this option boosts the risk factor. Hotels are sometimes necessary, but make sure you've tried to get the local promoter or your label (ha!) to pay for it first. A moderately priced hotel room can eat up in one night all of what you make on tour. Check Hostels.com and Hostelworld for cheaper alternatives before making a reservation. And of course, don't forget the merits of camping!

 

Waste Away

As anyone who's been out a bit already knows, a lot of time needs to be wasted on the road. Boring towns, long waits between sound checks and shows, drives that last forever: One needs simple entertainment. Lowell Thompson, the impressively mustachioed Crown Pilot front man, prefers the simplest entertainment of all: “looking out the window.” Though still waters may run deep for Mr. Thompson, the Heloise crew plays Angry Birds. Guitarist Belizia says he's currently ranked 30,653 out of 25,017,704 Angry Birds players, though he's seen the likes of slot 7,104. “I've been slacking, I guess,” he says. The band also cites Instagram as an entertaining way of keeping in touch. Kopycinski chases down public radio stations, while the Speed guys have been known to mash together balls of fireworks and ignite them before discharging the flaming tableau from their moving van — not a Smokey Bear-recommended source of summer fun.

 

Fed to Shred

Staying healthy on the road is essential. As your living conditions will be already prime for inducing illness, eating ammonia-washed beef and sweaty pizza from your nearest amenity may put you out for a gig or two. Drink water, snack on yogurt and nuts, and of course, hunt down fresh, local, and inexpensive food with fervor. Heloise Williams, leader of the Savoir Faire, uses LocalHarvest to find farmers markets, co-ops, family farmers, or any available options for sustainable, organic food. Not only is LocalHarvest a great way to support your immune system, but also you'll meet foodies and support farms in parts of the country set off from the well-worn road.

Source : wired.com