Guides
The practical stuff nobody tells you.
Straight answers for working musicians — what a promoter actually reads, what to charge, how to get paid. Written to be useful whether or not you ever use Roadshow.
Stage plot and input list: do you actually need one?
What a stage plot and input list show, why the input list matters more, and how to make both without design software.
How do I get my gigs to show up on Google and Bandsintown?
Where tour dates actually get pulled from, what each source needs, and the Instagram-only mistake that keeps gigs invisible.
How to get people to actually come to your show
The order that works: people who know you, then the venue's crowd, then strangers. A timeline and the lever most bands skip.
Do I need a contract for a gig?
What to confirm in writing before a gig, and why an email covering the right details is enough for most bookings.
How to write a band bio that isn't three paragraphs about your influences
A working template for a band bio: who, sound, proof, what's next — written at 40, 100, and 250 words, plus the clichés to cut.
How do I check if a band name is taken?
The five places to search before you commit to a band name, in order, and the exact point where you should stop and pick a new one.
How function bands actually get booked (it isn't Instagram)
Directories, agencies, referrals, and the press kit a wedding or corporate planner expects before they book you.
Should my band have its own domain name?
What a band domain costs, where to buy one, what to do if the .com is gone, and why it changes how you look on a poster.
Should a musician have a mailing list?
Why email beats social followers for gig turnout, where to put the signup, and what to actually send people.
What to charge for a gig, and how to say the number
Price ranges for bars, weddings, corporate events, and festivals, plus a method to set your rate and the words to quote it without flinching.
Isn't Spotify enough? Why do I need my own site?
Spotify streams your music but can't take a booking, hold a date, send a press kit, or build a fan list you own. Here's the gap.
How to get decent band photos without paying a photographer
Light, background, resolution, and the framing mistake that ruins a poster — how to shoot usable band photos yourself.
Do I need an EPK or a website?
A press kit and a website do different jobs — one is sent, one is found. Here's how to tell which one you're missing.
How to get your first paid gigs in your own city
Who to email at a venue, what to send them, and why asking to open gets a reply when asking to headline doesn't.
How to invoice a venue for a gig, and get paid on time
What to put on a gig invoice, deposit vs balance, GST/HST rules under $30k, and how to chase late payment.
What to put on a band website when you only have an hour
The four things a booker actually checks, in order, and the three things bands waste time on that don't help get gigs.
What actually goes in a musician's press kit
The exact contents of a press kit that gets read: bio length, photo specs, contact format, and why a Drive link gets ignored.