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.
How your music actually gets onto Spotify
You can't upload directly to Spotify or Apple Music. Here's how distributors work, what they cost, and what they don't do for you.
How should a band split gig money?
A practical breakdown of gig money splits — equal shares, expenses-first, points for extra work — and how to avoid the fight before it starts.
Do you need to register your band as a business? (Canada)
Canadian rules on band registration: sole proprietorship, partnership, incorporation, the $30,000 HST threshold, and why venues ask.
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.