Anyone heard of a singer/songwriter touring and NOT having a local area?

What I mean to say, is has anyone heard of a singer-songwriter who just tours full time and doesn't necessarily have a home area that he goes back to? I mean there is a singer/songwriter curcuit of sorts across the country and if you get into the NACA, start doing a lot of colleges and pepper in club dats it is very possible to tour full time and NOT have a Local scene you go back to. Look at Howie Day...He was on the road for a few years doing the NACA thing along with clubs, festivals, etc etc. He didnt' do short stints and then go home to Maine where his Main following was...I personally feel if you want to be really successfull, this is a great model to follow..Just get out there and go for it..Build it regionally then take another region, and another...Keep going back and create a swell.....I know the logistics of touring full time are seriously heavy and that could be a factor. TRAIN is another example of a band who just went out and hit it for 2 years straight before they were signed.....I think if you are really good and serious this could be a great road...a Very tough road but with serious potential....

I am spending this whole year getting it together playing locally and producing/recording several other singer songwriter's CD's, and finishing my next CD. Then i'm buying a motorhome and will spend about 6 months doing an on slaught of promotion and booking in the South East, for the Winter as well as trying to hook up with a college booking agent and get the NACA thing rolling. Then around the end of October I'll take off out of Alaska and do a 4 week mini tour down the West Coast, Hit Austin, and Atlanta and finally end up back in South FL for the holidays. I will gig there and continue to work the phones, fax, internet and try to build up more bookings for the Winter, try to get a showcase at the South East Regional NACA conference, or at least get a booth there, play as much as I can anywhere and everywhere and build it up..Hit South by SouthWest, play more dates on the way back up to Alaska for the Summer where I will gig about 4 nights a week, write, camp, relax, recouperate....Then do it all over again and build on the previous 7 or 8 months of touring etc etc...keep this going...get more gigs, sell more CD's, merchandise, get better show slots, hit more conferences, etc etc...

I believe this grassroots approach is the way to go..I have a manger that will be coming with me and working the business end, FULL TIME on our travels.....

So, it's an investment really....If you plan it all out and work to make it all happen, I believe it can be done and you can make a decent living touring as an indie combining colleges, festivals, clubs, selling merchandise, and building a name.....

Taking summers off in Alaska to regroup and work to put $$ back in the Till for the start of the Next onslaught is a plus as well..

So that's my plan and I'm going to have some help but I believe it's doable and have seen others do it....

Anyone else have a similar plan of attack?

Sean Mormelo

I know of a youth minister/singer/songwriter that does this full time. He is single basically purchased a truck and camper and goes all over the US playing shows, working for churches for revivals and things like that. He makes a few hundred a week doing this and is able to move from one place to another and has his living arrangements with him at all times.

I spoke with him when he was in our town and he said that he loves his life, but that there are times when it is lonely on the road by yourself but that was his only drawback.

I'm sure if a musician managed their expenses right, this nomadic kind of life could work. As time goes on, you build a following all over the US. The main problem is having the guts to strike out in the first place.

I did this back in the late '70s for a while...lived in a Ford Econoline and gypsy-ed about the continental US and Canada.

It was pretty cool, as I was single, but the drawbacks were there, too...one of the biggest being that vehicle maintenance is a VERY big priority, so whatever vehicle you choose, carry extra fan-belts and stuff and DEFINITELY get a Chilton's manual for your vehicle ( Murphey's Law and all )!

However, I think if you can afford to keep your dream going until you're actually making some decent $$$, you might just pull it off...and if you later decide the nomadic life really isn't your cup o' tea, you'll have some great memories/material for songs.

And I did find out that it's not all that easy to starve!

Best of luck!

Somehow Terry, I knew you had at least tried this. Don't ask me how...

Originally posted by Ministry of FOG Somehow Terry, I knew you had at least tried this. Don't ask me how...

It seemed like a good idea at the time...the troubadour life!

Pity I'm a LOUSY mechanic or I might still be doing it!

However, when the youngest kid is on his own (about 6-7 more years), the wife and I are going to do it again, on a MUCH smaller basis...likely go out during the summer, playing the festival circuit and remaining in the N. Texas/New Mexico/Arkansas/Oklahoma area the rest of the year, unless we decide to move to N. Carolina and base operations there...my brother (who fortunately IS a very good mechanic) and I are rebuilding a school bus into a "castle on wheels" for this venture...the old Econoline was pretty cramped!