It's been a while since my last Tour Smart post, so, welcome back me! I actually didn't feel like I had left.

What's happened since we last spoke?

Well, I've been back to China and had another baby boy -- bringing the total up to 4! (Boys -- not trips to China.) Let me stress the importance of that number and prevent anyone from changing it, just like on a major record label contract, by writing it thusly: XXXFOURCHILDRENALLBOYSXXX. I'm also teaching much more at Columbia College here in Chicago, and am having an F-ing blast!

I hope that you are also doing well amid this horrible economic downturn. We'll all be re-defining the meaning of essential vs. luxury items over the coming months. It'll be interesting to see where music is on that list. Since life is likely to be even tighter on the road for gigging bands, I thought it was high time I hit the SG Newswire with a few pearls of wisdom on how to keep food in your mouth -- and more importantly beer in your glass -- as you gig your way to glory.

Do this today to make more money on the road tomorrow:

1. Start a donation bucket -- or, if you are feeling less ambitious -- a donation jar. Place a large label on a big bucket saying something that is honest. Sheep on Drugs said, "Alcohol fund -- please give generously!" It made them about $20 a night. I put this anecdote in my book as an example of being able to learn something from anyone, thinking outside the box, and being honest.

A band just wrote to me and said that this tip was the difference between eating most nights....or not. They described this as one of the factors that enabled them to complete their first ten day tour. It's also a great illustration of what my shit is about. It's NOT about making more money -- money on its own is meaningless. It's about surviving and sustaining because NONE of the other things affecting your career can kick in if you give up, implode, or explode.

The honesty component of the donation jar is just as important as the jar itself. This is the same philosophy that gets the homeless guy who directly asks for money to support his drug habit a little bit more than the guy who's asking for "food." People respond to honesty. It's the time between smile and laugh that opens pocketbook (not that there's anything in anyone's pocketbook anymore, but...).

2. Look at upcoming events as your granddad would -- be skeptical. Take off your rose colored, positive vibe glasses. Take care of the one crazily obvious thing that you have forgotten! Don't be afraid to say, "This won't work, this will be a catastrophe." By jumping into your granddad's persona, you can alert yourself to possible real dangers. But make sure to exit your granddad's body before you shave -- he probably only used a razor with one blade (can you imagine that!) instead of the nine blade skateboard motherfuckers we're using now! How on earth did they ever manage it?

3. Check the facts. Take the time to check on anything verifiable and objective. There are so many things up for grabs -- the fickle nature of people, the economy, the weather -- you should do your best to examine and quantify anything that isn't. For example, are you "hoping" that the opening two bands are really going to pull a crowd? Instead of hoping, check the facts. How many people are on their Myspace? (Note: divide by 4 at least!) When was the last time they played? Last week is a problem and so is next week �¯�¿�½�¯�¿�½ especially if these are free shows �¯�¿�½�¯�¿�½ be careful! Just because something is crazy and doesn't make sense doesn't mean it isn't going to happen. In fact �¯�¿�½�¯�¿�½ think the opposite.

4. Take care of all that you can before you leave: Vehicle maintenance, oil changes, spare tires, blown out tires, peanut butter and cheese crackers, a triple A card, and whatever else you can think of -- you know, the boy scout badge stuff. Nothing is obvious, take NOTHING for granted. Watch Apollo 13; you know, the space mission that ended with the crew creating oxygen masks out of cardboard boxes and belly button lint. Think of yourself as the crew of Apollo 13. (Except don't shit in your pants unless you are wearing NASA approved adult diapers or sleeping in your girlfriend's bed. It's not very nice -- but you'll laugh about it for years to come.)

Leave comments with ideas to share and any questions you have. I'm out on the road, up on the web and doing my thing -- see you at a guitar center near you sssssssoooooooooooon

Currently reading: Bruce Lee
Current watching: Dexter and our newborn baby Cole Vincent
Currently listening to: 24 hours and Snapline from CHINA!

Upcoming Events:
Tour:Smart DIY Summit - Band Survival in the New Economy
Learn how to make $7,500 more in the next six months!
Saturday, November 8, 2008 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Invisible Records Offices: 3319 S. Lituanica Ave., Chicago, IL
$50 registration (includes 50% coupon off of mastering at Mattress Factory Studios). For more info go to:
TourSmart.wordpress.com/events/ or InvisibleRecords.com.

P L R
MA

Martin Atkins has drummed with PiL, Killing Joke, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Pigface, and The Damage Manual, among others. As owner of the now 20-year old Invisible Records, he has worked with artists such as Thrill Kill Kult, Einsturzende Neubauten, Chemlab, Chris Connelly, Sheep On Drugs, Murder Inc, and Psychic TV. Martin teaches a course on Business of Touring at Columbia College in Chicago, IL, and has written a survival guide for touring bands, Tour Smart: And Break The Band, which features contributions from Henry Rollins, Cynthia Plastercaster, The Enigma, the Suicide Girls, Zim Zum (formerly of Marilyn Manson), Kevin Lyman, and various other managers, journalists, venues, agents, sponsors, radio personalities and the like.