Every successful band needs to tour occasionally in order to gain new fans and to build up a buzz. Before you tour, though, you should make sure that your band has a great vehicle that will carry it from gig to gig in style.
Here are a few tips for musicians for buying the right vehicle for a regional or national tour.
Space – The first thing that you’ll think about will be size, because you’ll be worried about getting all of your band’s stuff into one car. That means you’ll probably want an SUV, a minivan or a pickup with a covered cab-you won’t be able to fit all the people in gear into a smaller car unless you’re in a two-piece band.
Fuel and Maintenance – You’ll need to think about fuel efficiency, but realize that it might not be the most important factor in your decision. For instance, a truck might get better mileage than a van, but if your whole band can sleep in the van, the van’s a better choice because you’ll be avoiding hotel bills. If you’re traveling through mountains and snow, something with 4-wheel drive might be a better choice than a weaker vehicle with 2-wheel drive. Think about where you’ll be touring and who you’ll be staying with. With that being said, if you’ve got a choice between two similarly outfitted vehicles, your band should choose the one with better fuel economy. Money is tight on the road and your band will save a lot of money from a few MPG.
By the way, before you buy a vehicle for a tour, you should get it checked out by a qualified mechanic. You’ll be working the vehicle pretty hard, even if you’re only on tour for a few weeks.
Insurance – Before your band hits the road, you should think about updating your insurance coverage. You’re way more likely to have an accident during 3-4 days of constant driving than you would normally, and on tour you might have distractions, sleep deprivation and other problems. Increase your comprehensive coverage and collision coverage.
You might also look into musician’s insurance to protect your instruments-they won’t be covered under your car insurance policy. Renters or homeowner’s insurance might also protect your gear, but check with your insurance agent. Last but not least, invest in roadside assistance coverage. It’ll be a few bucks, and if your band’s vehicle breaks down for any reason, the costs of towing, water delivery and other emergency services will be covered.
Have any other tips for choosing and checking out a vehicle before you go on a tour? Share your thoughts below.