How Do You Make Money On Tour? 

Thanks for being open. I know it can be awkward but folks (like myself) need to learn. We appreciate what you contribute as a creator.

Music isn’t the road to riches for the vast majority of bands but sometimes you need your side gig, which may be your main gig financially, to make you music happen. The reward of playing music is much more than the money in your pocket. If you include the cost of gear and the hours of rehearsal, it’s nearly always a loss financially but a massive gain in a less fiduciary sense.

"Some say I'm in it for the moneyyyy! I'm in it for the LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!"

Fluff can you share what the other band members do as a side hustle from the road? Would be useful to know what works for those of us who tour or are maybe just getting into touring but don’t have a successful RU-vid channel. Cheers man & great content as always!

I find it interesting that Dragged Under operates almost exactly as my small little local/regional band does. We do maybe a dozen shows a year in a good year, so it's nowhere near the same scale, but the band operates as it's own entity and if it makes a couple hundred bucks from a show, that all goes back to the band to pay for albums/recording/merch/etc. The guys in the band are responsible for their own travel expenses, gear, beer, and all that. If one guy wants to get a hotel and another wants to sleep in his car to save a few bucks then that's how we do it. Music is our hobby not our paycheck so we treat it as such.

You know what.. kudos to you for being so clear and direct. Income, money etc is such a taboo for a lot of people and that's why sometimes there's people with a huge pay gap on the same company doing the same exact thing.

We respect the hustle, keep working hard brother!

sometimes breaking even its all it takes to fund crazy fun endeavors like touring. Monetarily might not make a ton of sense, but hell the memories, places and people you meet along the way are priceless

Love all of your videos, but always find these the most interesting. A little peak behind the curtain to a world that most of us would love to experience, but probably will not. Keep up the great work and enjoy the rest of the tour!

I finally listened to Dragged Under, you guys are fire!!! Albums been on repeat for days.

Thanks for the video and your honesty. The amount of money you are getting for a gig was what my band was getting in the late 80's/early 90's. We were also lucky to break even, although we didn't stay in hotels.

Right on, dude, things are hard these days. Keep keeping on. Totally agree.

I appreciate the insight. I've never been good enough to entertain the thought of making a living from my music, but it was still educational to peek behind the curtain.

Appreciate all the effort you put into entertaining us, brother... You're one of my favorites. Keep it coming! Cheers, from Vancouver Island.

Perfect, honest video! Keep up the great work my man…

Thanks for this, dude! The more I work with music the more I see this is how things work. And tbh I’m starting to not care that much anymore and just keep moving forward. I have a side-hustle as a freelancer graphic designer and I can work form anywhere. This video gave me hope I can make it happen.

This is a great and informative. Some bands/musicians need to hear this

Thanks for such an honest video!

Thanks for the video!

It’s nice to hear about this.

I love the openness and honesty with sharing your financials. It’s a taboo subject in the world based on capitalism. To see you expose your little world and say, “Hey, I’m not rich, but I maintain the life I want” takes balls in a world driven by $$$.

I played in a classic rock-outlaw country band for about 2 years every weekend semi locally while working construction Monday thru Friday and each band member made between 80-200 each depending on the place sometimes driving 2-4 hours each way. Never again lol. Every weekend is too much for a family guy.

I'm pretty sure I bought the first bit of merch you guys sold in person (kinda) in the UK!

I love the videos that describe things like this. Your RU-vid income video was great too!!

at 4:32 I was fully expecting Tony to get out from underneath the covers and stomp out going "FINE!"

Hey Fluff what a geat Video. I really appreciate how you present your videos. I think Im going to order your pick up to put on a project LP. I have never had a fishman and Had no idea you had a pick up or coffee or anything. thanks again and God Bless your travels.

You love to see the grind

Should also look into blog content in this genre to get google traffic both for affiliate links and ads (get your video reviews in text, do other posts, etc).

Great video!

You're genuinely so fkn cool - thanks for sharing.

Holy shit! 3000 before taxes from RU-vid AdSense? I'd be set! That's all I need!

You are a cool dude. Very transparent. Enjoyed the video. Travel safe!

I couldn’t imagine touring!

I watched your video on the Slash Les Paul, I did not know you are in Dragged Under, I have listened to your band, and I like your videos, they are enjoyable.

Dude, thanks for sharing this. I also make my living from music (left my corporate job in 2020). Much of my income is from my courses, affiliates from multiple sources, and playing live solo gigs. It's not an easy life but I wouldn't trade it!

Thanks for pulling back the curtain! Yeah, everything is expensive but gas is coming down.

This is great....I haven't toured since 2015, former member of the Hamer artist roster. When people ask me why I don't play anymore, I let them know I was never able to pay my bills by being in a band I had to spend money to be in. I was also in working self-sustaining bands in the same financial situation as yours.

For someone like me who doesn’t have passive income, which is something I am constantly looking into and saving capital in order to invest in ways I can generate that for myself, I literally am saving money in order to be able to pay my bills when my band is ready to tour which I’m guessing would be about a year from now at the least. Truly pursuing a lifestyle as a touring musician (especially in metal) is a massive sacrifice unless you are in an extremely favorable situation, which is a situation most of us aren’t in, we need to use our brains and our skills, we need to open our minds and become more productive than ever, this most likely won’t get us into a shiny car or mansion in the future but it possibly could pay our bills if we keep our overhead low and allow us to live a life where we get to express our passion for people who enjoy it, that is all anyone can really ask for. For me that will be enough to make me happy.

Thank you for sharing this video I am struggling with trying to create some passive income because I believe in my heart ❤️ that I have something to offer a brand . Even with my 10 magazine features for which I am incredibly honored at the end of the day I still only get a few tags in the form of support and I am constantly fighting the algorithms for exposure anyway I am a big fan of your content thank you 🙏

Great topic and thanks for sharing! Your model of "everything goes back into the band" is one my band does as well. If you are allowed to share, it would be interesting to see a follow up video that digs deeper into the overall band/touring/label finances. Since Dragged Under is signed, I am curious if you guys have a 360 deal with the label, if they provide tour support, etc. You explicitly didn't mention any streaming revenue. Is that because you haven't recouped? Again, I get it if those details are NDA as part of the contract.

как всегда - честно, профессионально и с огромной любовью к музыке. Рад что когда то давно подписался на этот канал - сейчас использую Ампед Рутс для работы и постоянно слушаю Вашу музыку. Удачи и надеюсь когда нибудь услышать встретиться в живую

Preferred budget hotel chain in US? Do you stick to one “reliable” cheap chain, or different hotels based on ratings, recommendations, experience,ext.?

Merch, merch, and more merch

Your honesty is truly who you are, and we love that about you, guess what we dont love...fluff Fischman sold out nukka-

You’re a gangsta Fluff. Love you brotha.

Lots of big artists do clinics before sound check. I’ll just pimp myself out instead.

I'd like to get one of your pickups.

Welcome to Virginia!

It seems like you guys are getting hotel rooms every night, maybe for each member even? That's thousands of dollars you could be taking home at the end of the tour when most of the time there's people willing to put the touring band up for the night. Worst case scenario sleeping in the van a couple of nights. If you have a guarantee of $500-1000 per show, are selling a good amount of merch each night and aren't coming home with money you're probably doing something wrong. It's not the most luxurious way of doing things but that's how most bands that are touring several times a year are coming home with money at the smaller/mid-sized band level

Thanks dad, I really need it

Beard related question.. what nose hair trimmer are you using?

So with break even touring. How does that activity affect streaming numbers? Is there a direct correlation to touring translates to an increase in streaming?

Depends on if you like eating.

Stay safe Fluff

I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too. -- learn more

Rifs,- yo- useful .=)

How to make money on tour? Three words, Merch ,Merch, MERCH!!!!

T-shirts were our main money maker back in my days on tour

I think so far I’ve reported two dozen spam comments claiming to be you and stating “this comment has won the magical prize” Can’t stand that crap.

Bought your pup fluff! 🤘🏼🤘🏼

I toured A LOT over a decade ago and hotel rooms are one of the biggest contributors to decreasing revenue. Did you guys ever consider staying with friends, family, or with the local band members from other bands overnight? Sometimes we would literally ask while playing if someone would let us stay with them overnight lol.

You mentioned the band has and runs off a LLC.. Not once did you mention anything about right offs, milage hotels expenses the band puts in, another why dont you run your own LLC for yourself as a muscian/ youtuber/ home studio owner or whatever it is what you do best and benefit off that at the end of the year

How about a vlog from the tour? 😀

What do the other band members do? Pretty sure we all sorta understand how you make a living. Are they all RU-vidrs as well?

the time has passed for original artists to make money. No more CD sales or huge record deals. thats why you see all the big bands have to tour constantly now. and if you’re an up and coming artist, well you gotta be really really fucking good. I use to have those dreams, but now I play in a cover band in a ski resort town. I make 1500$ a week from 2 band gigs and one solo happy hour acoustic gig. it pays the bills so I dont have to work a real job, and i get to play music all the time, only working 15hrs a week, if you call that work, lol. And that way I now have time to write originally music and record. I got a 10 song album already written, Im just in the process of recording it myself! but Im making music not out of necessity but of passion. but you never know, I could still “make it” 😆

Go live on one of your songs during the tour

Do you know any bands that are hiring a tour booking agent for california?

Pay to Play to get on the largest tour you can then work it as a stagehand. Farewell Yellow Brick Road lol

funny you dont have something for beard though, like a signature beard oil etc

Wow, what’s crazy is a cover band I was in never made less than $800 a show. We made between $800 - $2000. But after that, everyone had their hand out and the singer had a drug habit and was stealing/siphoning off funds and then came the accusations, fights, then the band breaks up.

Interesting, thanks for sharing.. question though, why do you choose to go on the road then?:) Sounds so much reasonable to just stay home, do your thing and even afford some time off?;)

Does all band members have similar side / passive incomes?

All you need to do is break even. Rest is a plus. You just dont make music for the money, you do it for the music. Thats how it should be. If you do make money, it all gied back in the band Simple

To everyone here, I’m curious: is there a large pay difference between genres? I play in the country scene a lot up in Ohio/the Midwest, and it’s fairly normal to get 200-500$ per member depending on the gig (once you get going.. not so much just starting out) I was quite surprised to hear that these guys do their shows for 500-1000$ total considering the scale of the band. That said, I’m with groups that do 90% covers, and I assume that due to the genre I play, things like beer sales factor in quite a bit more. Can anyone whose been in multiple scenes attest to this?! It’s interesting to see

former road dog, got me with the coffee, ill order a sack

Shirts. The answer is shirts. $2 bulk gildan shirts with $0.45 worth of ink sold for $25 or $30. Sell 10-15 of those a night, at least. Add in a $5 profit from any vinyl or CD releases sold, and you can get about $500-$1000 a night in merch sales if you are a touring mid-level band. I have not watched the video. Probably not gonna watch the video.

🔄

Jesus, no money? I would never waste my time driving all over hell for free?

6 weeks of hotels = sleep on the bus money. Go home with rent. Do your videos at the venue. I slept on floors of fans and the floors of headliner's crew''s hotel. Once in a while it was luxury at Motel 6.

This is a little scary. Have we reached the point where touring is not a sustainable business? I think even Misha Mansoor made comments about Periphery's touring not making much, if any, money most of the time. What is the way forward? Sponsored tours? Wealthy benefactors? I have no problem sacrificing a little and working hard to succeed in music, but it's looking like a sustainable career is getting less and less realistic.

👍🍺

Being a musician is the lowest paying job in the world when you consider the time and dedication it takes just to be decent never mind the cost of gear.

as a cover band we make 7-800 a show

You guys are getting paid? 😮

I've never been about that income. I'm more about the outcome.

*You know, that really says nothing for how you can afford all that gear! I mean 1 amp head is like $3,000 + what of you have like 12 of them +. then Guitars ETC... YO your business is yours and none of mine. However if you are going to come on social media and make a public declaration as the subject matter of this video - you might would at least BE 100%! whereas what you described DONT ADD UP.*

How..? Sell tickets , pack 'em in and play rock n roll.....

So.. how do you generate income on the road? You don't. But you do.

As I see it touring is basically not a viable business model anymore, it's just for fun if you wanna lol.

"2,500 a month"- oh not bad "pretax"- ouch

If it's break-even, then why do it? Which is cheaper: renting an RV or staying in hotels? Just curious, because most musicians telling this break-even story are touring in a van and staying in hotels. If the RV route is more expensive, then why aren't you making use of campgrounds and rest stops? Or maybe modding your van so you can sleep in it? Do you stop at a lot of restaurants? Why? Are you too entitled to brown bag it? Try getting a camp stove if you like hot meals; learn to cook. Or bring a cheap microwave with you; there are plenty of places you can plug in. Or if you can justify the cost, rent an RV with cooking facilities in it. Who is your tour manager? Do you even have one? If you have one, you might want to consider firing them and getting a better one. One who actually knows how to budget a tour so that it produces income. If you don't have the money to organize it that way, then maybe you should work on that before committing to a tour. You're not really a working band if you don't actually get income from your work. It's just a hobby, both in practical and legal terms. I'm from the 80's and 90's. We actually took all this shit seriously back then and didn't try to bend the definitions. I have downloads of my music available for purchase and I've done shows in the past when I had an actual band together, but I don't honestly consider myself to be a professional musician, because I've never actually earned an income from it. All I have is a lot of sunk costs. If I was doing what you're doing, I STILL wouldn't call myself a professional musician. If the business is generating revenue and you're putting it all back into the business, then it's a business in development, not a true professional endeavor. It doesn't become that until you're drawing an actual salary from it. Actual indie professional musicians are a rarity. They're more rare than label-backed bands. You're not in that club. Guys like Adam and Rhett, they're professional musicians; they actually get paid to record and perform live. They make an actual living at it. It doesn't matter who owns the band; if you're not getting paid a wage or salary, you are not a professional musician. If this isn't your main paid occupation, then you are not a professional musician. Don't confuse your aspirations with actuality. You will never get where you want to be by doing that. All I see here is some slackers wasting a lot of money playing rockstar and patting themselves on the backs for a job well done when they haven't actually done any work of real monetary value yet. If you're staying at hotels and eating at restaurants, then this is a road trip party for you, not a profession. You haven't earned those treats yet; you won't until you can add them into your tour budget without sacrificing income. You're a professional RU-vidr, maybe a professional teacher, maybe a professional producer if you still do that, but you're not a professional musician; in that regard, you are just a hobbyist aspiring to be a professional, like me. Don't kid yourself about where you are in your journey. Learn to be brutally honest with yourself.

That’s the best part…you don’t!

That's mean i can't get rich by doing music😢😢

You make more money the more you play ..

Music is not a career, then. It's an expensive money draining hobby. Man, it sucks to hear the truth of it.

So short answer is you don't make money on tour

TLDW: Get a job. Haha

Make money first than play music.

You make MONEY ON TOUR BY not SIGNING ANY STUPID 360 RECORD DEALS, THATS HOW

This is so sad, being a musician and making and showing off music live should be sustainable. You are working countless hours and selling out multi hundred person shows cant break even most of the time. While also doing the back breaking effort of lugging yourself on the road for weeks away from family or home. Musicians and artists need better policy in place to cement their fair share.