For any artist, especially those in the independent or DIY space, hitting the road and performing live isn’t just about the music. It’s about building a fanbase, gaining more (and memorable!) experience, and connecting with people in a way that streaming numbers alone can’t quite achieve. Touring allows musicians to take control of their careers, get their music out to new audiences, and build relationships with venues, promoters, and fans along the way.
But let’s be real – organizing a gig or a tour isn’t easy. Between figuring out where to play, contacting venues, and coordinating logistics, it can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where Indie On The Move (IOTM) steps in, helping to make the process smoother and more efficient for indie bands and musicians looking to expand their reach to new cities and audiences.
Planning a tour can be both exciting and complex, so it's wise to start preparing several months to even half a year in advance. Begin by mapping out your route, identifying key cities, and finding venues that suit your music. Indie On The Move is a fantastic resource for this, helping you locate and reach out to venues well ahead of time. Don’t forget to connect with other bands; their networks could open up additional opportunities.
Promotion is also crucial for a successful tour. Use your social media channels to build buzz and keep your fans informed. When pitching your music to blogs, let them know about your tour and consider asking them to mention it. Reaching out to radio stations, especially college stations, can also provide valuable exposure. Press and radio support can significantly amplify your efforts.
Pro tip: Once your tour is set, mention it in your Spotify for Artists new release pitch. Editors often look for tour information as it can make your pitch stand out and add credibility to your upcoming releases.
Indie On The Move is your go-to destination for show and tour booking, whether you're a musician or a venue. The platform connects artists with venues, colleges, festivals, promoters, and booking agents, offering an extensive database of venue contacts across the US and Canada. Whether you're looking to play small clubs, festivals, or universities, IOTM helps streamline the entire process. No more hours spent cold-calling or searching for reliable booking contacts – IOTM gives you the tools to plan your tour in a smarter, more strategic way.
One of the best things about IOTM is that it can be used for free. The free tier lets you manually browse the basic venue information and handle all the outreach DIY-style, plus you can explore the Show/Band Availabilities and Classifieds.
For a small monthly fee (or an even cheaper annual plan), you can upgrade to the Premium subscription. This gives you access to all the booking information for the venues, colleges, and festivals, with advanced filtering options.
We love how the Premium tier allows you to filter venues not just by genre or capacity but also by day of the week and whether you perform covers or original songs.
For those needing to save time and effort, the Deluxe subscription, while a bit more expensive (still affordable, though), offers batch emails, email analytics, timed emails, and saved booking templates. This might be worth the investment if gigging and touring are becoming priorities for your project.
And there's even more – you can access a DIT (Do It Together) Pro service, where a dedicated IOTM professional walks you through as well as assists you with the process.
Indie On The Move’s Availabilities section is another cool tool worth exploring. It’s free and can be a game-changer for both music venue bookers dealing with last-minute openings as well as bands on tour facing sudden cancellations.
For bands and artists, the Show Availabilities section is a great way to discover last-minute opportunities and fill schedule gaps if you’re in a specific area – simply apply if you find a suitable gig. Alternatively, you can post your availability in the Band Availabilities section, indicating your location and available dates, and a venue booker might reach out if they need someone who fits the bill.
For independent artists eager to perform publicly, Indie On The Move is a really cool tool to check out. It doesn’t just help you book gigs; it helps you do so strategically and efficiently, saving you time and energy. Built with independent artists in mind, IOTM truly understands the challenges of booking shows. Plus, the community aspect is a huge bonus.
Plus: SubmitHub users get an exclusive 20% off IOTM annual subscription with the code: SUBMITHUB20OFF