Soooooooo, you want to be a touring musician. You feel you've got the passion, the willingness, the desire, and the drive, and you want to go out and see what life on the road is really like. Right on! This book contains useful information from 3x Grammy winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band/Bela Fleck & the Flecktones) that he has gathered from his over 25 years on the road as a touring musician...such as...
What's the road like? How do I get on it? Who do I take with me? How do I get where I'm going? How do I get back? What are some steps to booking my own gigs? What are some creative ways of being creative on the road? How do I make financial ends meet and come back with money in my pocket? How do I decide how many players to take, or how much I can pay them? Who will be in my band? What's a rider? How do I deal with merchandise? Do I need a road manager? What do I need for merchandise, how do I get it, and much does it cost? How do I deal with press and promo? How do I figure out a budget before I leave? What about contracts? What about the van rental? What do I include in an itinerary?
These are just some of the questions, with real-life suggestions, that are covered here. This book includes lots of things to think about on your journeys, as well as Jeff Coffin's professional and personal suggestions (like make a budget before leaving, and don't eat lots of fast food on the road!). Don't leave your driveway without this book!
A NOTE FROM JEFF: I won't lie - sometimes, it's tough. These are all things I have had to deal with, professionally and personally over the years in many different ways, with many different people, and in many different configurations and situations. I hope this book helps you find success in your road experience and career.
JEFF COFFIN is a globally recognized saxophonist, composer, educator, and is a member of the legendary U.S. rock group, Dave Matthews Band. You may also know him from his 14 years, and 3 Grammy Awards, with the genre-defying Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. Jeff fronts his own numerous groups when not touring with DMB and has released 15+ solo CD's on Ear Up Records. Coffin is known for his passionate and fiery soloing, his melodically driven compositions, his deep involvement with music education, and his continued dedication to the improvisational musical art form some call Jazz. He is one of the top, in demand, saxophonists in the world as well as a first call studio musician in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has lived since 1991. Jeff is both a Yamaha & D'Addario Performing Artist and Clinician, teaches improvisation at the prestigious Vanderbilt University, authored The Saxophone Book, co-authored The Articulate Jazz Musician, and runs his own awesome record label, Ear Up Records.
