Tortured Soul
House/Dance music pioneers Tortured Soul may be a veteran act but everyone involved in this risky business that is the music industry must adjust to the high cost of touring.
However, years of traversing the globe with their fusion of Live/Electronica Dance grooves has taught the band a trick or two that they share with us here.
AP: Since you likely had finalized your summer tour schedule & arrangements some time before the economy plummeted & gas prices soared - did you have to scramble to have enough cash to pay for gas & other tour necessities? Were things more expensive on this tour than last year's?
TS: Well most of our touring this summer involves plane travel, which definitely has gone up tremendously. We've been getting hit with those extra baggage charges every time, too, of course.
AP: How are you making your dollars stretch further?
TS: Get paid in Euros!! No seriously, a good portion of our touring this summer has been out of the country. We've been saved by the fact that the economies of Europe, UK, Canada and just about everyone else are holding up well against America's. If you’re playing a show outside the states, contract the show in their currency.
AP: Do you usually play these festivals or was it a first for the band?
TS: We've played the Montreal Jazz Festival 3 times now, Milwaukee Summerfest 4 times I think and this was our second time at the Toronto Beats Breaks and Culture fest. Most festivals don't like to have the same bands back year after year, but if you really rock it they make an exception. :)
AP: Did audiences seem more reluctant to buy merch & tickets?
TS: Sort of hard to tell, because that often hinges primarily on what you have to sell that they don't already have. We find that all things being equal, we sell merchandise to about 10% of our audience. That formula seems to still be holding up this summer.
AP: What advice do you have for bands just about to hit the road?
TS: Budget conservatively. Round everything up, because there are always hidden costs. Allot 10% of all gross fees to band re-investment. Even if you don't have a manager yet, put their cut aside...it will come in handy to have that cushion when you need to front the cost of a bus rental, or plane.
Catch them on tour this summer!
August 15 @ Babylon Alcati – Izmir
August 28 @ NJPAC Sounds of the City – Newark, NJ
August 31 @ Spiegeltent – New York, NY
