How to Go On Tour with a Major Artist

Performing live can expose your music to new fans and grow your fanbase in the area you are performing. In a recent article, we covered how to get booked at venues near you by pitching to their booking agents and talent buyers. If you’re having trouble getting booked for a headline performance at venues, you might want to try to open for bigger artists. Opening for bigger artists can turn their fans into yours, give you experience performing, help you build in-person connections with artists, DJs, and promoters, and can even make you money. In this article, we cover how and why you can go on tour with a major artist. Interested in more tips like these? Check out all of our free artist resources.

Make more fans opening for another artist or band.

Opening up for major artists can help you turn their fans into yours. As the headliner, the pressure is on that artist and their team to sell tickets so they make money. People may come to their show because the artist posted about it on social media, put up flyers, ran digital advertising, etc. Someone else did the hard work of getting these people to their show. Now it’s on you to entertain them. If you do a good job, you’ll have these fans coming up to you after the show and following you on social media. Opening up for artists can get you fans.

Get experience performing on a tour.

Another reason to open up for other artists is to give yourself experience performing. You may have been denied getting booked as a headliner because you don’t have enough performance experience. Opening up for artists is an easy way to get that experience. Make sure to take photos and videos of you performing. Including performance photos and videos in future pitches to venues, booking agents, and talent buyers can help you get booked. 

Opening for other artists is great for networking.

Opening up for other artists shows you are humble and other artists want to work with those who aren’t cocky. There are too many people who act “Hollywood” in the music industry, and behaving this way will only make people look down on you. When you are at concerts, you should use this as your chance to meet as many like-minded people as possible. A firm handshake and a smile can lead to a collaboration with a much bigger artist, beats from a local producer, or even a booking from a talent buyer or booking agent. 

Touring with other artists can make you money.

Opening up for artists can also make you money. Not every artist or promoter will pay openers, as there are a lot of benefits to opening up for an artist. However, if an artist or promoter is making a killing off of the show, they will typically pay openers a small percentage of earnings. You will always make more as the headliner, and making money should not be the priority of the opener. Use this as your chance to build your fanbase, get experience, and meet new people. 

How do I go on tour with a major artist?

How do you open up for a bigger artist? The process of getting on another artist’s tour isn’t as complicated as you think. If you follow these steps, you’ll be on your way to being an opener for a major artist. However, keep in mind that artists and their teams are often picky about who they have perform before them. Make sure the artists you are pitching yourself to open for make similar music to you.

1. Identify artists or bands performing in your area in the next 3 months.
2. Go to the website or social media of each artist or band and find the contact information for their booking agent or management team.
3. Contact the booking agent or management team with a professional pitch that breaks down who you are, your experience performing, how many tickets you expect to sell, the size of your current fanbase, and anything else important you think they should know. Make sure to include your Electronic Press Kit (EPK), any photos or videos of you performing, and a list of venues you’ve performed at and artists you’ve already opened up for.

Navigate the music industry with confidence.

Going on tour with a major artist or just opening up for them at one stop of their tour is important for artists of every size. With the tips in this article, you will now know how and why to open up for another artist or band. Do you want help pitching yourself to performance opportunities? Read about how we can help you with your goals with our artist management services or contact our team for more information.