CATCH ME ON TOUR IN 2023! DATES BELOW! ARCHSPIRE EUROPE 2023 Aug 03 - Velenje (SI) @ Metaldays Aug 04 - Munich (DE) @ Backstage * Aug 07 - Dresden (DE) @ Reithalle * Aug 08 - Kraków (PL) @ Kwadrat ** Aug 09 - Warsaw (PL) @ Hybrydy *** Aug 10 - Schlotheim (DE) @ Party San Aug 11 - Jaromer (CZ) @ Brutal Assault Aug 12 - Bremen (DE) @ Tivoli # Aug 13 - Kortrijk (BE) @ Alcatraz Aug 14 - Schweinfurt (DE) @ Stattbahnhof % Aug 15 - Bochum (DE) @ Matrix % Aug 16 - Tilburg (NL) @ 013 # Aug 17 - Dinkelsbühl (DE) @ Summer Breeze Aug 18 - Spital am Semmering (AT) @ Kaltenbach Open Air Aug 20 - Carhaix (FR) @ Motocultor * (w/ Shadow Of Intent, Within Destruction & Cytotoxin) ** (w/ Fit For An Autopsy & Within Destruction) *** (w/ Signs of the Swarm) # (w/ Converge & Dying Fetus) % (w/ Dying Fetus) ARCHSPIRE JAPAN 2023 Oct 05 - Osaka @ Socore Factory Oct 06 - Nagoya @ Imaike 3Star Oct 08 - Tokyo @ Cyclone Oct 09 - Tokyo @ Cyclone ARCHSPIRE AUSTRALIA 2023 (W/ Ingested & Werewolves) Oct 11 - Brisbane @ The Zoo Oct 12 - Canberra @ The Basement Oct 13 - Sydney @ The Factory Theatre Oct 14 - Melbourne @ The Corner Hotel Oct 15 - Adelaide @ Lion Arts Factory Oct 17 - Perth @ Amplifier Bar ARCHSPIRE U.S. 2023 (Supporting Periphery) Nov 04 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Nov 18 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Some things to keep in mind here: - Not all these expenses needed to be paid up front. Most are invoiced, which means we had 30 days to complete payment. - We ended up only using our merch guy for the first week, and switched out to sell our own stuff. We wanted to connect with fans more during the tour. - We did profit from this tour, I don't want anyone thinking that we came home in massive debt. - The merch bill is huge, yes. But all leftover merch goes onto our online store, and we benefit from that. It's actually a great system. If you have any questions please ask away!
Since it's been such a hot topic, what was your experience with U.S. merch fees at venues. Was the percentage fairly consistent?, is it negotiable?, how much did it actually affect your bottom line?...that sort of thing...
You did the entire metal community a favor by posting this video. It lets fans know what work and expense it costs for our fav musicians to come to our town. Thanks 🙏🏽!
I'm just gonna say, being able to condense all this information into just 8 minutes of video is super impressive. You managed to tick all the important stuff while not making a feature length movie, literally better than some actual TH-camrs.
as someone who doesnt live in a tipping culture, why would you do that? you paid them for admission, a shirt, and then maybe also for an album? and you want to pay them again? i am in a band also, so if you want to give money, be my guest but i dont want this behavior to be normalized. if you want a shirt, come up and buy one and then live your life.
Dean, this was a phenomenal breakdown! So many bands need to pull back the curtain. Too many smoke and mirrors. So much so that bands think everyone is touring in buses, making bank, and just living their best lives. This is part of the reason why I wanted to film all types of vehicles for Bus Invaders from day one and part of the reason why the Archspire episode is one of my personal favorites. The video was such an honest look (with a bit of comedy) into the life of a band selling out mid-cap venues across North America.
Videos like these are important for several reasons..... 1. For newer bands that haven't started touring, having financial breakdowns such as these is INCREDIBLY important. 2. It's a reality check for all those out there thinking that picking up an instrument for ANY other reason than to create your own music and play it for others and have it be this well-paying, high flying lifestyle. 3. For all of us out there that really enjoy intricate breakdowns of the more technical side of music, this kind of content scratches that brain itch that I'm sure a lot of people get. So thank you for creating this video dude, thank you for continuing to create content for us to enjoy and I SWEAR i'll catch you guys on the road at some point. Just have to make it to Toronto when you guys do.
Several years ago, Devin Townsend did a Masterclass and this exact topic (and how to tackle planning for it) was a big topic and specifically about international touring costs. Massive gratitude for all artists that open their "books" on this stuff.
Selling your own merch, while I’m sure is taxing, was awesome! My 9yr old was stoked to meet Tobi in STL. We got shirts, CD’s and lil man got a pic with him. So cool! Show was killer too. You guys tore it up.
Brilliant stuff....I wish more people realized that honesty and transparency are important details when choosing a channel to subscribe to...I honestly love you and Claire and keep Archspire in my daily listening routine...🤘
Thanks so much for this video, Dean! It's very important that fans get to see this perspective. Also, venues taking a cut of a band's merch sales HAS TO STOP!
It's always built into the contract, and you really don't have much of a choice. Boycotting selling merch just really damages the artist more than anyone. It's a hard place to be.
@@DeanLambIs there a way maybe to allow people to prepurchase tour merch on your website and “pick it up” at the venue to avoid the venue cuts? It sounds like a good idea in theory but I’m not sure the feasibility of it and the logistics that come with it.
@@BobbyHutchSanchez that's a rad idea actually!!!! Somehow have like a qr code that confirms you purchased said merch. They guys can scan it at the table, it pops up the info of the purchase and for what product(s).
As a Texas resident, who comes to EVERY show y'all play through here, let me know how I can help! My wife and I had our first date at your show in Dallas several years back, and y'all met us a few times after the shows. Y'all will always have our support!
Its like running a small buisness with 5 partners. It's admirable how you guys run such a tight ship. Saw you guys in Worcester. Was better than I could've imagined!
More than $150K before the band even plays one note. It's amazing that a band would take on such a challenge. But I saw Archspire on the Seattle tour stop; brilliant, crushing, amazing.
Yo I copped your bleed the future Hoody recently and I just want to say thanks for getting the supplier you did. This is the third Hoody I've gotten from you guys and you don't scrimp on the quality. I've purchased a ton of band apparel from various shows through the years and yours are always high quality. They're comfortable, the designs are sick and they feel substantial. None of that thin non-durable blends. Good shit 👍.
I think it's underappreciated what bands go through to make touring happen! Thank you for shining some light on the things behind the curtain and put it into perspective for the more unsuspecting folks out there. Additionally I'm very happy that this whole thing was a huge success for you guys. Been a fan for quite a while now and I'll always happily support you in any way I can. Hope to be able to see you perform sometime soon.
I appreciate the transparency in this video - definitely helps out a lot with bands that are yet to go on tour and has a great breakdown of expenses etc. Thanks Dean!
I love seeing behind the curtain for things like this. Even if it seems "boring" to write, it's extremely interesting and informative and gives us a better idea of what touring bands go through.
Goddamn, would never have expected a merch bill to be that big. I'm honestly now persuaded to drop some bigger tips when I go to shows. Folks deserve it when they go all that way and put on a killer show. And Dean, you guys should drop by Philly some time. We've got a pretty solid metal scene 'round here.
This is why I switched from being in a band to performing stand-up comedy. Logicistics are 100x easier. Awesome video, saw y’all years ago in LA, glad you’re still touring！
Thank you Dean. Nice insight into what it really takes to go on tour. Appreciate your honesty, and that's why i watch most of your stuff when i can. I would say keep it up, but i get the notion that it's just how you are. Stay awesome, human.
Detailed breakdown man. I'm really stoked to hear you guys came out on the green side. Not mention you made it back home, safe. Good to see you, Dean n
Y'all put on a wicked show, and you're all super chill. I remember asking you guys to sign my vinyl and some dude that looked like Tobi signed it after Tobi signed, that's a family heirloom right there
Thank you dean,tobi,oli,jared,& spencer for coming and playing in st Louis at the red flag it was awesome to see you guys play live and thank you guys for the chat and photo ops 🤘😈🤘
It was awesome to see you behind the merch table at the Nashville show! Life as a touring musician is harder than ever, so I appreciate the grind, the hustle, and the insane music! Hope to see you guys headline next time, thanks Dean!
I love it when a band is on top of the business side of it all. I've managed my own band "MaroziA" for over 20 years (we never quite our day job's and did not have pro ambition) but loved that we could do what we did without the drama's when business is not in order. Great breakdown Dean. Keep it coming and stay metal. 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
I put a serious debt in the merch dept in NY. The artist is next level. Was a killer show. You turned me on to entheos the last tour and they killed as well. 🤘🏼
This was a really great break down of the logistical side of touring, and the amount of planning it takes to make this type of tour happen. Very interesting, and well put together Dean, thank you! Happy to hear you guys profited and are not in massive debt!
Not really. There are *WAY* more practical ways of touring. In the words of Henry Rollins “Get in the van” and stop bitching. You don’t need a 24k RV with dedicated driver for a month tour. That’s insane.
I'm assuming these numbers are private, but now I really wanna know how much the tour profit for the band was after. I'm curious to see what a tour that costs 160k$ for the band brings back.
Merch to back up a good set is make or break. I'd imagine that the minimum pricing restriction gave a good margin, but knowing what cool/quality stuff that folks want to buy & being able to ballpark the quantities is down to experience!
Hi Dean! We met at the 04/21 show at Gramercy Theatre and took a cool photo for my birthday! I thoroughly enjoyed the wine can you showed off while we were talking business. You five are single-handedly saving and improving metal and I was super happy to support you all at the show!
You tour like rockstars, lmao. When we toured (as a 4-piece band), our manager took 20% of the income (except for the merch), drove the van, handled the merch, made sure that we got paid, and paid for nothing (meaning, the other 80% of the cash + merch sales pays for hotels, food and diesel). It worked. Nowhere near this expensive.
Feel for you Dean, I only have experience touring in Australia but all the issues sound about the same. Edit: some nights merch sale mean the difference between eating and not eating, 1 shirt sale was a god send.
I'm only a single punter, but this is why I always (where I'm able) will skip food and drinks at a gig if it means I get a shirt. Sure, I get the souvenir, but I'm fairly sure the bands get a bigger share than if I was to buy the same shirt online.
@@MorkaiAU Honestly it depends, we went to an independent screen printer so after costs it was 100% profit plus we shipped our own merch, i imagine bigger merch stores take a chunk of profit
I passed this vid on to a couple band friends I know that are on the edge of getting to the next level. Both found useful tidbits in here. Thanks Deano!
I'm uniquely qualified to do this job, but working a regular 9-5 is in the past for me. I need to have room to do whatever I want whenever I want to do it. Working until 10pm because I feel like it is pretty awesome, taking 3 days off to just chill is also awesome.
As someone who is looking to start a band this is pretty useful to keep in the back of my mind for now. I'm nowhere close to being at this level of touring and etc but having a numerical value really sets a realistic idea of what to expect.
Very interesting video on something I've thought very little about in the past even as an avid concert goer. It was amazing to see ya'll play in Denver as well as meet you in person at the merch table!
Bands been together for a few years,loads of ups and downs but we enjoy making and playing music together, gigs have started to pick up were at the pub band stage, so money is practically nonexistent in terms of gigs, But being aware of the intricate side of doing bigger shows supporting people and doing tours is unbelievably valuable for me I just sent the band this too.
It was really interesting to hear what all goes into touring. I always buy merch because I've heard that is one of the best ways to support you all. Thank you for taking the chance. I never thought I'd get to see two of my favorites together, you guys and Whitechapel, in my hometown of Nashville, no less. Entheos and SotS were the icing on the cake. It was one of the best shows I've ever been to. ❤
Thank you for being transparent and give us as much detail as possible. A lot of people don't know how hard it's to earn your life just by touring and such.
Aww man, look at him! So well rested and full of life! The glimmering light of boundless vigor, in his eyes! The powerful, resonating, voice of those rejuvenated in the sweet embrace of a bed. Someone is having fun with numbers.
I toured the last 8.5 years with a band. The first 5 years 200+ shows a year. We were signed. Even doing van tours, sharing hotel rooms (sometimes just sleeping in the van), bringing no crew besides FOH…. It was expensive as hell up front. Being signed, the label would loan us the up front cost. They get paid back the loan by taking 100% of music revenue until it’s paid off. I had a blast but the trade off is that my band’s 100 million+ streams? I’ll likely never see a penny of it for decades potentially. We’re out of that contract now… but with no streaming/iTunes/licensing money coming our way (label still gets to take it all towards that debt) it’s very difficult to justify going on tour and getting further in debt to someone else. Music industry sucks! But making music is wonderful. Therein lies the rub.
I’m the guy in Florida who asked to be your guitar technician! Maybe if all the bands chipped in, y’all could afford my rate 😂 Thank you for coming, Archspire crushed it 🤘🏻🔥
What a brilliantly made and insightful video to something most of us don't even consider, and I'm a performing musician as well as avide gig-goer! I always make sure to spend as much money on merch when I see bands.
Great breakdown brotha....I worked for LN for years, and although didn't talk with agents, knew by talking with bands a lot of merch cuts, and stuff in contracts. Well done video.
Caught you guys in Chicago and was just blown away by how badass you all were live! Also bought a bunch of merch from Tobi at the booth and it was cool as hell to be able to say hello in person. Can’t wait for next time! 🤘
Dean I just have to say how fucking incredible you guys were in Baltimore!! Absolutely mind blowing. Also sorry for almost breaking your hand at the merch table with that fist bump man I was pumped! Lol
Caught this tour at the show in NC. I listened to you guys on Apple Music, but the live performance was entirely different. I was floored by the energy on display. Then when you guys ripped out Twister I was blown away. Glad you guys did well on the tour.
Now THAT, is metal. The real shit. ACDC said it best, it's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll. Its definitely not for everyone. You can be the best musician on the planet, but if you can't business your way through life, you're not gonna make it. No cap, just facts. Archspire fucking rules.
Fascinating video. It would be awesome to see a similar video done after the Australian tour - I'd be super interested to see the logistics/costs involved and the decision making behind what cities you visit.
Nice video, it's good to see bands being transparent about this stuff as it's somethign you don't often get a look into, especially on bigger tours like this
This was a really interesting break down of the business / logistics side of live music. we appreciate the effort you all go through to bring us the shows
Thank you Dean. We just came off a 10 day run with none of your mentioned ammenties (driver, bus etc) Its nice to have this information as more doors open up for us it will help lessen the learning curve! Cheers and Stay Tech!
Dean, I want to thank you for everything you do. I'm getting older and you inspire me to keep striving to get better at guitar. I'm very excited to share with you that I will have new music coming out soon. I sent my demos over to Marco Pitrilluza and he has agreed to drum on the project which is called CVLT Day 21. Much love and respect. -Ronnie D
We looked at the offer and carefully weighed the…..”WE’LL DO IT!!!” For real though, for someone looking in from the outside, this kind of look under the hood of the biz is fascinating. Thanks Dean!
Dude... I knew about this conundrum just prior to your Dante's show in Portland last year! Adam Neely had an extensive breakdown of what goes into touring, and the inherent expenses/debts incurred therein. It opened my mind and sent shivers down my spine. I'm glad I blew my wad on your merch at that show. It was a worthwhile investment, and I can't begin to describe my desire to see you guys swing back around my neck of the woods on the NEXT TOUR. 😳☺️ 🤘😎 STAY TECH
Super cool to see some of the process that goes on behind the scenes! Thanks for sharing. I was super stoked to catch your show in Seattle and even more stoked to catch your guitar pick at the end of your set! Keep up the great work!
I met you in Chicago. You were great! You spoke to me as if you had nothing else in the world to do. What an inspiration! You guys killed it! Great show!
I missed Brad from the merch booth during the EU tour :( i recommend you print more sticker graphics. As someone with a shit ton of metal shirts that I cannot usually wear for work, i tend to lean toward stickers that can be put on toolboxes, tools, laptops etc... I think that I speak for a lot of dudes above 30
I saw you guys in Austin and it was amazing. I don’t care much for WhiteChapel. You guys absolutely killed it. One of the best small shows I’ve ever seen.
Very insightful video - the touring business (specifically for niche metal bands) is something I've always wondered about and would love to dive deeper into at some point. Thanks for the intro on it dude!
The merch total absolutely blew my mind. There's alot of other costs you forgot to include as well. Either way, at the end of the day, you're doing what you love. Money always comes and goes.
Thanks for the insights. I'm Ali, I run the Heathenwood solo project which is sometimes a band. We haven't played a show as a band but I busk all the time at the same few spots in my little town. My plan now as a solo player is to book local parties, birthdays, and corporate events for background music and before printing shirts, I just pass flyers around. I'm not much of a risk taker as I'd rather be steady than be in debt. Like that Aesops fable of slow and steady. Though it's taking a pretty long time in comparison to other artists careers.
Drove from Louisville, KY down to Nashville to see y'all and Entheos in particular and it was one of the best metal shows I've been to in years. Marathon Music Works was a fantastic venue. Thanks so much for coming through the area! I'd love to see y'all selling tab books at the merch table next time. I was super excited to buy one from Revocation on tour a few months back, and I imagine that with the big focus on guitar in Tech Death and your TH-cam channel, you'd probably get quite a few sales that way, especially if you signed them.
Glad I was able to snag some merch in Nashville then. I'm still sad the tour shirt was sold out in Nashville before you even made it there. I'm still appreciative that I got to meet and you shake your hand personally, Dean. Thanks for getting everyone to sign my CDs and hopefully you'll come back to Nashville soon as a headliner. Off topic but have you had time to play the new Legend of Zelda? Also I told Tobi you said to switch back to a 7 string and he said "oh is it because I'm making him look bad now?" So do with that information what you will. I dont know how bald people handle disputes. Stay Tech friend
I know most people like to keep the other part private, but would have been cool if you could break down the revenue gained from all of it too. Always been curious how a show ticket splits between so many people from the bands and venues.
Excellent video! We’re doing this on a much smaller scale but it’s interesting to hear how this works and how it works out! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
I had no idea how much went into this! Amazing insight. I loved seeing you play live and I loved meeting you, Dean. Hope you get the chance to tour America again soon!
Adam Neely also did a video on touring europe a few months back, he has a section just dedicated to the hell of bringing equipment across dozens of flights, another great video worth checking out.
Anytime you guys are on the road or play in Vancouver (I live in Seattle), I'm going to make any time I get to see you guys play live. I discovered Archspire back in 2019 and it's the one band I love to play back to friends of mine who haven't heard you yet, but think they've listened to the most technically heaviest and tight-sounding metal out there. It blows their goddamn minds.
Thank you for all y'all do! Managed to talk to you a bit in Dallas before the show as well as Tobi and Oli after the show. Loved the experience! Don't believe what Dean says about having small hands in some of his other videos. They are MASSIVE. ;)
CATCH ME ON TOUR IN 2023! DATES BELOW!
ARCHSPIRE EUROPE 2023
Aug 03 - Velenje (SI) @ Metaldays
Aug 04 - Munich (DE) @ Backstage *
Aug 07 - Dresden (DE) @ Reithalle *
Aug 08 - Kraków (PL) @ Kwadrat **
Aug 09 - Warsaw (PL) @ Hybrydy ***
Aug 10 - Schlotheim (DE) @ Party San
Aug 11 - Jaromer (CZ) @ Brutal Assault
Aug 12 - Bremen (DE) @ Tivoli #
Aug 13 - Kortrijk (BE) @ Alcatraz
Aug 14 - Schweinfurt (DE) @ Stattbahnhof %
Aug 15 - Bochum (DE) @ Matrix %
Aug 16 - Tilburg (NL) @ 013 #
Aug 17 - Dinkelsbühl (DE) @ Summer Breeze
Aug 18 - Spital am Semmering (AT) @ Kaltenbach Open Air
Aug 20 - Carhaix (FR) @ Motocultor
* (w/ Shadow Of Intent, Within Destruction & Cytotoxin)
** (w/ Fit For An Autopsy & Within Destruction)
*** (w/ Signs of the Swarm)
# (w/ Converge & Dying Fetus)
% (w/ Dying Fetus)
ARCHSPIRE JAPAN 2023
Oct 05 - Osaka @ Socore Factory
Oct 06 - Nagoya @ Imaike 3Star
Oct 08 - Tokyo @ Cyclone
Oct 09 - Tokyo @ Cyclone
ARCHSPIRE AUSTRALIA 2023
(W/ Ingested & Werewolves)
Oct 11 - Brisbane @ The Zoo
Oct 12 - Canberra @ The Basement
Oct 13 - Sydney @ The Factory Theatre
Oct 14 - Melbourne @ The Corner Hotel
Oct 15 - Adelaide @ Lion Arts Factory
Oct 17 - Perth @ Amplifier Bar
ARCHSPIRE U.S. 2023
(Supporting Periphery)
Nov 04 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
Nov 18 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Some things to keep in mind here:
- Not all these expenses needed to be paid up front. Most are invoiced, which means we had 30 days to complete payment.
- We ended up only using our merch guy for the first week, and switched out to sell our own stuff. We wanted to connect with fans more during the tour.
- We did profit from this tour, I don't want anyone thinking that we came home in massive debt.
- The merch bill is huge, yes. But all leftover merch goes onto our online store, and we benefit from that. It's actually a great system.
If you have any questions please ask away!
Hope to see you headline your next show in Denver! I hadn't been in a pit in a few years. Felt great.
Oli said you guys were losing y'alls van driver during the Dallas show. Where do I apply? :D
Respectfully, I really want to know HOW profitable it was.
I'm assuming you are still, generally speaking, better off than if you were signed?
Since it's been such a hot topic, what was your experience with U.S. merch fees at venues. Was the percentage fairly consistent?, is it negotiable?, how much did it actually affect your bottom line?...that sort of thing...
You did the entire metal community a favor by posting this video. It lets fans know what work and expense it costs for our fav musicians to come to our town. Thanks 🙏🏽!
So much to think about, it’s kinda scary. Thanks for sharing. I’m glad the tour was profitable too!
I'm just gonna say, being able to condense all this information into just 8 minutes of video is super impressive. You managed to tick all the important stuff while not making a feature length movie, literally better than some actual TH-camrs.
I dare say Dean, among many other things, is also a very actual TH-camr! :D
I had no problem giving you guys a huge tip at the merch booth. You deserve it!
same I got 3 shirts and left a huge tip.
The band was “the merch selling guy” (after the first week)
@donnn When I tipped the merch guy, he was pretty cool... Then again, it was Oli.
as someone who doesnt live in a tipping culture, why would you do that? you paid them for admission, a shirt, and then maybe also for an album? and you want to pay them again? i am in a band also, so if you want to give money, be my guest but i dont want this behavior to be normalized. if you want a shirt, come up and buy one and then live your life.
@@jgp6574 Maybe they just feel good about supporting a band they like?
Dean, this was a phenomenal breakdown! So many bands need to pull back the curtain. Too many smoke and mirrors. So much so that bands think everyone is touring in buses, making bank, and just living their best lives. This is part of the reason why I wanted to film all types of vehicles for Bus Invaders from day one and part of the reason why the Archspire episode is one of my personal favorites. The video was such an honest look (with a bit of comedy) into the life of a band selling out mid-cap venues across North America.
Thanks! Love your work, sorry we couldn't get together this past run. Next time! 🤞
@@DeanLamb You guys are one of the bands that "gets it" from a business and marketing perspective. Always a pleasure working with you guys!
Videos like these are important for several reasons.....
1. For newer bands that haven't started touring, having financial breakdowns such as these is INCREDIBLY important.
2. It's a reality check for all those out there thinking that picking up an instrument for ANY other reason than to create your own music and play it for others and have it be this well-paying, high flying lifestyle.
3. For all of us out there that really enjoy intricate breakdowns of the more technical side of music, this kind of content scratches that brain itch that I'm sure a lot of people get.
So thank you for creating this video dude, thank you for continuing to create content for us to enjoy and I SWEAR i'll catch you guys on the road at some point. Just have to make it to Toronto when you guys do.
Several years ago, Devin Townsend did a Masterclass and this exact topic (and how to tackle planning for it) was a big topic and specifically about international touring costs.
Massive gratitude for all artists that open their "books" on this stuff.
Selling your own merch, while I’m sure is taxing, was awesome! My 9yr old was stoked to meet Tobi in STL. We got shirts, CD’s and lil man got a pic with him. So cool! Show was killer too. You guys tore it up.
A nine year old into Archspire...that kid is already cooler than I've ever been my whole life! That's just makes me happy!
Brilliant stuff....I wish more people realized that honesty and transparency are important details when choosing a channel to subscribe to...I honestly love you and Claire and keep Archspire in my daily listening routine...🤘
Thanks so much for this video, Dean! It's very important that fans get to see this perspective. Also, venues taking a cut of a band's merch sales HAS TO STOP!
It's always built into the contract, and you really don't have much of a choice. Boycotting selling merch just really damages the artist more than anyone. It's a hard place to be.
@@DeanLambIs there a way maybe to allow people to prepurchase tour merch on your website and “pick it up” at the venue to avoid the venue cuts? It sounds like a good idea in theory but I’m not sure the feasibility of it and the logistics that come with it.
@@BobbyHutchSanchez that's a rad idea actually!!!! Somehow have like a qr code that confirms you purchased said merch. They guys can scan it at the table, it pops up the info of the purchase and for what product(s).
@@axmnstrbnd We had a long conversation about this in the bus. Who knows, might be an option in the future.
@@DeanLamb we need to come together and ban merch cuts
As a Texas resident, who comes to EVERY show y'all play through here, let me know how I can help! My wife and I had our first date at your show in Dallas several years back, and y'all met us a few times after the shows. Y'all will always have our support!
Just come say hey at the next show, thanks for the support!
Its like running a small buisness with 5 partners. It's admirable how you guys run such a tight ship. Saw you guys in Worcester. Was better than I could've imagined!
More than $150K before the band even plays one note. It's amazing that a band would take on such a challenge. But I saw Archspire on the Seattle tour stop; brilliant, crushing, amazing.
Such a good video. Excellent information, well presented. I hope you and your band enjoy every success.
Yo I copped your bleed the future Hoody recently and I just want to say thanks for getting the supplier you did. This is the third Hoody I've gotten from you guys and you don't scrimp on the quality. I've purchased a ton of band apparel from various shows through the years and yours are always high quality. They're comfortable, the designs are sick and they feel substantial. None of that thin non-durable blends. Good shit 👍.
I think it's underappreciated what bands go through to make touring happen! Thank you for shining some light on the things behind the curtain and put it into perspective for the more unsuspecting folks out there. Additionally I'm very happy that this whole thing was a huge success for you guys. Been a fan for quite a while now and I'll always happily support you in any way I can. Hope to be able to see you perform sometime soon.
I appreciate the transparency in this video - definitely helps out a lot with bands that are yet to go on tour and has a great breakdown of expenses etc. Thanks Dean!
One of the most important videos on the internet, you're a gem for doing this.
I love seeing behind the curtain for things like this. Even if it seems "boring" to write, it's extremely interesting and informative and gives us a better idea of what touring bands go through.
Goddamn, would never have expected a merch bill to be that big.
I'm honestly now persuaded to drop some bigger tips when I go to shows. Folks deserve it when they go all that way and put on a killer show.
And Dean, you guys should drop by Philly some time. We've got a pretty solid metal scene 'round here.
Yeah that's a decent initial investment but likely they made a good profit off of that stuff
I live in a smaller market and consider tips as a "please tour here again" message
Thats true, however tickets are already way more expensive than they were 30 years ago. How much should we be spending here?
This is why I switched from being in a band to performing stand-up comedy. Logicistics are 100x easier. Awesome video, saw y’all years ago in LA, glad you’re still touring！
Thank you Dean.
Nice insight into what it really takes to go on tour.
Appreciate your honesty, and that's why i watch most of your stuff when i can.
I would say keep it up, but i get the notion that it's just how you are.
Stay awesome, human.
Detailed breakdown man.
I'm really stoked to hear you guys came out on the green side. Not mention you made it back home, safe.
Good to see you, Dean n
Y'all put on a wicked show, and you're all super chill. I remember asking you guys to sign my vinyl and some dude that looked like Tobi signed it after Tobi signed, that's a family heirloom right there
Was it in Denver? It may have been our producer Dave Otero, he was getting confused for me and Tobi all night. He just went with it.
@@DeanLamb Yessir! Now I can stop saying "some dude signed my album" 😂
@@the12gage37 You're very lucky to have it signed by him, Dave Otero is one of the best producers of metal in the world. :)
Thank you dean,tobi,oli,jared,& spencer for coming and playing in st Louis at the red flag it was awesome to see you guys play live and thank you guys for the chat and photo ops 🤘😈🤘
It was awesome to see you behind the merch table at the Nashville show! Life as a touring musician is harder than ever, so I appreciate the grind, the hustle, and the insane music! Hope to see you guys headline next time, thanks Dean!
I love it when a band is on top of the business side of it all. I've managed my own band "MaroziA" for over 20 years (we never quite our day job's and did not have pro ambition) but loved that we could do what we did without the drama's when business is not in order. Great breakdown Dean. Keep it coming and stay metal. 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
That is wild man. Really appreciate you offering this kind of insight about touring at your level, thank you.
Question for Dean: what do I say to my wife to prep her before she sees our new Bleed the Future shower curtain?
You tell her you helped a bald man, his poor sweet wife, and their pet crow afford to eat dinner last night.
Thanks for coming to NC, having my face melted whilst crowd surfing to Involuntary Doppelgänger will not be soon forgotten🤘
I put a serious debt in the merch dept in NY. The artist is next level. Was a killer show. You turned me on to entheos the last tour and they killed as well. 🤘🏼
DENT* not debt 🙄.. Well, debt on my side lol.
Best live show I've ever seen though. Can't wait to see Archspire again
This is the most accurate breakdown of touring costs I've seen. Bandwagon prices have sadly gone up by a pretty substantial amount 😢
Love Archspire, hope I can catch you guys
This was a really great break down of the logistical side of touring, and the amount of planning it takes to make this type of tour happen. Very interesting, and well put together Dean, thank you! Happy to hear you guys profited and are not in massive debt!
Not really.
There are *WAY* more practical ways of touring.
In the words of Henry Rollins “Get in the van” and stop bitching.
You don’t need a 24k RV with dedicated driver for a month tour. That’s insane.
I'm assuming these numbers are private, but now I really wanna know how much the tour profit for the band was after. I'm curious to see what a tour that costs 160k$ for the band brings back.
Merch to back up a good set is make or break. I'd imagine that the minimum pricing restriction gave a good margin, but knowing what cool/quality stuff that folks want to buy & being able to ballpark the quantities is down to experience!
Thank you for giving a real insight to touring a band, so many have no idea how involved it can be.
See you in Australia 🤘
Hi Dean! We met at the 04/21 show at Gramercy Theatre and took a cool photo for my birthday! I thoroughly enjoyed the wine can you showed off while we were talking business. You five are single-handedly saving and improving metal and I was super happy to support you all at the show!
You tour like rockstars, lmao.
When we toured (as a 4-piece band), our manager took 20% of the income (except for the merch), drove the van, handled the merch, made sure that we got paid, and paid for nothing (meaning, the other 80% of the cash + merch sales pays for hotels, food and diesel). It worked. Nowhere near this expensive.
Feel for you Dean, I only have experience touring in Australia but all the issues sound about the same.
Edit: some nights merch sale mean the difference between eating and not eating, 1 shirt sale was a god send.
I'm only a single punter, but this is why I always (where I'm able) will skip food and drinks at a gig if it means I get a shirt. Sure, I get the souvenir, but I'm fairly sure the bands get a bigger share than if I was to buy the same shirt online.
@@MorkaiAU Honestly it depends, we went to an independent screen printer so after costs it was 100% profit plus we shipped our own merch, i imagine bigger merch stores take a chunk of profit
I passed this vid on to a couple band friends I know that are on the edge of getting to the next level. Both found useful tidbits in here. Thanks Deano!
Never thought I'd be this entertained by a business oriented post from a metal band. Great stuff!
Time to start that only fans.
Sheeeeeessshhh
Selling those toe beans to buy guitar strings. Actually, no hate if it works for you lol
Go pack go!
😂
Imagine using onlyfans for teaching people guitar instead of selling nudes
Ironically, I reckon being in a self managed band like this makes you more qualified to work most 9-5s than working in a 9-5 would make you.
For sure. They are essentially entrepreneurs running their own business, which is generally a lot more risky and stressful than working a 9-5.
I agree, I work a 7-7 job and I still think they're more qualified to do so than me 😂
I'm uniquely qualified to do this job, but working a regular 9-5 is in the past for me. I need to have room to do whatever I want whenever I want to do it. Working until 10pm because I feel like it is pretty awesome, taking 3 days off to just chill is also awesome.
You guys, and everyone else that put on the show in Baltimore did a phenomenal fucking job. Thanks for the experience.
Much respect for making the tours happen. Even this video seems like a small peek into everything that goes on. Keep on keeping on!
Net profit ?
looking forward to seeing you guys at THE VOGUE playing to the home town crowd this summer!
As someone who is looking to start a band this is pretty useful to keep in the back of my mind for now.
I'm nowhere close to being at this level of touring and etc but having a numerical value really sets a realistic idea of what to expect.
Reminds me of the saying to make money uou have to spend money 😮 thanks for sharing
Absolutely
it's really cool to see a band member (in general terms) take the planning and understand the seriousness that goes into touring/playing live
Very interesting video on something I've thought very little about in the past even as an avid concert goer. It was amazing to see ya'll play in Denver as well as meet you in person at the merch table!
Bands been together for a few years,loads of ups and downs but we enjoy making and playing music together, gigs have started to pick up were at the pub band stage, so money is practically nonexistent in terms of gigs,
But being aware of the intricate side of doing bigger shows supporting people and doing tours is unbelievably valuable for me I just sent the band this too.
I remember supporting both them and fetus during chaos and carnage and the only thing i took away from that was just how short Phil was lmao.
It was really interesting to hear what all goes into touring. I always buy merch because I've heard that is one of the best ways to support you all. Thank you for taking the chance. I never thought I'd get to see two of my favorites together, you guys and Whitechapel, in my hometown of Nashville, no less. Entheos and SotS were the icing on the cake. It was one of the best shows I've ever been to. ❤
Some venues take a share of that revenue. That's why I always buy directly from bands
Thank you for being transparent and give us as much detail as possible. A lot of people don't know how hard it's to earn your life just by touring and such.
Thanks for coming I’m glad i got to see y’all at the Dallas show
Just bought tickets to see you in Australia later this year!!
See you in Brisbane!
This is a good perspective on costs of art. Loved the price table. Do more (if u want)
Aww man, look at him! So well rested and full of life! The glimmering light of boundless vigor, in his eyes! The powerful, resonating, voice of those rejuvenated in the sweet embrace of a bed.
Someone is having fun with numbers.
I toured the last 8.5 years with a band. The first 5 years 200+ shows a year. We were signed. Even doing van tours, sharing hotel rooms (sometimes just sleeping in the van), bringing no crew besides FOH…. It was expensive as hell up front. Being signed, the label would loan us the up front cost. They get paid back the loan by taking 100% of music revenue until it’s paid off. I had a blast but the trade off is that my band’s 100 million+ streams? I’ll likely never see a penny of it for decades potentially. We’re out of that contract now… but with no streaming/iTunes/licensing money coming our way (label still gets to take it all towards that debt) it’s very difficult to justify going on tour and getting further in debt to someone else. Music industry sucks! But making music is wonderful. Therein lies the rub.
I’m the guy in Florida who asked to be your guitar technician!
Maybe if all the bands chipped in, y’all could afford my rate 😂
Thank you for coming, Archspire crushed it 🤘🏻🔥
What a brilliantly made and insightful video to something most of us don't even consider, and I'm a performing musician as well as avide gig-goer! I always make sure to spend as much money on merch when I see bands.
Great breakdown brotha....I worked for LN for years, and although didn't talk with agents, knew by talking with bands a lot of merch cuts, and stuff in contracts. Well done video.
Caught you guys in Chicago and was just blown away by how badass you all were live! Also bought a bunch of merch from Tobi at the booth and it was cool as hell to be able to say hello in person. Can’t wait for next time! 🤘
And this I believe is why virtual concerts may be a growing trend.
Dean I just have to say how fucking incredible you guys were in Baltimore!! Absolutely mind blowing. Also sorry for almost breaking your hand at the merch table with that fist bump man I was pumped! Lol
Caught this tour at the show in NC. I listened to you guys on Apple Music, but the live performance was entirely different. I was floored by the energy on display. Then when you guys ripped out Twister I was blown away. Glad you guys did well on the tour.
Now THAT, is metal. The real shit. ACDC said it best, it's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll. Its definitely not for everyone. You can be the best musician on the planet, but if you can't business your way through life, you're not gonna make it. No cap, just facts. Archspire fucking rules.
Fascinating video. It would be awesome to see a similar video done after the Australian tour - I'd be super interested to see the logistics/costs involved and the decision making behind what cities you visit.
Congrats on the tour, really great video, it’s nice to see people making a living doing what they love
This is a really good video to release to give folks who are interested in touring to give them realistic expectations.
All the little jokes in your videos crack me up, Dean. 😂😂
Great vid Dean. Love yer work. Just bought a ticket to see you Down Under! Hope you have a great tour down here too 🤘
Nice video, it's good to see bands being transparent about this stuff as it's somethign you don't often get a look into, especially on bigger tours like this
This was a really interesting break down of the business / logistics side of live music. we appreciate the effort you all go through to bring us the shows
i see you yerv
Thank you Dean. We just came off a 10 day run with none of your mentioned ammenties (driver, bus etc) Its nice to have this information as more doors open up for us it will help lessen the learning curve! Cheers and Stay Tech!
Thanks for doing the tour dude! Love to do it again! Glad you made it home safe 🤘🏻
Hi phil
Dean, I want to thank you for everything you do. I'm getting older and you inspire me to keep striving to get better at guitar.
I'm very excited to share with you that I will have new music coming out soon. I sent my demos over to Marco Pitrilluza and he has agreed to drum on the project which is called CVLT Day 21. Much love and respect.
-Ronnie D
We looked at the offer and carefully weighed the…..”WE’LL DO IT!!!”
For real though, for someone looking in from the outside, this kind of look under the hood of the biz is fascinating. Thanks Dean!
Dude... I knew about this conundrum just prior to your Dante's show in Portland last year! Adam Neely had an extensive breakdown of what goes into touring, and the inherent expenses/debts incurred therein. It opened my mind and sent shivers down my spine. I'm glad I blew my wad on your merch at that show. It was a worthwhile investment, and I can't begin to describe my desire to see you guys swing back around my neck of the woods on the NEXT TOUR. 😳☺️ 🤘😎
STAY TECH
Super cool to see some of the process that goes on behind the scenes! Thanks for sharing. I was super stoked to catch your show in Seattle and even more stoked to catch your guitar pick at the end of your set! Keep up the great work!
I met you in Chicago. You were great! You spoke to me as if you had nothing else in the world to do. What an inspiration! You guys killed it! Great show!
I missed Brad from the merch booth during the EU tour :( i recommend you print more sticker graphics. As someone with a shit ton of metal shirts that I cannot usually wear for work, i tend to lean toward stickers that can be put on toolboxes, tools, laptops etc... I think that I speak for a lot of dudes above 30
I saw you guys in Austin and it was amazing. I don’t care much for WhiteChapel. You guys absolutely killed it. One of the best small shows I’ve ever seen.
Man, this was eye opening and thank you for sharing all of this. I play local solo acoustic shows but really wanting to tour as a metal band.
Very insightful video - the touring business (specifically for niche metal bands) is something I've always wondered about and would love to dive deeper into at some point. Thanks for the intro on it dude!
The merch total absolutely blew my mind. There's alot of other costs you forgot to include as well. Either way, at the end of the day, you're doing what you love. Money always comes and goes.
Thanks for the insights. I'm Ali, I run the Heathenwood solo project which is sometimes a band. We haven't played a show as a band but I busk all the time at the same few spots in my little town.
My plan now as a solo player is to book local parties, birthdays, and corporate events for background music and before printing shirts, I just pass flyers around.
I'm not much of a risk taker as I'd rather be steady than be in debt. Like that Aesops fable of slow and steady. Though it's taking a pretty long time in comparison to other artists careers.
Drove from Louisville, KY down to Nashville to see y'all and Entheos in particular and it was one of the best metal shows I've been to in years. Marathon Music Works was a fantastic venue. Thanks so much for coming through the area!
I'd love to see y'all selling tab books at the merch table next time. I was super excited to buy one from Revocation on tour a few months back, and I imagine that with the big focus on guitar in Tech Death and your TH-cam channel, you'd probably get quite a few sales that way, especially if you signed them.
Glad I was able to snag some merch in Nashville then. I'm still sad the tour shirt was sold out in Nashville before you even made it there. I'm still appreciative that I got to meet and you shake your hand personally, Dean. Thanks for getting everyone to sign my CDs and hopefully you'll come back to Nashville soon as a headliner.
Off topic but have you had time to play the new Legend of Zelda? Also I told Tobi you said to switch back to a 7 string and he said "oh is it because I'm making him look bad now?" So do with that information what you will. I dont know how bald people handle disputes.
Stay Tech friend
I know most people like to keep the other part private, but would have been cool if you could break down the revenue gained from all of it too.
Always been curious how a show ticket splits between so many people from the bands and venues.
Excellent video! We’re doing this on a much smaller scale but it’s interesting to hear how this works and how it works out! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
I had no idea how much went into this! Amazing insight. I loved seeing you play live and I loved meeting you, Dean. Hope you get the chance to tour America again soon!
Wow, I never realized how much of a pain touring is. Thank you for bearing through all the headaches!
Adam Neely also did a video on touring europe a few months back, he has a section just dedicated to the hell of bringing equipment across dozens of flights, another great video worth checking out.
Anytime you guys are on the road or play in Vancouver (I live in Seattle), I'm going to make any time I get to see you guys play live. I discovered Archspire back in 2019 and it's the one band I love to play back to friends of mine who haven't heard you yet, but think they've listened to the most technically heaviest and tight-sounding metal out there. It blows their goddamn minds.
Thank you for all y'all do! Managed to talk to you a bit in Dallas before the show as well as Tobi and Oli after the show. Loved the experience!
Don't believe what Dean says about having small hands in some of his other videos. They are MASSIVE. ;)
I caught your pic at the worcestor palladium show, you guys fucking killed it. And the twister wall of death was right.