Tour Budget Calculator

A basic DIY tour with 4 members costs roughly $150-300/day in expenses (gas, food, lodging). For a 2-week run of 10 shows, budget $2,000-4,000 minimum. If you're sleeping on floors and cooking your own meals, you can cut that in half.

Unsigned/indie bands playing 100-300 cap rooms typically get $100-500 guarantees, sometimes with a door split after expenses. As you build a draw, guarantees increase. Regional acts with a following can command $500-2,000. National touring acts get $2,000-10,000+.

A good rule of thumb: bring enough merch for $5-10 per attendee. If you expect 100 people per show across 10 shows, that's $5,000-10,000 worth of inventory. T-shirts are the top seller. Don't overstock on expensive items like hoodies — bring fewer and reorder if needed.

Booking agents typically take 10-15% of your guarantee. They're worth it when you can command $500+ per show — below that, the commission barely covers their time. Build your routing and relationships first, then approach agents with a proven draw in multiple markets.

Track your vehicle's MPG (vans average 12-18 MPG), map out total driving miles, and multiply by current gas prices. A 3,000-mile tour at 15 MPG and $3.50/gallon = $700 in gas. Always add 15-20% buffer for detours and city driving.