051 – The Evolution of Touring Styles

 
 

Residencies are increasingly common for touring artists.

 
 

Written by Scott Adamson

 
 

We’re going to get into some touring industry stuff in this post. Of course, touring isn’t the only application for live sound (we also have houses of worship, local performance spaces, block parties, dance parties, weddings, corporate events, etc.), but since I work in the touring industry I hope I can provide some good insight there.

A long time client of mine (10+ yrs) called The Hold Steady has been refining they way they approach touring. It’s an interesting touring model; The Washington Post recently published an article about it and it seems like other artists are taking similar approaches.

In this video, I explain this new model, how it affects my job, and share some video I shot at Thalia Hall in Chicago. This is a great venue, but it has some unique acoustical qualities that can make loud shows difficult:

I had some really fun shows with The Hold Steady this summer and I’m looking forward to doing more in the future. This kind of touring really seems to suit their lifestyles, so that naturally leads to greater longevity.

The article referenced in this video can be found here.

 

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For more on the touring industry, take a look at this conversation with some audio A-listers!