Band Tips: Checking Your Vehicle Before Going on Tour

Even a short tour can put a big strain on the budget of an independent band, but this is especially true if you don't take the time to check your vehicle before heading out on the road. A breakdown can cause you to miss shows and reservations, and extra lost time and money are obviously not good things to deal with when you're trying to grow your band's name and get booked at better venues.

Here are a few tips for touring bands for preparing a vehicle for a tour of any length.

Get a basic check up. This one's easy. Take your vehicle in to a mechanic, explain that you're going on tour, and have him check it out. Make sure that the mechanic looks at all of the belts on your vehicle, the brakes, and that he or she investigates any odd sounds or symptoms you've been experiencing lately. Get your tires rotated and your oil changed if it's time to do so. When you're putting hundreds or even thousands of miles on a vehicle, it had better be in top shape, and it pays to check all the essentials with a standard tune-up before you even think of getting on the road for a tour.

Know how to look at an engine. Someone in your band should know a little bit about cars. Relax, you don't have to be a mechanic, but you should be able to look at an engine and know what's wrong or identify a bad sound. Get a cheap book on car maintenance and read it. Be ready to check all of your belts yourself regularly, look at tire pressure from time to time (low tire pressure can mean major gas costs on a big band tour) and look and listen to your vehicle. Again, if every member of your band takes the time to learn basic info about a vehicle, you'll save yourself some serious time and dough.

Get the right insurance. Many touring bands don't have 24/7 roadside assistance coverage on their car insurance policies, which is just insane. This coverage often costs less than $10 a month. From some insurers, it costs less than $5 a month. If your car, van, or truck breaks down anywhere, you can have your towing paid for with a strong insurance policy, but only if you buy the coverage in advance. Before going on a tour with your band, update your insurance coverage and keep yourself protected. While you're at it, you should look into musician's insurance to keep your instruments protected.

Any other tips for checking out a vehicle before heading out on a band tour? Post below.