The next installment in BandCamp is today (Sunday, 12.4.09), from 1-3pm, at Caroline Collective, which is located in the Museum District at 4820 Caroline. If you’re a local musician, I urge you to go give BandCamp a chance.

From the website:

This session will be led by Gretchen Schmaltz of Western Civilization, a Houston band that tours 150 dates out of the year…Ms. Schmaltz will provide a step-by-step process for booking a tour for your band including tips and tricks to contact bookers, routing logistics, a packing list for tour, and best practices for promoting in an away city.

Bandcamp: TOURING will also have a talk by Sara Winter of AEG-TMC/Warehouse Live. Ms. Winter will speak about the responsibility of a band either home or away booked onto a show with respect to promotion, playing schedule, and getting attendance.

Terry Crane of Commerciant will give a product demo of their handheld credit card processing machine. Studies have shown that a great deal of opportunity lost by not being able to offer credit cards at an artist’s merch table. This simple to use wireless device can help touring bands process credit card payments to help alleviate the financial burden of touring.

Finally, we are asking bands to submit a tour proposal to us: length, desired region, budget, why…then we will select one of these proposals and book that band a tour. We will transparently detail every step of the way so that others can learn this process and provide guidance for our (mis)steps. By collectively sharing the Houston Music Community’s expertise and advice we’ll be able to demonstrate it’s actual strength.

More information on BandCamp can be found here.