Resources for Artists: Venue Guides and Tour Planning

Booking your own shows is one of the hardest parts of being an independent artist. That's why we create free resources to help you navigate the live music industry.

About Our Platforms

Venue Pulse — For Venues

Venue Pulse is free venue management software designed for live music venues. We help venues manage their calendars, bookings, and operations more efficiently.

As part of our mission to support the live music industry, we create comprehensive city guides and venue directories to help artists, bookers, and venues connect.

Band Voyage — For Artists

Looking to book your next tour? Band Voyage is our AI-powered tour planning platform for artists and bookers. It helps you:

• Discover venues in your target markets
• Plan efficient tour routes
• Manage outreach and communications
• Track your booking progress

Free Resources for Artists

City Venue Guides

We've created detailed guides to help you research venues in major markets:

• Nashville — Music City's best venues
• Austin — The Live Music Capital
• Los Angeles — From dive bars to theaters
• New York — The five boroughs
• Chicago — Midwest's music hub
• And 30+ more cities

Each guide includes venue capacities, genres, neighborhoods, and tips for booking.

Venue Directory

Browse our complete venue directory organized by state and city. Find venues that match your capacity needs and genre.

Tips for Getting Booked

1. Be Honest About Your Draw

Nothing burns bridges faster than overpromising and underdelivering. If you can bring 30 people, say 30. Venues respect honesty and will book you again if you deliver what you promise.

2. Have Quality Recordings

Venues will listen to your music before booking you. Make sure your Spotify/Bandcamp links showcase your best work with decent production quality.

3. Be Professional

Respond promptly. Show up on time. Be easy to work with. The music industry is small, and reputation matters.

4. Start Local

Build a track record in your home market before trying to book tours. Venues want to see that you can draw somewhere.

5. Research the Venue

Before reaching out, make sure the venue books your genre and that your expected draw matches their capacity. A 50-cap bar and a 2,000-seat theater have very different needs.

For more tips, read our complete guide: How to Book Your First Tour.

Get Started

For venues: Learn about Venue Pulse — Free venue management software

For artists: Try Band Voyage — AI-powered tour planning

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Related Articles

• How to Book Your First Tour — Complete guide for indie artists
• Building an Effective EPK — Make venues want to book you
• Live Music Venues in Nashville — City guide
• How Venue Pulse Works for Venues — Learn about our venue software