Guides › First tour checklist for bands
First tour checklist for bands
Updated October 7, 2026 · 3 min read
Your first tour is exciting and full of unknowns. Most problems on a first tour are predictable, which means most can be avoided with a little preparation. Work through this checklist in the weeks before you leave.
Free templates for this guide
Download and edit these for your own tour. No sign-up, no email required.
First tour and packing checklist
What to sort out before you leave and what to pack: documents, money, gear spares, merch, van kit and personal items.
Band tour budget (van tour)
Per-show math for a small band: guarantee, door, merch, gas from miles and MPG, lodging and food, with net per show and per member.
See the complete free resource library for budgets, riders, checklists and more.
Shows
- Every show confirmed in writing: date, deal, set time and contact.
- Advance sent to every venue with your stage plot, input list and riders.
- A day sheet for every show.
Money
- A simple per-show budget. See the band tour budget.
- A cash float for the first week.
- A plan for splitting money and paying per diems.
- A way to take card payments for merch.
Van and travel
- Van serviced: oil, tires, brakes, spare, lights.
- Insurance for the vehicle, drivers and gear.
- Routing with realistic drive times.
- Hotels booked (or a clear plan for where you’re sleeping).
Merch
- Merch ordered, counted and packed by size.
- Prices set; display and signs ready.
- Count sheets for nightly counts. See merch settlement.
Gear
- Gear list with serial numbers.
- Spares: strings, sticks, picks, cables, batteries, tape, fuses.
- Tools: multi-tool, flashlight, zip ties, markers.
Documents
- Driver’s licenses, and passports if crossing a border.
- Contracts and advance notes available offline.
- Emergency contacts for everyone.
Personal
- Clothes for every climate on the route.
- Earplugs, medications, chargers.
- A pillow, towel and laundry bag.
The night before you leave
- Load the van in your set order.
- Share the first week’s day sheets.
- Get some sleep.
Two weeks out
- Reconfirm every show with the promoter.
- Check that your stage plot and input list match the gear you’re actually taking.
- Order spare strings, heads and cables in bulk; they’re cheaper at home than on the road.
- Test your card reader and set up your item list and prices.
- Agree as a band on the money: per diems, splits, who handles cash.
One week out
- Pack merch by item and size, with a count sheet for each box.
- Share the first week’s schedule with everyone.
- Download offline maps for areas with weak signal.
- Make a list of local music stores near each venue in case something breaks.
First-tour mistakes to avoid
- Overpacking: space in a van disappears fast. Bring what you need and a few spares.
- No float: without cash for the first few days you’ll be scrambling before the first settlement.
- No merch counts: you won’t know what sold or what went missing.
- Too many long drives: a tired band plays badly and drives dangerously.
- No days off: even one off day a week makes a difference.
How TRMNGR helps
Put your first tour into TRMNGR before you leave: show, travel and off days on the Calendar, a Day Sheet for each day, Lodging, Contacts, your Stage Plot, Input List and Setlists, and Gear with serial numbers. Share the tour with the band so everyone has the same plan on their phone. The free checklist below comes as a spreadsheet with progress tracking, plus PDF and Word.