Higher costs make tours harder for emerging acts

Once the model for music success, the eternal tour has become more difficult for bands trying to break into the business, thanks to high gas prices.

Joe Stevenson, a co-owner of GlueStick Promotions, brings bands to the Augusta area and sends acts he manages, such as the Edison Project, out on the road. He said both endeavors have become more difficult as fuel prices increase.

"It kills a band like the Edison Project," he said. "It costs so much to go up the coast or to Texas or something like that. It's come to a point where shows have to make sense both career-wise and money-wise. We've had to cancel shows, and it has always been because of gas prices."

Although Athens, Ga., band The Whigs have seen some significant success, playing large festivals and appearing on national television, drummer Julian Dorio said small clubs and long road trips are still essential parts of the band's business model.

"But unless it's a show we just can't miss, an amazing opportunity or something that's really important, we are very careful about how we route," he said before playing at Augusta's Sky City this month. "It's much harder now, especially on the West Coast. I mean, in California it is ridiculous. But there isn't much we can do about it. I mean, we can't consider stopping, but it makes it much harder to make any kind of profit."

Much of an act's income, especially an emerging act, comes from touring. Lyle Lovett recently said that although he has sold more than 4 million records in his career, he hasn't made a single cent off sales. Instead, his profits have come from merchandising, licensing and touring.

Mr. Dorio said it's the same for The Whigs, but fuel costs have led the band to cut corners in other areas.

"Yes, we capitalize on those free continental breakfasts as much as we can," he said with a laugh. "You are always aware and you are always trying to live cheaply, getting the cheapest room, eating frugally, because the gas is going to be so expensive."

Mr. Stevenson has brought a variety of acts into the Augusta market. Some have been big-rig-and-bus acts such as the Doobie Brothers and Hootie and the Blowfish, while others ran with a van. He said a few have begun adding an additional fee to contracts as a way to counteract rising fuel costs.

"Still, it's really killing a lot of young bands that want to get out there and play," he said. "It's almost the opposite of what happened with Napster, when young bands could get out and play and people could hear the music. Now people can hear the music, but the bands can't get out there and play."

Still, Mr. Stevenson said there are no plans to take Edison Project off the road. And The Whigs will continue to load up a van and travel from town to town.

"The truth is, the whole thing is sort of a bad idea," Mr. Dorio said. "Sure, there are a few bands that do very well, but if you wanted to make sure you were going to make a lot of money, you probably want to do something more secure where there isn't a lot of overhead. This, clearly, is not that business."

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.