Maya Elise & The Good Dream's Summer Tour
Donation protected
Hello!
It’s Maya. My trio, Maya Elise & The Good Dream, is going on an EPIC tour this summer (places below) in places we've never been before. We're beyond excited to bring our music to new places, meet new people, and d our careers as musicians. After two successful tours this year, we’re ready to spread laughter, tears, and *great* jokes all across the country! This is absolutely the best way to grow our audience and general success as a group.
This next tour is AMBITIOUS and will cost us upwards about $10,000 to pull off successfully (aka sleeping on a floor only every other night, eating vegetables, not running out of gas, promoting the shows well), and we’re asking for support to make it happen.
More questions & answers:
Can I venmo you instead? Yes! Venmo is @mayaelisemusic
Where is the band going?
Chicago, IL - Columbus, OH - Ithaca, NY - Boston, MA - Sommerville, MA - North Haven, ME - Brooklyn, NY - Bristol, CT - Philly, PA - Silver Springs, MD - Durham, NC - Asheville, NC - Fairview, NC - Atlanta, GA - Nashville, TN - New Orleans, LA - Austin, TX - Marfa, TX - Tucson, AZ
How did you book this tour?
Blood, sweat, and Instagram! But really - I spent many, many hours looking at the tours of other artists, sending cold emails to bookers, pulling up my corkboard map of the united states, rerouting, finding artists to share bills with, rerouting again, and finally landing on a somewhat straightforward route (only one zig-zag this time!). This was honestly one of the most challenging yet satisfying things I've done, and we haven't even gone on the tour yet!
How much will it cost?
Based on previous tours, I've done some calculations, and this tour will likely cost us about
$3500 in gas & transportation fees (yikes!)
$700 in housing (some places we really don't know anybody)
$500 in food (we do our best to go to grocery stores and cook when we can)
$300 for incidentals (gear replacement, oil changes, unexpected general travel expenses)
$500 for audio gear needed to put on successful house concerts
$200 for promotional materials
And I would LOVE to pay my musicians a worthy amount for going on tour for an entire month with me. I'm hoping that I can pay each of us $1,500 for this tour at a minimum.
That brings us to over $10,000 in expenses for a 3.5-week tour!
How much will you make?
On our previous tours, we made on average $400 a show. With 15 - 19 shows, this will bring us to an estimated $6,000 - $7,600 of income, although these markets are much more unknown to us, so we're preparing to make less. On the past two tours, against all odds, we haven’t lost any money, and we’d like to keep up that streak!
So, what’s touring all about anyway?
When we went to Colorado Springs, we were met with an audience who had just had a big loss earlier that day. I received this message from one of them a few weeks later:
“I didn’t know what I needed that night but love, art, beauty, kindness and warmth worked wonders. If the creation of beautiful music with a message is not a worthy calling, I don’t know what is”
I truly believe this is what it’s all about.
On a more “business” level, we're becoming more connected to music scenes around the country and getting bigger and better opportunities with each city we play. Tour is "profitable" in so many ways. For example, after our last tour in the southwest & mountain west, our online listening audience grew by 25%! For us, “profit” is a long game and we need to invest upfront in building an audience to see long-term growth.
What do I get for donating?
I have a small but special gift that I'll send to each person who funds the tour (a new mycelium tote bag already on it’s way!). It's a small token of appreciation for your generous support! Every donation, big & small, will receive the same gift.
Almost all established arts organizations rely on donors like you to pay their artists and recoup expenses. Even the big ones like SF Symphony rely on grants & donors to make their performances possible & profitable. Essentially, this is how art & music organizations survive! You’ll be a “Patron Of The Arts.”
Thank you!!
Playing music out in the world feels like my true calling - it has brought me to unexpected and beautiful experiences where I have been able to use music to bring comfort, joy, healing, humor, and connection to thousands of people. I’m truly grateful for the support I have received and continue to receive.
It’s Maya. My trio, Maya Elise & The Good Dream, is going on an EPIC tour this summer (places below) in places we've never been before. We're beyond excited to bring our music to new places, meet new people, and d our careers as musicians. After two successful tours this year, we’re ready to spread laughter, tears, and *great* jokes all across the country! This is absolutely the best way to grow our audience and general success as a group.
This next tour is AMBITIOUS and will cost us upwards about $10,000 to pull off successfully (aka sleeping on a floor only every other night, eating vegetables, not running out of gas, promoting the shows well), and we’re asking for support to make it happen.
More questions & answers:
Can I venmo you instead? Yes! Venmo is @mayaelisemusic
Where is the band going?
Chicago, IL - Columbus, OH - Ithaca, NY - Boston, MA - Sommerville, MA - North Haven, ME - Brooklyn, NY - Bristol, CT - Philly, PA - Silver Springs, MD - Durham, NC - Asheville, NC - Fairview, NC - Atlanta, GA - Nashville, TN - New Orleans, LA - Austin, TX - Marfa, TX - Tucson, AZ
How did you book this tour?
Blood, sweat, and Instagram! But really - I spent many, many hours looking at the tours of other artists, sending cold emails to bookers, pulling up my corkboard map of the united states, rerouting, finding artists to share bills with, rerouting again, and finally landing on a somewhat straightforward route (only one zig-zag this time!). This was honestly one of the most challenging yet satisfying things I've done, and we haven't even gone on the tour yet!
How much will it cost?
Based on previous tours, I've done some calculations, and this tour will likely cost us about
$3500 in gas & transportation fees (yikes!)
$700 in housing (some places we really don't know anybody)
$500 in food (we do our best to go to grocery stores and cook when we can)
$300 for incidentals (gear replacement, oil changes, unexpected general travel expenses)
$500 for audio gear needed to put on successful house concerts
$200 for promotional materials
And I would LOVE to pay my musicians a worthy amount for going on tour for an entire month with me. I'm hoping that I can pay each of us $1,500 for this tour at a minimum.
That brings us to over $10,000 in expenses for a 3.5-week tour!
How much will you make?
On our previous tours, we made on average $400 a show. With 15 - 19 shows, this will bring us to an estimated $6,000 - $7,600 of income, although these markets are much more unknown to us, so we're preparing to make less. On the past two tours, against all odds, we haven’t lost any money, and we’d like to keep up that streak!
So, what’s touring all about anyway?
When we went to Colorado Springs, we were met with an audience who had just had a big loss earlier that day. I received this message from one of them a few weeks later:
“I didn’t know what I needed that night but love, art, beauty, kindness and warmth worked wonders. If the creation of beautiful music with a message is not a worthy calling, I don’t know what is”
I truly believe this is what it’s all about.
On a more “business” level, we're becoming more connected to music scenes around the country and getting bigger and better opportunities with each city we play. Tour is "profitable" in so many ways. For example, after our last tour in the southwest & mountain west, our online listening audience grew by 25%! For us, “profit” is a long game and we need to invest upfront in building an audience to see long-term growth.
What do I get for donating?
I have a small but special gift that I'll send to each person who funds the tour (a new mycelium tote bag already on it’s way!). It's a small token of appreciation for your generous support! Every donation, big & small, will receive the same gift.
Almost all established arts organizations rely on donors like you to pay their artists and recoup expenses. Even the big ones like SF Symphony rely on grants & donors to make their performances possible & profitable. Essentially, this is how art & music organizations survive! You’ll be a “Patron Of The Arts.”
Thank you!!
Playing music out in the world feels like my true calling - it has brought me to unexpected and beautiful experiences where I have been able to use music to bring comfort, joy, healing, humor, and connection to thousands of people. I’m truly grateful for the support I have received and continue to receive.
Organizer
Maya Abramson
Organizer
Oakland, CA