Being a touring DJ or artist requires a good amount of planning when it comes to playing shows in other cities and countries. For this Behind the Agent’s Desk, I will discuss what goes into coordinating flights and some tips that can help to ease the stress for artists who are starting to play shows in new cities.
Flight prices can be a pain when you have to schedule flying across the country for a show. Everyone knows that air fares can leave a big dent in your wallet so it’s important to book as much in advance as possible. Generally, it is a good idea to book your flight a month or so prior to the scheduled date so you get cheaper rates. Flights prices will increase to ridiculous amounts the longer you wait.
There are several websites that can help find you the best rates and flight times that cater to your schedule. Sites like Orbitz, Kayak and even Google Flights make organizing flight prices and times much easier for you rather than going from airline to airline trying find the best flights. Tools like these will let you compare prices and flight times from different airlines so you can choose what works best for you.
If you know that you will be traveling frequently, it is a good idea to sign up for frequent flyer accounts with the airlines that you usually fly with. That way, you are able to accumulate air miles or points that you can use rather than your own money to purchase future flights. This especially comes in handy if a last minute show is booked and air fares are already high. You should also consider applying for TSA PreCheck, which is a pre-screening initiative that makes moving through security checkpoints a lot easier when traveling.
Lastly, make sure to familiarize yourself with the itinerary. The last thing you would want is to run into trouble at the airport the day you are supposed to be taking off. Also, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get through security and check in. Nobody enjoys being placed on standby just because they missed their flight. This could jeopardize the show as a whole if you aren’t able to make it to the venue.
Hopefully these tips can help you if you are just starting to take off and tour the world. Always plan accordingly because as Benjamin Franklin said, “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
Justin Enriquez
Marketing & Logistics
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