Tour Booking Guide (India)
A practical, step-by-step guide to booking your own tour in India — from first contact with venues to show day. Written for independent artists without a booking agent.
Introduction
India's live music circuit is growing rapidly, but it remains fragmented. Venues in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad operate very differently from each other. Relationships matter enormously. An email to a venue you've never played or connected with has a low response rate. A warm introduction from a mutual artist, manager, or promoter changes everything.
This guide walks you through the full booking process, from planning your route to collecting your fee.
Step 1: Plan your Route
Before you contact a single venue, map out a logical tour route. Flying between every city is expensive. Ground travel by Tempo Traveller or train is the practical option for most independent artists.
Suggested circuit options (2026):
- South India: Bengaluru → Pune → Hyderabad (or add Chennai/Kochi for longer legs)
- North India: Delhi → Chandigarh → Jaipur → Mumbai
- West India: Mumbai → Pune → Goa (seasonal — October to March works best for Goa)
- Festival circuit: Follow the NH7 Weekender cities (typically Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Meghalaya)
Questions to answer before you start: 1. How many cities can you realistically cover in the time available? 2. What is your transport budget? (Tempo Traveller + driver: approximately INR 3,000–5,000/day) 3. Do you need accommodation, or do you have local contacts who can host? 4. Is this a headline tour or support slots?
Step 2: Build your Target Venue List
Key venues by city (2026):
Mumbai
- Antisocial (Lower Parel): Capacity ~300. Booker: social@socialoffline.in
- Blue Frog (when operational): Watch for booking updates
- The Quarter: Jazz/acoustic focus, intimate setting
- Independence Brewing: Craft beer venue, good for indie/folk
Delhi / Ncr
- Antisocial (Hauz Khas): Capacity ~250–300
- Auro Bar (Hauz Khas): Smaller, intimate, good for emerging artists
- Hard Rock Cafe (multiple locations): Ticketed events, genre-diverse
- Piano Man Jazz Club: Genre-specific but worth noting
Bengaluru
- Humming Tree (Indiranagar): Capacity ~400. Premier indie venue. hummingtreedubai@gmail.com
- Foxtrot (Indiranagar): Mid-size, strong indie following
- IISC Open Air Theatre: For larger draws, 1000+ capacity
- The Humming Tree also runs Bacardi NH7 Weekender Bengaluru shows
Pune
- High Spirits Cafe: The foundational indie venue. Capacity ~500. highspirits.in
- Independence Brewing: Growing live music scene
Hyderabad
- DEFY: Growing venue for indie acts
- Tapped (multiple locations)
Kolkata
- Someplace Else (Park Hotel): Long-running live music institution
GOA (seasonal)
- Curlies, Leopard Valley (festivals), Hill Top: Festival/outdoor format
Step 3: Prepare your Pitch Materials
Before contacting any venue, have these ready:
1. ARTIST ONE-SHEET (1 page)
- Artist name, genre, brief bio
- Streaming numbers (Spotify monthly listeners, YouTube views, JioSaavn followers)
- Notable past shows or festivals
- EPK link or press photos
- Contact details
2. Press Kit (EPK) Link
- Hosted on Google Drive or your website
- Should include: bio, photos (hi-res), music samples, videos, press quotes
3. Sample Setlist Length and Technical Requirements
- Venues want to know set length, number of band members, and whether you need backline
4. Social Proof
- Ticket sales or headcount from past shows in the city
- Social media following in that city (use Instagram Insights by city)
- Any press coverage from Wild City, Homegrown, Rolling Stone India, Scroll.in
Step 4: the Booking Email
Subject line: [CITY] | [ARTIST NAME] | [PROPOSED DATE RANGE] | Booking Inquiry
Template:
Hi [Booker name],
I'm [your name], manager / artist manager for [Artist Name], a [genre] act based in [city]. I'm reaching out to explore a show at [Venue Name] during [proposed date range].
A little about [Artist Name]:
- One compelling sentence about the music]
- Streaming metric or notable achievement]
- Past show / festival reference if relevant]
[Link to EPK or one-sheet] [Link to best track or music video]
We're flexible on format — support slot, co-headline, or headline depending on what works best for your programming. Our technical requirements are straightforward: [brief list, e.g., full backline not required, PA system only].
Our preferred dates: [Option 1], [Option 2], [Option 3]
Happy to jump on a call at your convenience. What would be the best way to proceed?
Best, [Your name] [Phone | Email | Instagram handle]
Step 5: Deal Structures in India
Understand the deal before you sign anything.
FLAT FEE (Guarantee) The venue pays a fixed amount regardless of attendance. Best for: Artists with a track record and local draw. Typical range (2026): INR 10,000–1,50,000 depending on artist profile and venue.
DOOR DEAL (Revenue Share) You keep a percentage of ticket revenue, venue keeps the rest (or covers costs first). Common split: 70% artist / 30% venue, or 80/20 after costs. Best for: New artists who believe in their local draw.
Versus Deal
You get whichever is higher — a guaranteed minimum or a percentage of door. Example: INR 20,000 guarantee vs. 70% of door, whichever is higher. Best for: Mid-level artists who want protection and upside.
Door Deal with Expenses
Venue deducts its costs (staff, PA hire, promotion) before the split. Be very specific about what costs are deducted before agreeing.
Tips
- Always get the deal in writing. Even a WhatsApp message confirming the terms is better than verbal.
- Confirm whether the fee is inclusive or exclusive of GST. If you're GST-registered, you'll need to raise an invoice with 18% GST added to the agreed fee.
- Ask about TDS: corporate venue operators may deduct TDS at 2% (companies) or 1% (individuals) under Section 194C of the Income Tax Act before paying you. Factor this into your minimum acceptable fee.
Step 6: Confirm the Show — Checklist
- Dates, set time, and set length confirmed in writing
- Fee and payment terms confirmed (advance %, balance timing)
- Advance payment received (aim for 30–50% upfront)
- Sound and lighting tech specs shared and confirmed
- Stage plot and input list sent to the venue
- Hospitality rider sent and confirmed (meals, water, green room)
- Accommodation confirmed (venue-provided or self-arranged)
- Ticket price and ticketing platform confirmed (Insider.in, BookMyShow, Paytm Insider)
- Promotional assets (photos, bio, artwork) sent to venue
- Social media promotion plan agreed with venue
- Billing (artist name on poster, position) agreed
- Load-in time, soundcheck time, doors, show time confirmed
- Guest list allocation confirmed
Step 7: Show Day Protocol
Load-in: Arrive at confirmed load-in time. Do not assume venue staff know you're coming — call the venue contact 1 hour before.
Soundcheck: Run your full set order at least once from song 1. Check monitor mixes for every band member individually.
Green room: Confirm your hospitality before the show. Don't wait until you're hungry.
Set time: Never go over your agreed set length without explicit permission from the venue.
Payment collection: Collect the balance fee before you leave the venue. Do not pack down and leave without settling the balance. If payment is via bank transfer, confirm the transfer has been initiated before you leave.
Step 8: Post-show Follow-up
- Send a thank-you email to the venue contact within 48 hours.
- Share any photos or videos with the venue for social use.
- Log the show data: attendance, revenue, merch sold, audience response.
- Request a testimonial or review if the show went well.
- If TDS was deducted, follow up for Form 16A within 30 days of the quarter end.
Common Booking Mistakes in India
1. Booking shows too close together without accounting for travel time — overnight trains from Mumbai to Bengaluru take 12+ hours. 2. Not confirming payment method upfront — UPI transfers are instant, but NEFT can take up to 2 business days. 3. Agreeing to a show in a new city with no promotional plan and expecting the venue to fill the room. 4. Not reading the venue's rider requirements — some venues require artists to provide their own backline (especially smaller bar venues). 5. Playing for free "for exposure" when the venue is charging a ticket price. If there are tickets, there is a budget.
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Free to use · Part of the Indie Music India toolkit · Updated September 2026