This weeks Bombplates pro-tip is a direct sequel to last week's.
If you're serious about your band, you'll probably want to keep track of what you spend making music and how much you get paid for the same. However, if you're as disorganized as I am, this probably just amounts to a wad of receipts and scribbled notes in your pocket that eventually gets put through the wash. (Eventually. You know how hard it can be to get to a washing machine on the road!) Of course, that doesn't do anyone any good. Next thing you know, your bassist is insisting he hasn't gotten his per diem, and you don't have gas money.
You could purchase some expensive and complex accounting software to help you with this aspect of things or even hire a manager to track everything for you. OR you could use the financial management features already built in to your Bombplates website!
Here's what you do!
First, make a list of common things that you spend money on while on the road: gas, beer, per diem, etc.
Next go to YOURSITE/node/add/tour-expense (in my case regdarandthefighters.com/node/add/tour-expense). Type one of those items into the line, and hit "Save".
Do this for each of those expenses. This step is technically optional, but it will save you time later on.
Make a list of your common incomes: tip jar, cut of door, cut of bar, merch, etc.
Go to YOURSITE/node/add/tour-income, and add each of those the same way you did for the expenses.
Finally, every time you play a show, just go to YOURSITE/node/add/tour-stats and start filling in the information applicable to the show you just played. Select the show from the drop down. Select any important contacts (see last week's post). Fill in the total attendance if you want. Then begin filling in the expenses and incomes; just click on the items and add them. Jot down some notes, and hit "Save".
Whenever you need to see how much you made overall at a given show, just go to YOURSITE/manage/tour/finances, and search for the show. You can fill in any or all of the search fields. If you leave them all blank, you'll get a list of all of your shows.
Now you have an easy-to-read table of important details from that show! Who was there? Where was it? What were your expenses? How much did you make? All that information is right at your fingertips! Sweet!
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