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Written by Laura Hamlett Wednesday, 26 September 2007 08:11

Martin Atkins has taken it upon himself to create a textbook, of sorts, designed to educate, make you think, get you planning, tighten up your approach to the business of music.

All right rockstars—or wannabe rockstars, whichever the case may be. You're never gonna make it by sitting on your couch or having all-night jam sessions in your mother's basement. You've got to set yourself apart; you've got to have a killer live show, and take it on the road.

But you're a musician, not a businessman, right? That's where Martin Atkins comes in. You know, Martin Atkins, the guy behind the drums for Pigface, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails and Public Image Limited. The guy behind Invisible Records. The guy who's launched countless major tours and kept 'em afloat.

You'd expect a guy like this to be an asshole, one who'd want to keep all of his knowledge and lessons learned to himself. And that's where you'd be wrong.

Instead, Atkins has taken it upon himself to create a textbook, of sorts, designed to educate, make you think, get you planning, tighten up your approach to the business of music. Tour:Smart...and Break the Band is everything you'd want in a how-to manual. It's witty. It's down-to-earth. It's informative as hell. It gives you the rules on touring—so that you can safely break them without breaking the bank.

In addition to being chock-full of Atkins' personal experiences (both triumphs and tragedies), Tour:Smart offers suggestions and stories from over 100 real-world professionals. It's easy to read, complete with illustrations, bullet points, and call-out boxes. It's got information for the first-time touring act, considerations for the seasoned professional and everything in between.

In short, bands: you wanna rock on the road, you need this book. | Laura Hamlett

www.myspace.com/toursmart | www.tstouring.com