Start booking a weekly or monthly gig in your local city. Develop a local following where your audience knows that each gig is going to be a little different. Maybe there are seasonal themes or special guests; or maybe alternate repertoire from gig to gig. Give special deals or greater access for people who sign up for your email announcements. Then once you have a good following coming to your regular gigs, set up an exchange with a band that has done something similar in a nearby town. Offer to host them at your monthly gig in exchange for them hosting you at theirs. Find a half dozen bands you can do this with and you have the beginnings of a tour. Once other bands see this, they will replicate what you have done. Eventually a network of world music bands can have a regular exchange. And once that is established, the network can host bands from overseas either for a profit or as the beginning of an international exchange program. Comment your progress below!
