Planning a blues tour with a four-piece band isn’t just about booking gigs-it’s about keeping the lights on, the van running, and everyone fed. You might think playing music is the hardest part. It’s not. The real challenge? Making sure you don’t run out of cash before the last show. That’s where lodging and per diems come in. These aren’t luxury items. They’re survival tools. Skip them, and your tour doesn’t end at the last venue-it ends in a roadside ditch.
What Exactly Is a Per Diem?
A per diem isn’t a fancy expense report. It’s a daily cash allowance meant to cover food, laundry, tips, and small stuff like phone chargers or bus station snacks. For a blues band, it’s not about steak dinners. It’s about three meals, a six-pack after the gig, and maybe a shower at a truck stop. The IRS sets federal per diem rates, but musicians don’t follow those. You’re not a corporate traveler. You’re a road dog.
Most touring blues bands set their per diem at $40 to $60 per person per day. Why? Because $40 buys you a greasy spoon breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, a cheap diner dinner, and a pack of gum. $60 lets you hit a grocery store, make your own meals, and still have a few bucks left for a post-show beer. Anything higher? You’re not budgeting-you’re dreaming. Anything lower? You’re asking your drummer to live off gas station chips.
One band from Memphis did $30/day for six weeks. They lasted three weeks. The bassist quit. The guitarist started pawning his pedals. The van broke down in Alabama. They didn’t get paid for the last three shows because the van was in the shop. Lesson: underfunded per diems don’t save money-they cost you more.
Lodging: Don’t Sleep in the Van (Unless You Have To)
You’ve heard the stories: bands sleeping in vans, using the bathroom at gas stations, waking up with a flat tire and no money for a motel. That’s not a romantic lifestyle. That’s a business failure.
For a four-piece band, aim for $70 to $100 per night for lodging. That’s two rooms: one for the two guys who snore, one for the two who don’t. You don’t need a Hilton. You need a Motel 6, a Super 8, or even a local guesthouse with a kitchen. Why? Because if you can cook, you save $20 a day per person. That’s $80 a day saved. That’s one more gig you can play.
Some bands try to cut corners by booking one room. Bad idea. You’re not college kids anymore. Someone’s going to need space. Someone’s going to have a snoring problem. Someone’s going to need to call their kid at 2 a.m. One room means tension. Tension means bad shows. Bad shows mean no return bookings.
Real example: The Midnight Blues Trio (plus a touring drummer) stayed in one room in Nashville for $65. The drummer was a light sleeper. The singer snored like a chainsaw. The next night, the drummer didn’t show up. He was at a different motel. They had to cancel. Lost $800 in ticket sales. That’s 16 nights of lodging gone.
Putting It All Together: A Real Budget
Let’s say you’re doing a 14-day tour. 10 shows. 4 people. Here’s what it looks like:
- Lodging: 14 nights × $85 = $1,190
- Per diems: 14 days × $50 × 4 people = $2,800
- Gas: 1,200 miles × $0.60/mile (avg. for a loaded van) = $720
- Food for the van: $150 for snacks, drinks, and emergency groceries
- Incidentals: $200 for tolls, parking, phone bills, last-minute repairs
Total: $5,060 for two weeks.
That’s $361 per day. Sounds high? It’s not. If you’re playing 10 shows and charging $100 per ticket, you need to sell 51 tickets a night just to break even. That’s not hard. But only if you’re not exhausted, hungry, and mad at each other.
Where the Money Really Goes Wrong
Most bands don’t go broke because they play to empty rooms. They go broke because they don’t track this stuff.
Here’s what usually happens:
- Someone says, “We can just stay with friends.” Then you show up at 2 a.m. and they’re not home. You end up in a $120 motel.
- Someone says, “Let’s skip per diems and just buy food at the venue.” The venue only sells $12 burritos. You spend $50 a day per person on food alone.
- Someone forgets to check the van’s oil. The engine dies in Ohio. Repair: $1,800. Insurance won’t cover it because you didn’t do maintenance.
- Someone takes a $70 cab ride to the store because “they forgot socks.” That’s $70 gone. You didn’t budget for cabs.
You need a tour manager. Not a friend. Not the bassist. Someone who writes down every dollar. Even $5. Even if it’s just a pack of gum. Because $5 × 14 days × 4 people = $280. That’s a night’s lodging.
How to Actually Save Money
There are smart ways to cut costs without sacrificing your sanity.
- Book lodging with kitchens. Buy eggs, bread, peanut butter, and bananas. Cook. Save $15-$20 per person per day.
- Use apps like Roadtrippers or GasBuddy. Find the cheapest gas, the cleanest rest stops, the quietest places to sleep.
- Ask venues for a free meal. Most clubs will give you a sandwich or pizza if you play a good set. Don’t be shy. Say, “Can we get something to eat after the show?” You’d be surprised how often they say yes.
- Carry a spare tire and basic tools. A $40 tire and a $25 jack can save you $1,200 in towing.
- Track every expense. Use a simple notebook or a free app like Splitwise. Everyone contributes. Everyone sees the numbers. No surprises.
What Happens When You Do It Right
The Hollowbody Blues Band toured 42 states in 2025. They made $28,000. They spent $19,500. They saved $8,500. How? They stuck to the numbers.
- $75/night lodging (always with a kitchen)
- $55/day per diem (cash in an envelope, no credit cards)
- Gas bought at the cheapest station within 20 miles
- One van, one driver, one tour manager who counted every dime
They didn’t get rich. But they didn’t quit. They came back next year. And the year after. Because they knew how to keep the lights on.
Blues music doesn’t die because the crowd disappears. It dies because the people playing it can’t afford to keep going. Budgeting isn’t boring. It’s how you stay alive.
What Not to Do
Don’t think you’ll make it back on merch. Merch doesn’t pay for gas. It pays for tacos after the show.
Don’t assume venues will cover your costs. Most small clubs pay $50-$150. Sometimes they pay in beer. That’s fine. But beer doesn’t fix a flat tire.
Don’t let one person handle all the money. That’s how trust dies. Use a shared ledger. Everyone sees it. Everyone contributes. Everyone stays.
Don’t skip maintenance. A $30 oil change every 3,000 miles saves you $2,000 in repairs. That’s not a cost. That’s insurance.
Don’t wait until you’re broke to plan. Plan before you leave. Write it down. Stick to it. Even when you’re tired. Even when you’re hungry. Even when you just want to sleep.
