Introduction:
So you want to go on tours, huh? That's Awesome! Enclosed herein are notes and tips about doing so. These come from my experiences in the Spring of 2019, where we performed in Hartford, CT, for the MIT Alumni Club there. It was fun, we learned a lot, and hopefully reading this will give you a sense of how to go about starting up this process.
Just one additional word before getting into the meat of it. Make sure you have support before really diving into this. Tours take a lot of effort, and you support is imperative to make sure you get the people power you need to make it happen without tearing your hair out. Now, if you're still interested...
How To Initiate the Process:
When we initially toured in the 1980s and when we restarted the program in Spring 2019, we were working primarily with the MIT Alumni Club of Hartford. Leon Kaatz reached out to us and asked if we could perform for the alumni there. Leon really liked hosting us, although he was already getting older during my time, so he may no longer be involved with running the alumni club. I recommend that wherever you want to perform, you find some group to host you. Hosting here means less that you stay with them (more on that below), but more that they can help you find lodging, organize food, publicize your event to interested parties, and most importantly find a performance space. The guide below contains no information on actually locating a performance space because, luckily for us, the alumni were able to do that. We performed in a school, which worked well, but lower-key options include a public park, community theater, or someone's backyard even. It all depends what you and the alumni want. Additionally, some Alumni Clubs may be able to provide funding or support your trip financially, which is really helpful for renting cars and finding lodging.
To find Alumni Clubs, I recommend looking within a few hours driving radius of MIT and seeing what alumni clubs are active. Email them and just ask if they'd be willing to host you guys and your performance. Every Club you deal with will be different in what they want or can provide, but having a support in the location you are going to makes planning easier and ensures you have an audience when you get there.
When to Tour?
Where to Stay: