#IndieGoesInternational: How Artists Are Clinching Overseas Tours

Battling the strains of acquiring visa, work permits, sponsorship and equipment isn’t easy but local bands won’t give up

- Anurag Tagat

Consider meeting an internet acquaintance for the first time, except you’re taking a long-haul flight and paying a few lakhs to go and see them and hope they make good on their promise of giving you a string of shows and everything else they’ve promised. Mumbai death metal band Gutslit’s bassist Gurdip Singh Narang, who has plotted out a two-week tour of Asia in September, says, “The amount of research one has to do is at par with the amount of research Indian parents put in when it comes to an arranged marriage.”

Uddipan Sarmah, the entrepreneurial front man of post - rock band Aswekeepsearching, says the toughest part is “to make people believe in us.” After two years of establishing friendly contacts with Swedish instrumental act Pg.Lost and American prog band Tides of Man and more in Europe, there’s a 15-date tour coming up in May. “It’s a completely different business model [compared to touring in India],” Sarmah says.

Getting there

The Mumbai-based band have saved up from shows and merchandise sales to put it into a tour. With the tour dates confirmed, the next step involves getting an invitation letter from the hosts—in the case of Aswekeepsearching, it’s Dunk! Festival and their supporting bands— that mentions each traveling members’ names, passport numbers and dates of visiting. While filing for a visa in Europe as well as in the States, artists are also required to send in proof of confirmed accommodation, bank statements to prove regular income and for Europe, even confirmed flight tickets.