Your favorite band just announced new tour dates and you comment on why they're not coming to your town/state. If you're uninformed, this post is for you.

Step 1. How does a band plan a tour?

The booking agent books dates for the band where they have the most interest/fans. A markets are for large cities, B market for mid size cities, and the occasional C market.

HowStuffWorks breaks it down for us. ASCAP also has an informative guide as well.

The tour venues follow a geographically logical way instead of resembling a criss-cross, connect-the-dot pattern of overlapping routes. Enough travel time is built in, allowing for traffic and weather conditions, so that the band has time to set up and do any necessary rehearsing before a concert. Days off are worked into the schedule to give the band and crew time to recuperate after a number of hard days of concerts and travel.

Keep in mind, too, that concert tours involve a lot more than setting up, rehearsing and playing for an audience. A promoter or record label is likely to want the band to also do local promotions and interviews with media, meet with fans and sign autographs. There may be even more demands on band members' time.

Step 2. What is a booking agent?

Great question. Discovery Channel has it covered

Booking agents are essentially middlemen who connect musicians and clubs. In this way, booking agents connect bands with their fans or potential fans. Musicians build their reputations by playing live concerts, first in their hometowns and then farther afield. Although musicians may be able book their own performances at local clubs, they often need help booking performances in other cities. When a new band decides it's time to tour, they usually hire a booker to help them schedule shows in the cities they'll be visiting. Bookers also negotiate the band's fee, and/or their cut of the ticket sales. Bookers can plan a band's entire road tour.

Step 3. Inform Yourself.

After reading this informative article, you ask yourself, when is my favorite artist/band coming to my country? Well, this site right here has all the answers!