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Monday, 15 September, 2025
We have released a practical new guide created for UK-based brass bands heading overseas. How to help your band prepare for a successful European tour, available now in the Member Resources library, distils real-world touring experience into actionable advice to support bands from first idea to final encore.
The guide walks readers through the full journey of planning and delivery. It starts with building the right tour team and budgeting for stability and cashflow, then moves through travel and accommodation choices, passports and visas, and the logistics of transporting instruments safely by coach, ferry or air. There’s a plain-English explanation of ATA carnets and customs processes post-Brexit, plus guidance on vehicle insurance, driver hours and ferry bookings so itineraries run to time.
Bands will also find advice on safeguarding for youth tours (including leadership roles, consent, supervision and inclusive arrangements), alongside sections on insurance (travel, public liability and instrument cover), performance permissions and promotion, health and wellbeing (from GHIC cards to dietary needs and contingencies), and those small but vital touches that make a tour memorable: packing lists, comms, rest time, sightseeing and capturing the story.
A comprehensive FAQs section answers the questions bands ask most often — from “Do we need a carnet?” to “How much downtime should we build in?”—and the guide signposts authoritative external sources and partner services throughout.
BBE’s Events Manager Jess Wilson said:
“We knew bands were calling out for this because we’ve been hearing the same questions again and again - about carnets and customs, ferry crossings and driver hours, safeguarding for mixed-age groups, GHIC versus insurance, and how to plan a realistic schedule that still feels special. This guide brings everything into one place so that committees, MDs and tour leads can plan with confidence. Our hope is that it saves bands time, money and stress, and helps more players experience the sheer joy of performing abroad.”
How to help your band prepare for a successful European tour is newly released and ready to read in the BBE Member Resources library. Existing members can log in to access the guide today.
We wish safe travels to all bands planning a tour. Members who would like advice or support are invited to get in touch at info@bbe.org.uk.