This invaluable 'how to' book takes you inside the lucrative and popular contemporary rock circuit and describes in detail how artists get started on the road.

It covers everything the artist needs to know to function professionally right from the stage of putting their band together to finding agents, managers, lawyers, accountants, promoters and road crews. The members of this vital back-up team will be discussed at length; what each does for the act and exactly what they charge for their services.

With actual sample expense sheets, Playing Live will show where the money comes from and where exactly it goes.

Everything from the highs and lows of life on the road; the art of doing the deal and the root of the audience will be investigated. It also goes into detail about all the by-products of playing live (as a career) – that’s everything from songwriting through to radio, television, films, recordings, merchandising, sponsorship, acting and of course, politics.

Paul Charles is the co-owner of Asgard, one of the longest established European Booking Agencies and Concert promoters. He has worked as an agent with artists - past and present - such as Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Ray Davies, Nanci Griffiths, Nick Lowe, Robert Plant, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, Crosby Stills & Nash and John Lee Hooker.