We run a rolling evaluation process, and will only close applications when Bob's bank account hits $0 (which is hopefully never).
If you or other artists you know are interested in learning more or need some help to fund your next tour, say hello at bob@bandsonbeds.org.
We look forward to hearing from you!
FAQ
What happens after I apply?
Given our current team capacity, we take up to 2 weeks to review your submitted application, check out your music, and understand your need and the potential impact of the grant money.
If you qualify, we aim to have a 30-minute call directly with the artist and make a final budget approval decision within 1 week from that call.
If you do not qualify, we will let you know via email within 2 weeks of submission.
How do I book accommodation?
If approved for the grant, you continue booking your tour accommodation as you would normally. In your approval email, you will have a clear approved grant amount which is effectively your maximum reimbursable budget.
Once your tour is complete, you send us your receipts and within 1 week we reimburse you upon validating your proof of payment. We do this to make sure the money is going where it is intended to go, making a positive impact and helping more bands tour.
If you end up spending more than the approved grant amount, you have to cover any additional costs, as we can only issue the funds up to the amount agreed before the tour.
If you spend less than the approved grant amount, we only cover up to the actual costs you incurred as we are trying to support as many artists as possible and every dollar counts.
What if I need the grant money before the tour?
If you need the money up front and can evidence that need, please make that clear in your application or on the artist call, and we can see what is possible. We are happy to consider this as we know pre-funding accommodation can take a financial strain out of tour management, but our standard conditions are to reimburse after the tour is over.
A decision like this would be made on a case by case basis as an exception and is not our normal way of operating so please only inquire about this if it is absolutely necessary.
Support live music
Throughout 2025 we spoke with hundreds of artists and began our 18-month self-funded trial, iterating our grant making process until we hit the sweet spot. The feedback was clear: covering tour accommodation costs is the single most meaningful investment we could make to support live music.
Deleting this single line item from a touring budget removes between 15-50% of costs, and helps ensure financial success and wellbeing of the musicians.
In late 2026, we partnered with Harper House Music Foundation to grow our impact. We are actively fundraising, so if you love live music and want to help, we'd love to hear from you. We are currently supporting 1 artist tour per week and with your help we can move towards our goal of supporting 1 artist tour per day, forever.
"I got a real insight into the economics of touring, and it basically would have been impossible without Bob not to suffer a massive loss. The accommodations were all a success, and without Bob, I most likely would have had to cancel the tour."
Y
"I always enjoy touring, even when it involves crashing on couches or budget hostels, but this experience has already been in stark contrast to any other touring experience I've had. Bob has made such a massive difference in the overall feeling of the tour!"
ME
"Bob's support isn't just about a place to sleep — it's fuel for the road, making it possible to keep saying 'yes' to opportunities that push my career forward."
Bob is…
All of us! Well, the story goes that the idea came from Bob's friend Stacey, who has always been a huge supporter of musicians and hosted loads of them at her house. While she wanted to host the whole world of musicians, the sheer number of people wanting to crash was too large so she mentioned it to the team and we have run with it.
At its simplest, we are a group of friends who just love live music and spend a good amount of our time at gigs. We have all hosted artists and know how hard it can be to make the whole touring thing work, so we figured it was time to formalize our efforts and act as a catalyst to get others to lend a helping hand.
To us, there is nothing better than the magic of a gig when all the elements fall into place, and we are committed to helping in whatever way makes a difference. For now, that is collectively acting as Bob and administering tour accommodation grants. In the future, the sky is the limit.
Apply for a grant
