RMP Workshop: Booking and Touring

Learn the ins and outs of building a profitable regional tour rooted in the Colorado music scene.

This 90-minute session will cover how to book shows in small towns across the state, network with venue owners and talent buyers, promote your gigs effectively, and sell merch that moves. You'll also get insider tips on securing grants and sponsorships, minimizing lodging and travel expenses, and creating a sustainable touring strategy that actually pays. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your regional reach, this workshop will give you real-world tools from artists and professionals who’ve done it themselves.

Michelle Pietrafitta is a drummer, tour manager and booking strategist best known for her work with the nationally touring act Banshee Tree. 

Through a hands-on approach to the music business, Michelle has built Banshee Tree’s touring infrastructure from the ground up, completely independent of management support.  Her work has landed the quartet at major festivals like Arise, Sonic Bloom, NorthWest String Summit and Winterwondergrass, and on bills alongside acts like Victor Wooten, Keller Williams, the Infamous Stringdusters and many more.

Michelle teaches her approach to the music business, showing by example that as independent artists, we can be our own gate keepers, and build a thriving career. Through her initiative to bridge her creative work with business strategy, she has developed a method of building tours that are artistically fulfilling and financially viable. She empowers artists to advocate for themselves, to understand the nuts and bolts of the industry, and to push the boundaries of what they think is possible for their career.

Owen Trujillo (O1) – Artist, Educator, and Cultural Connector

Owen Trujillo, known on stage as O1, is a Mexican-born, Denver-raised artist whose work bridges music, community, and culture. Born in Zacatecas, Mexico and raised in West Denver’s Baker neighborhood, he grew up navigating a world where speaking Spanish in school was discouraged an experience that shaped his mission to celebrate and preserve cultural identity through art.

As the co-founder, co frontman, and songwriter of the bilingual band 2MX2, O1 blends Latin rhythms, rock, hip hop, and reggaetón into a sound that moves crowds and sparks conversation. With lyrics in both English and Spanish, his work addresses immigration, mental health, education reform, and unity, earning the band recognition as one of NPR’s Colorado Top 10 Bands and features on NPR’s World Café. In 2024, 2MX2’s empowering single “Si Se Puede” reached audiences across the U.S. and Latin America, further cementing their role as artists with purpose.

Beyond the stage, O1 is an accomplished audio engineer, educator, and cultural organizer. He co-founded Enlightofme, a media company producing impactful visual and audio projects, and serves as a Hip Hop ensemble instructor at CU Denver’s summer Lynx Program. His educational work extends in collaborations with various non profits with humanitarian missions, where he uses music as a tool for empowerment.

O1’s vision is rooted in connection, linking generations, bridging cultures, and creating platforms for underrepresented voices. Whether performing at major festivals, producing for other artists, or mentoring the next generation, he continues to push boundaries with a belief that music can inspire unity and change.

Jesse Ogle is an accomplished professional bassist, educator, songwriter, music producer, and non-profit leader. He is the co-founder of iAM MUSIC, one of Southwest Colorado’s leading music-focused non-profits, and currently serves as the Community Development Director at Roots Music Project in Boulder, CO.

Jesse is an active performer and collaborator, playing bass with Nu Bass Theory, Wrenn Van, J-Calvin, Haiikuu, and internationally acclaimed Zimbabwean artist Blessing Chimanga, while also working as a sought-after freelance bassist.

As an educator and speaker, Jesse has presented at notable institutions and events including CU Boulder, Loyola University, Fort Lewis College, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the Colorado Creative Industries Summit.

A recognized expert in non-profit development, Jesse is deeply committed to building bridges across the musical arts community—fostering collaborations, cultivating equity, and creating long-lasting relationships that strengthen the creative ecosystem in Colorado and beyond.

Roots Music Project Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit local music incubator based in Boulder, Colorado. We believe in the power of music to make the world a better place. All music starts locally. We empower artists, fans, and venues to connect and create a thriving and inspiring local music scene.

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