Vaughan and Double Trouble prepared for the tour by performing showcases in Dallas and Houston. These were attended by various musicians, radio station personalities, disc jockeys, record store owners, music critics, and record company executives.Hopkins (2011), pp. 22, 24 The band also made promotional appearances.Hopkins (2011), p. 23 On tour, even during the busiest traveling days, they would fit these into their daily schedule. The band would later find them exhausting.Hopkins (2011), p. 28 Before the tour could begin, Vaughan and Double Trouble needed the support of radio stations, Dallas' Q102-FM in particular.Hopkins (2011), p. 22 At first disc jockey Redbeard received only negative reactions from listeners when he played the album. Nevertheless, he persevered and played Texas Flood for an additional two weeks leading to more album sales in the Southwest. At least 15,000 units were shipped to record stores.Hopkins (2011), pp. 19, 23
