The tour was announced by
Reprise Records on
Valentine's Day 2011. Initially with only three dates, many fans speculated Groban was expanding his intimate tour. Upon his 30th birthday, Groban posted a video on his
Tumblr blog stating the tour's expansion in North America with additional dates in England. This is later followed by a posting on his official website with a detailed itinerary of the tour. During an interview with
Gayle King, Groban mentions he still worries from time to time about his career. He further states given the current atmosphere in the entertainment industry, Groban is always worried about how the media and fans will approach an experimental sound and production. To prepare for the tour, the singer embarked on a mini tour of the United States playing
theaters and
concert halls. The nine city tour, entailed "Before We Begin", gave the opportunity for Groban to perform in an intimate setting and connect with the audience in new ways. Groban wants to continue the intimate theme even though he will play
arenas. To introduce the tour,
Live Nation stated: "The "Straight To You" Tour will bring the feel of a theater experience to an arena setting though stage design, lighting, and projection, as well as through spontaneity and interactivity. Groban delighted his fans during last year's 'Before We Begin' shows, in which he solicited feedback from the audience on which songs should be included in the set-list. As a result, for the 'Straight To You' shows, Groban will continue to interact with audiences and perform favorites from his best-selling albums, including his
self-titled debut,
Closer, and
Awake, as well as songs from
Illuminations." ==Opening act==