"I'm planning on touring this year"-oh really?

sedan_dad · #1 02-19-2007, 04:43 PM

I've seen so many use this term and I get the feeling that most don't understand what it really means.
To me "touring " means living out of a suitecase (yuck) and the back of a stinky bus or van.Scrounging a cheap place to crash for the night and doing this day in and day out for months on end.Not knowing what day it is or what city or bar your in this night.
I don't think it means playing 3 nights a month.
I get the feeling "touring" gets used fast and loose anymore.
Thoughts?

Axeman20 · #2 02-19-2007, 05:53 PM

Well, I thought touring was also like that too, but i suppose its a word that people have used that has reached its saturation point and now has lost some of its meaning

Eric Moesle · #3 02-19-2007, 06:16 PM

Yeah, kids around here are using that term just for playing on a Friday and Saturday night - just two nights back to back - and they are only playing one short set along with five other bands, for almost no money.

Definitely not the definition of "touring" when I was younger.

Back in the 80's, I used to play 4 or 5 nights a week, at least three long sets each night, and sometimes wouldn't be home for two weeks. And still, I didn't consider that "touring".

I guess they just think it sounds cool and impresses their friends with the terms.

I defy you to find anyone over the age of 30 that uses the term "touring" so loosely as the "yay, we made $30 with five other bands within driving distance of home, but crashed with friends anyway" crowd.

ldiezman · #4 02-19-2007, 06:38 PM

well.. i'm under 30 and I don't use it loosely... but then again, I am a road dog. I agree though that 2 nights a week or a few gigs a month doesn't count as touring. I do lots of traveling all over the country multiple nights a week, sometimes 7-8 weeks at the time... but before this, I had never "toured" before, nor did I refer to the few gigs I played during the week while I was in college touring..

tzadik · #5 02-19-2007, 07:52 PM

It's kind of cute to me when I hear people get excited about their first tour. I share their excitement and appreciate thte spreading of music. And sometimes I can get pretty excited about touring too.

...but I am often more excited about getting HOME and getting some rest!

James_B · #6 02-20-2007, 02:07 PM

I'm, some young dumb kid. I get excited about touring just thinking about it.

nysbob · #7 02-21-2007, 07:20 AM

I'm planning on touring this year - and I'm totally pumped. It's been 5 years.

bassmonkeee · #8 02-21-2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nysbob

I'm planning on touring this year - and I'm totally pumped. It's been 5 years.

Very cool! Dots, or Bears? Coming to Atlanta?

nysbob · #9 02-21-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmonkeee

Very cool! Dots, or Bears? Coming to Atlanta?

Very probable....in support of a new Bears release.

Matt Till · #10 02-21-2007, 08:39 AM

I love it when people hear I toured for 2 weeks and they think its the whole rockstar thing: Partying... women, etc. Nope. I could barely afford to eat, I was gross (van full of gear and guys who couldnt shower every night, middle of summer), and slept on quite a few dirty floors. Feared for my life a couple times.

Do I regret it? Hell no... it was an insane adventure, but it was not about glamour at all. By the end of the tour, I was pacing around talking to myself, and in the middle of NYC screaming at a billboard with Good Charlotte on it because they were pretend emo crying with runny mascara because of AIDS. I was quoted as saying (screaming), "WHAT THE ****! ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF PEOPLE WITH AIDS" Heat and lack of sleep got to me. So I was one of those "crazy guys" screaming at billboards in new york

pointbass · #11 02-21-2007, 09:46 AM

Touring used to be called "going out on the road" about a billion years ago when I was playing full time. We would leave home and not come back for 10-15 weeks at a clip. I think today it means playing a two night show 100 miles from your house ......

One time we did a series of Holiday Inn's in the late '70's from Toronto to New Orleans. 5 nights at each place, then a travel day (or two) to the next hotel. Each hotel was a round shaped building with a club on the 20th floor called "The Top of the Foxes", all the waitresses were dressed in fox outfits. Each place was exactly the same, each room we stayed in was exactly the same, each room service menu was exactly the same ..... we were going crazy by the time we got to the last one. Did a total of 12 of these places back-to-back ....

No, I don't miss those days at all .......

Stanley Design · #12 02-21-2007, 10:11 AM

In Canada, or at least eastern canada, we have different terms for types of "tours".
"Away Show" - if it's off the island (PEI), same as if an "Away Band" comes here.
"Maritime Tour" - (of the Maritime provinces, usually a week or two long) most common one for my friends bands.
"Canadian tour" - which usually goes across Canada, or at least as far over as Ontario shows.

Sundogue · #13 02-21-2007, 10:15 AM

When I think of the word "Touring", I think going out on the road promoting an album (OK...I date myself...I mean "CD").

You know, like you are "on tour" showcasing your latest recording.

I put "Going out on the road" as a step below that, and exactly that...going out on the road playing music all over the place for days, weeks, months at a time. But not including any kind of promotion for a new recording.

I've had my share of the "sex, drugs and rock-n-roll" lifestyle and most of time it wasn't the glamorous life you read about with how the "stars" live. It was a tough, yet meaningful part of my life. There were times however we were treated like royalty and had anything and everything we wanted...fabulous places to stay, all the women we could want, great food, boat loads of drugs, booze and great food.

I'm thankful to not only have had the experience, but to have survived to tell about it.

But I never felt I was ever "Touring". That's what high profile recording artists did. IMO, if you have to drive yourself anywhere, and travel doesn't include a jet, you ain't "touring".

pointbass · #14 02-21-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundogue

When I think of the word "Touring", I think going out on the road promoting an album (OK...I date myself...I mean "CD").

You know, like you are "on tour" showcasing your latest recording.

I put "Going out on the road" as a step below that, and exactly that...going out on the road playing music all over the place for days, weeks, months at a time. But not including any kind of promotion for a new recording.

I've had my share of the "sex, drugs and rock-n-roll" lifestyle and most of time it wasn't the glamorous life you read about with how the "stars" live. It was a tough, yet meaningful part of my life. There were times however we were treated like royalty and had anything and everything we wanted...fabulous places to stay, all the women we could want, great food, boat loads of drugs, booze and great food.

I'm thankful to not only have had the experience, but to have survived to tell about it.

But I never felt I was ever "Touring". That's what high profile recording artists did.

100% agree with all of this .......

nysbob · #15 02-21-2007, 10:25 AM

I don't think touring has to require air travel. I lived on the road for years too - but IMO you're touring if you're going to different towns & states and playing ticketed venues for a minimum of a month.

buzzbass · #16 02-21-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointbass

Touring used to be called "going out on the road" about a billion years ago when I was playing full time. We would leave home and not come back for 10-15 weeks at a clip. I think today it means playing a two night show 100 miles from your house ......

One time we did a series of Holiday Inn's in the late '70's from Toronto to New Orleans. 5 nights at each place, then a travel day (or two) to the next hotel.

You played for Mr. Ronzini @ the "Armada Room" !? Dude, you rock !!

Sundogue · #17 02-21-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nysbob

I don't think touring has to require air travel. I lived on the road for years too - but IMO you're touring if you're going to different towns & states and playing ticketed venues for a minimum of a month.

Are you sure about that? Would that include February (or at least February during leap year)?

nysbob · #18 02-21-2007, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Are you sure about that? Would that include February (or at least February during leap year)?

28 days = four weeks....yep that's sufficient.

Then of course, there's the mini tour, the micro tour, and the nano...

BigMikeW · #19 02-21-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedan_dad

I've seen so many use this term and I get the feeling that most don't understand what it really means.
To me "touring " means living out of a suitecase (yuck) and the back of a stinky bus or van.Scrounging a cheap place to crash for the night and doing this day in and day out for months on end.Not knowing what day it is or what city or bar your in this night.
I don't think it means playing 3 nights a month.
I get the feeling "touring" gets used fast and loose anymore.
Thoughts?

You are right about touring not being 3 nights a month. 3 nights a week out of town, on the road would be touring.

Also, when I did tour (many times) I don't recall stinking buses or scrounging for a place to crash. But then again, management paid for everything we needed.

sedan_dad · #20 02-21-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMikeW

You are right about touring not being 3 nights a month. 3 nights a week out of town, on the road would be touring.

Also, when I did tour (many times) I don't recall stinking buses or scrounging for a place to crash. But then again, management paid for everything we needed.

We lived in the back of a old potato chip truck for months on end. "Scrounging for a place to crash" is a nice way of saying that we would hit on all the girls in the bar looking for a floor to camp out on that night. Alot cheaper than paying for a hotel.Ran across some real winners.My biggest concern was washing my clothes.
Dried sweat looks like crap on a black shirt.Nasty white stains and all.No ,it wasn't glamorious at all. I still don't think we were touring . Touring means you have corporate support.
We just played a bunch of jobs in a row.
It is a strange feeling not knowing what day it is.
The weekends mean't nothing to me at all.Just another day.