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Essentials for a tour?

#41
For the music:

-A fan for hot stages (best $100 I ever spent)
-Extra cables (instrument, amplifier, P.A., etc)
-Extra strings
-If possible, a voltage regulator

For the road:
-ExOfficio travel underwear (you can wear it up to three days straight before it stinks, as I discovered while backpacking Europe)
-AAA membership
-extra cellphone batteries or charging bank
-bugout bag (I load mine with medical supplies and hot weather gear, but I play in Texas so your needs may vary)
-extra earbuds/IEMs
-A portable DVD/BluRay player and movies or an iPad and hard drive of movies
 
#42
From my camping days, one of these. You never know when you'll need to bury your poop. Or your drummer.
71BoVvWTUdL._SY355_.jpg
 
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#43
A few things I didn't see previously mentioned. If they were, take this as emphasis.

Quick acting OTC antacid like Rolaids or Tums and an antidiarrheal med like Imodium. You never know where you're going to be eating - and there's places that will give you a lot for your dollar. (Tip: never eat anything with mayo in or on it while you're on the road. Learned that one from a professional tour manager working for one of the big rock bands back in the 70s. It's golden advice. Trust me.)

Small first aid kit and extra box bandaids.

Swiss Army type pocket knife and Leatherman multitool.

Emergency cash, well stashed and only to be used in the most dire of emergencies.

Extra charger and cable for your phone. Amazing how often they go missing.

Medical insurance coverage. You get hurt while out on the road and don't have that and you are royally screwed - as in big time - if ER or hospital care is needed.

Contact info for an attorney you know and can trust. Hopefully you'll never need to make such a call. But if you ever do need to (for whatever reason), you'll be happy you're not cold calling to find a lawyer.

Addendum: This is a tip from back in the bad old days of antiwar and civil rights protests when people could unexpectedly "go missing" from time to time when well away from home.

I don't know how far you're ranging. But if you're getting well outside of your usual area, make sure you and at least one other band member have someone back home you'll check in with at least once every 24 hrs. by phone.

Let them know how you're doing and where you are. Put the two of them in touch with each other too, and let it be understood if neither of you calls in more than 24 hours, they're to assume something is up. Arrange a code word or phrase to quietly let them know you're in serious trouble too. (I ask about a non-existent friend.)

This may sound paranoid. But a lot of bad craziness has been going down these last few years. So it's always a good idea to let somebody know where you last were just in case things ever go sideways on you somewhere far from home.
 
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#48
The first thing I always suggest you pack when travelling is your sense of humor. I don't know when, or where, but at some point in this adventure, you will need that.

Years from now, you will look back on some part of this and laugh. If you bring your sense of humor, you can skip the years of waiting, and laugh in the moment. THat will make a huge difference - trust me.
 
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#49
micguy said:
The first thing I always suggest you pack when travelling is your sense of humor. I don't know when, or where, but at some point in this adventure, you will need that.

Years from now, you will look back on some part of this and laugh. If you bring your sense of humor, you can skip the years of waiting, and laugh in the moment. THat will make a huge difference - trust me.
Click to expand...

Possibly the best piece of advice offered so far! :thumbsup:
 
#51
All of this talk about sleazy motels is bringing back memories. In my road days, the guitarist had a footlocker full of dishes and cookware, and we always stayed in motels that had kitchenettes. We actually ate pretty good for young adult musical types. And yes, when you look back 20 or 30 years, the stories will amuse your future spouse. NOT.
 
#52
I've done a lot of touring in my 52 years of playing professionally. sure, there are lots of things that you should, arguably, take with you when you are on the road. the right clothes, some cash, cell phone charger, a case of condoms, your bass... you get the picture.

but IMNSHO the two most important things you need to bring are a good attitude and a sense of humor. poopie's going to happen and people and situations will rub you the wrong way. but if you can find a way to laugh and have fun, you will get through the difficulties OK. I think I've seen almost everything happen that could, with the exception of someone dying! gigs have evaporated, vans and busses have broken down, people have gotten sick, gear has been stolen...you get the picture. but I've managed to get through everything with a pretty positive attitude and an ability to laugh off a lot of things.

and remember this - NOBODY wants to be around people with a bad attitude. lots of really good bands are out there on the road with OK players who just happen to be GREAT people to hang with. a smile goes a LOOONG way! :thumbsup:
 
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#53
pjbassist said:
Baby Wipes. Sounds crazy, but you'll thank me. (stolen from previous tour needs thread, thought it was genius!)
Click to expand...
Yep. They can be such a great thing to have on hand when you're stuck not being able to shower when you want, or you're just feeling gross. What I really like are those witch hazel wipes. Like a shower in a little package--can leave you feeling fresh as a daisy and no perfumey scent, etc.
 
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#58
two fingers said:
Having spent a LOT of time in a 15 passenger van for 10 years, trust me. You can take this advice to the bank. There is nothing more miserable (to me) than am awful smell you just can't escape.

Imodium. Why? Because my statement above is ridiculous. The MOST miserable thing is being either on a stage, or riding 8 hours to the next show, and there's no shutoff valve on your plumbing so to speak.
:D
Click to expand...


Imodium. Yea. I got food poisoning in Montana at an A&W, and had to ride through the Colorado high mountain passes with no where to pull over. Brutal. I was sick for three days. Imodium was able to control it just enough I could go about 50 miles between bouts.

Days on the road I wish I could forget.
 
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#60
"and playing 9 gigs in 11 days."

Hmmm-Not trying to be a Richard here or something, but...THAT'S NUTHIN':roflmao:

Try 3 1/2 months; I did! We did not travel like the Rolling Stones, but it was actually pretty nice. Most venues provided both decent lodging and a very good meal, with a couple of exceptions along the way. I guess it depends on who is booking the itinerary, and how this is handled.

I missed seeing a couple things that come to mind, the 1st being paramount really. Maybe its not included in your trip, but...

1) A CONTRACT!- Have the BL or whomever have hard-copies on hand. In my case, it was always stipulated that we would be paid CASH for instance. A very classy place we played tried writing a check; not that it wouldn't clear, but it was stated in writing- There would be a $500 addition for anything other than being paid in Green Money!. They claimed up & down at first the "safe was locked closed", "couldn't be done" etc. When shown the Contract- Guess what- They found the cash.
Another time, the manager tried to short the pay by $200, saying he remembered that the pay-out was a Grand, not $1200 for the night. BS! He was used to having Bands who folded and gladly took the $1000, no doubt he pocketed 200.
Showed him the Contract- "Oh, I forgot!" Yeh right.

I understand if your particular trip is not contracted, but it should be. One thing about the Casinos here in Las Vegas-
They don't mess around.

2) A great item to use is called a Packing Cube from Eagle Creek luggage. If you know what you're doing (and I do!:smug:)
you can easily carry 2 weeks of clothing into a small dufflebag or travel bag.

That's about all I got. I had the greatest time ever, even the road time. It's an awesome country with Food! Scenery!
Culture! and playing MUSIC! almost every night! If you're cookin' the people REALLy treat you well.

And oh yeah... The WOMEN.....Yeeeeeeehaaawwwwww!:thumbsup:
 
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