1. Stay away from meth and lot lizards
2. Jäegermeister and Taco Bell is a very bad idea.
2. Jäegermeister and Taco Bell is a very bad idea.
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Going on tour for the first time!
- Thread starter PupGoesPunk
- Start date
Do your homework so you know precisely what you're getting into. Avoid doing stupid stuff. Enjoy the ride. Oh, and get a decent case for your ax.
Take an extra charging cable so you don't wind up seeing something you shouldn't:
Green Room | Official Red Band Trailer HD | A24 - YouTube
Green Room | Official Red Band Trailer HD | A24 - YouTube
I am not sure if I am the only person in this boat, but if you are crossing international borders, make sure your you have documentation if your instrument is made with endangered / protected wood. I have a bass with protected rosewood fingerboard and I do not have the documentation for it (it is legit, I just don't have anything to prove it).
If you on a tour bus with a toilet, #1 only. If you gotta #2, hot bag it.
If you on a bus with bunks, beware of crusty bunk socks.
Make sure you get back to the bus / van in a timely manner so you don't get left at a Wendy's in the middle of Nebraska.
If you on a bus with bunks, beware of crusty bunk socks.
Make sure you get back to the bus / van in a timely manner so you don't get left at a Wendy's in the middle of Nebraska.
Bring dry shampoo with you. If, say, your tour brings you to camping festivals or situations where you aren't able to grab a shower (e.g. no lodging available so you sleep in the van), dry shampoo is great so you smell less like a hobo.
And you want to keep some well-marked water bottles of your own along with your dental toiletries so you can brush your teeth at camping festivals. I've done my share of festival tours and while I'm okay with going a weekend without showering, I simply could NOT go without brushing my teeth.
Those were two of my biggest life savers during tour.
And you want to keep some well-marked water bottles of your own along with your dental toiletries so you can brush your teeth at camping festivals. I've done my share of festival tours and while I'm okay with going a weekend without showering, I simply could NOT go without brushing my teeth.
Those were two of my biggest life savers during tour.
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Caution! Girls will just show up where you live. Do not share personal info. I toured the States in the 1970's. Time of my life as a single man.
Lots of good advice here! Adding:
1. Lock the van, always.
2. Know who is driving and share responsibilities.
3. Have a great time - but maintain control. Lots of bad habits can take hold even on a short tour.
4. Get some camping undies that can be washed and dried quickly.
5. Do laundry when we you can. Some venues might have facilities - plan ahead.
1. Lock the van, always.
2. Know who is driving and share responsibilities.
3. Have a great time - but maintain control. Lots of bad habits can take hold even on a short tour.
4. Get some camping undies that can be washed and dried quickly.
5. Do laundry when we you can. Some venues might have facilities - plan ahead.
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Make sure everyone in the band has some real cash money/credit cards on them . It's no fun being hungry with broken down transportation or if your out of the country and Customs tells you you don't have enough funds to enter or you don't have the proper visa to perform . Other than that .....have a good time .
I watched a bit of that. It's really funny, actually. Reminds me of my nephew's metal band which has yet to make any money from performing and he's been at it close to ten years now. It's like a really expensive hobby
I've never done any real touring because of a day job, just weekend "jaunts". That was enough for me
If you buy donuts? You should open your box of donuts then lick each one and close it back up to show ownership of the donuts.
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Have the numbers clear: Who is paying for transportation, accommodation and food? How much you gonna get paid and when. Bring a credit card just in case.
^^ This, right here. ^^
You want to be 100%+ sure what you're being quoted as pay is money in your pocket, and that your per-diem won't have any additional expenses subtracted from it when you are paid (hopefully regularly) or worse....at the end.
Basically you want to avoid this kind of conversation at the end of the tour:
Here are my two cents:
1. Keep healthy eating habits and don't drink while on the job.
2. Bring a couple of good books to stay busy inside when you are not practicing.
3. Get comfortable sneakers and make sure to walk, or do light excercise outside when weather permits.
4. Check the cities you are visiting on line, to find interesting places to visit and learn about the locals, etc.
5. Get insurance, is useless until you need it. Take pictures and record serial No of your gear to proof ownership.
6. Bring your COVID vaccination cards/copies, if you have them. You never know what is required in other states.
7. Link your phone to one of your bandmates numbers, keep records of your credit cards and help line numbers.
8. If touring with other bands or sharing shows, try to learn / know as much as possible from other musicians.
Enjoy the journey, and keep good humor, touring under these circumstances is a blessing.
1. Keep healthy eating habits and don't drink while on the job.
2. Bring a couple of good books to stay busy inside when you are not practicing.
3. Get comfortable sneakers and make sure to walk, or do light excercise outside when weather permits.
4. Check the cities you are visiting on line, to find interesting places to visit and learn about the locals, etc.
5. Get insurance, is useless until you need it. Take pictures and record serial No of your gear to proof ownership.
6. Bring your COVID vaccination cards/copies, if you have them. You never know what is required in other states.
7. Link your phone to one of your bandmates numbers, keep records of your credit cards and help line numbers.
8. If touring with other bands or sharing shows, try to learn / know as much as possible from other musicians.
Enjoy the journey, and keep good humor, touring under these circumstances is a blessing.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Henry Rollins said some great stuff about not sleeping (which happens lots of tours), but I couldn't find it. I did find this though...
"I spend several days at a time without enough sleep. At first, normal activities become annoying. When you are too tired to eat, you really need some sleep. A few days later, things become strange. Loud noises become louder and more startling, familiar sounds become unfamiliar, and life reinvents itself as a surrealist dream."
In the thing that I can't find he said that lack of sleep was something he really feared, until he one day realized that it actually made everything really "neat." I learned from my own touring experience that you can perform excellently, even after not sleeping for days. It happens. I think my best performances were on those days too as I felt more connected to the music.
"I spend several days at a time without enough sleep. At first, normal activities become annoying. When you are too tired to eat, you really need some sleep. A few days later, things become strange. Loud noises become louder and more startling, familiar sounds become unfamiliar, and life reinvents itself as a surrealist dream."
In the thing that I can't find he said that lack of sleep was something he really feared, until he one day realized that it actually made everything really "neat." I learned from my own touring experience that you can perform excellently, even after not sleeping for days. It happens. I think my best performances were on those days too as I felt more connected to the music.
Ahhhh hell yeah!
Your going on tour dude!...Let us know how it goes..good or bad..
Make memories.
Your going on tour dude!...Let us know how it goes..good or bad..
Make memories.
