scrybe314
85 posts
Jan 13, 2012
7:28 AM
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It's been way too long since I've been back to my favorite forum, but I've been keeping busy, working with a killer folk-fusion band that took off bigger than I could have ever expected. Now we're going to do a quick Florida tour to promote/record our EP, and I'm getting nervous about it. I've read into the indie scene to know that the two things that kill a band faster than anything are drugs and the stress of touring, so I'd like any advice/stories you guys have about touring that could help us through what's sure to be an interesting and enlightening experience. Thanks so much, y'all!
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Honkin On Bobo
887 posts
Jan 13, 2012
7:55 AM
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Don't do drugs.......don't get stressed out.
Your welcome.
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scrybe314
86 posts
Jan 13, 2012
8:00 AM
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Hahaha, thanks, Honkin on Bobo. The drugs are something we can avoid pretty easily, decent whiskey aside, but not stressing is something I'm pretty terrible at.
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waltertore
1849 posts
Jan 13, 2012
1:25 PM
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Here is my 2 cents worth from 20 years of 200+ dates a year...
1. don't stay out till the wee hours partying with patrons from your show. A few nights in a row of this and you are going to be fried. 2. eat healthy. I learned from Jimmy Carl Black, drummer for Frank Zappa and the MOI and my drummer on and off for 8 years, go to chinese restraunts. they are open 365 days a year and are pretty consistant with good food. 3. don't spend all your free time with your bandmates. Get off on your own. Being cooped up as much as you will be usually will lead to conflict in time. 4.Switch drivers often and sleep when not driving. 5. singers dont scream you will wreck your voice on day one and struggle to make a sound the rest of your dates 6. Bring enough clothes to get a week of living in before you have to hit a laundromat. 7. avoid staying at peoples houses. they mean well but you will be much better off in hotels. 8. Make sure the venues have a PA- I once had to sing through a jam box...... 9. See the sights on your time off. Get away from music. I use to love walking around old neighborhoods and admiring the houses. 10. If you have issues with bandmates/band moral, it will only get exponentially worse as the days go on. 11. Hopefully you all are on the same page with partying. Most bands that stick together are. 12. If you exercise, bring your running shoes and keep your routine.
Have fun and try not to take it too seriously. Things are bound to go wrong and venues may be empty more often than full. Communication between each other is the key to how things go. I learned all this stuff the hard way.
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller 3,500+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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Michael Rubin
400 posts
Jan 13, 2012
1:51 PM
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If you fart, claim it. Stretch any every opportunity. Shut up. Bring a book, writing material and perhaps games like sudoku. Bring music with headphones.
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KC69
191 posts
Jan 13, 2012
6:23 PM
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Scrybe314: If you will be in Tampa area during Feb, March, I'll be glad to come here ya play. If your having stress, we'll go back to our channel and do a little fishin ( always works for me) ---------- And I Thank You !! K.C. castlehomes69@yahoo.com
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LSC
136 posts
Jan 13, 2012
8:32 PM
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Walter's words are very good advise indeed. Man's definitely been there. Could add some practical tips like gaffer tape, don't leave home without it. Along with it's intended purpose, I've used gaffer to fix everything from a broken clutch pedal to bandaging the bass player's sliced thumb until after the gig when we could get him to ER. I would also say to be sure to pack your sense of humour. Murphy's Law will be in full force. What can go wrong will go wrong. It's how you handle it that turns a crisis into just part of the adventure. Besides, that's where the best stories come from. ---------- LSC
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waltertore
1852 posts
Jan 14, 2012
5:21 AM
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I forgot the duct tape (US name) LSC! My old friend Blaze Foley got famous for using it to hold his clothes and just about everything he owned together. Most weekend warriors and armchair/stars in their own minds players have no idea how hard touring is. I get a kick out of those types giving advice. The cell phone and gps has really helped alot. We use to travel with a box of maps. Getting to the cities was easy. The hard part was finding the club once you hit it. Funky beds are another ongoing problem. Most people get use to their own bed. Just about all cheap motels/hotels have rock hard beds. You have to learn to sleep on anything and anytime. Bring extra strings, harps, drums sticks, guitar cables, and whatever is easy to carry that tends to break down alot. I never did carry any of that stuff because I didn't have the money. I spent my money on clothes and image over gear. I know that goes against probably everyone on this forum but that is how the old blues guys did life and I found it to my nature. Guys like louisiana Red still travel with only a guitar and no amp. Most of the old guys traveled with either funky amps or none.
Getting sick is another big issue. Sooner or later we all get something. It often spreads to all the members over time which can make make for a month or more of someone or someones being pretty sick. Diahria was the worst. Running off the stage happened to us many times. the rest just keep playing like nothing happened. My bassist broke his collarbone right before a month long trip. He had to play lying on his back. that was a strange thing. We were opening a bunch of gigs for albert collins. On the first one he said- man how is your guitar player getting that bass sound going with the guitar(I was only singing and playing harp in my band at that time). He had peeked out from the dressing room and saw no bassist on the raised stage. We had a good laugh on that one. I remember helping Jamie up after our first set. He was shaking like a leaf. Between pain meds and having a couple hundred people dancing and screaming and all he saw was the ceiling was a trip I hope never to experience. Finding doctors on the road was a big hassle. Getting sick is about the worse or at least as bad as when band relations go sour. Again, cell phones and gps have taken a huge stress off touring.
Don't carry drugs or weapons either. I knew many that did. Albert Collins carried a sawed off shotgun under his seat. He said he got pulled over so many times over the years most of the cops around the country knew his bus and didn't bother him anymore.
Luck tended to be on our side more than not thank god. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller 3,500+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jan 14, 2012 5:24 AM
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scrybe314
87 posts
Jan 14, 2012
12:11 PM
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Thanks, everyone, especially @waltertore. I shared y'all's posts with the rest of the band, and they're ready to groove just as much as I am now.
@KC69 We're actually based out of Boca and are very fond of Sarasota, so let's make that happen!
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KC69
193 posts
Jan 14, 2012
12:36 PM
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Scrybe314: Thats cool. Sarasota's about an hour and a half.Send me an E-mail if your comin to the west coast. Love to here ya play and hang out, meet the band ! My Boys travel Ohio and the tri-state area playin. Its always fun to watch em. Though they would be better with Jason Ricci in their SKA band. They do have 3 horn blowers, which makes it fun. ---------- And I Thank You !! K.C. castlehomes69@yahoo.com
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scrybe314
89 posts
Jan 14, 2012
12:48 PM
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KC69: Ska with a harp? Now there's something that whets my whistle. Hopefully we'll be bouncing up there soon; thanks so much for the invite, compadre! ---------- "I'm a stray dog runnin' through this town..." The Stonecutters
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LSC
137 posts
Jan 14, 2012
1:07 PM
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@Walter - Just to be a pedantic S.O.B., there is a difference between gaffer tape and duct tape. Provided it's the good quality stuff, gaffer leaves virtually no adhesive residue, it is much easier to tear off a strip and to work with in general, it's stronger, though of course more expensive, but well worth the money IMO. I hate duct tape for all it's deficiencies relative to gaffer. You won't find duct tape used on most any pro tour, film, or theater group. My daughter worked as a groom on the international show jumping circuit and on the advise of her Dad always carried a roll of gaffer in her stable box for emergency fixes of tack and other gear.
You're very right about the illness factor and finding a doctor. Another very good reason for taking care with sleep and diet, but then these guys are only going out for a week so the risk factor should be quite low.
I liked your story about the bass player on his back. Just goes to show that "The show must go on," is not just a cliched phrase. Personally, I think the worst thing I had to play through was a peptic ulcer. I didn't know what it was. It just hurt like hell but when you're out in the wild blue yonder, running close to the bone on cash, and have four other guys depending on you, no choice but to suck it up. Luckily we were home before it went critical. Head colds are pretty awful, just because when you're playing harp it's pretty embarrassing when the snot starts flying. Seems to happen no matter what meds you take. Since I stopped smoking I hardly ever get colds or bronchitis like I used to. All the smoking bans have really helped as well.
One other thing we might have included, if one can afford it, is a good roadie. A good one is worth his weight in gold. ---------- LSC
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