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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
OT: First time touring, need advice/help!
OT: First time touring, need advice/help!
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uncle_tambour
1 post
Jun 29, 2014
3:12 PM
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Hey y'all! My band is going on our first tour in a couple weeks; we're spending two weeks driving around the South, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Thing is, the more the date looms over my head, the more I start to realize that I'm a little out of my element here. What advice would y'all offer for a first tour? Anything from gear to bring, tips on staying sane on the road, even things to pack that you wouldn't expect. Any advice at all is HUGELY appreciated!
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robbert
332 posts
Jun 29, 2014
4:23 PM
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Restaurants and lodging are a huge expense. But traveling is hard, and stress relief is necessary. So are showers. But, anyway, to save some $$, stay with welcoming friends, and make your own food when possible.
Planning the itinerary in detail might useful...and coming up with a budget, so you don't end up owing money! The more you think the trip through, the better.
Common sense things like packing some crucial backup gear to cover equipment failures, etc. should be on your list.
It's been a while since I've done a tour, but I'd expect there is plenty of information on the internet, if you search.
Best of luck to you and the band. Hope you have a great time, a successful tour, and learn a lot.
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waltertore
2692 posts
Jun 29, 2014
4:26 PM
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tambour: Here are some things that come to mind. I did approx 200+ gigs around the world for a couple decades...
set up hotels in advance and pack some non perishable food and bottled water to snack on.
find out what the clubs have in PA/equipment
eat healthy as possible- chinese restaurants are always a pretty safe bet in unknow areas and are open everyday
make sure your vehicle is in good shape and all paperwork is in order
don't party with the locals before/during/after the gigs. you will burn out in less than a week. they go to bed in their beds and you drive and do it all again the next night
don't hang out with bandmates except at the gig. go your own ways during the day.
figure your routes/drive times in advance to align your sleep/drive times.
many hotels have early checkouts. tell them you are playing late night and many will let you stay till 1 or so before checking out
stay within the speed limits.
pack enough clothes to carry you a solid week. then you can hit a laundry mat only once.
bring your own pillow. forgein beds are often hard to sleep on and having your own pillow I have found makes things a lot easier.
don't party with bandmates before the gig/driving
make a checklist for gear, clothes, toiletries
avoid having club owners/managers/patrons have you come to their house/apt to clean clothes/shower/etc. They usally want to party and live big.
Make sure you have enough cash/credit card to cover unexpected expenses.
ask any touring musician, pro athlete what is the worst part of their gig and all will say the travel. It can burn you out fast if you live fast.
confirm all gigs before you leave. If this is your first tour don't be suprised, unless you are famous enough to fill 200+ people in a room, to have a gig/gigs canceled.
getting paid can also be question mark. Any touring musician gets ripped off. I remember when I was with albert collins after he won a grammy and was cheated everynight.
I am not hip on the social media thing. I was doing all this before the internet but I bet there are ways to get your gigs out there before you get there. I had to contact radio stations, newspapers, tv, beforehand to try and get some press. If you are not very well known odds are they will blow you off but this social media thing probably has something in for promoting.
have an updated gps to avoid summer construction. much of the usa highway network is repaired in the summer. We had none of that. Just maps and finally got hip to cb radio and the truckers would tell what was up ahead.
Try to get to each gig in the afternoon so you can set up the gear, do a soundcheck, and settle in the hotel. this will allow for less stress and some sleep, relaxation before the gig.
don't leave your instruments in a club. People rarely steal drums but will steal guitars and hip amps. If it is a well known club I would leave my amp.
don't let jammers up. this is your first time in these towns so if someone walks in and some wanker is going off on garbage that is how they know you and will walk right out.
that is a pretty basic list I think
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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 in the Tunnel of Dreams Studio.
my videos
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Frank
4715 posts
Jun 29, 2014
4:50 PM
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I have absolutely nothing to add, so I'll add this..,Don't cheat on your Wife... A girlfriend etc, that's your call - but be extra careful of feeding the animals - they not only have rabies but are known to carry many grotesque forms of STDS to share with their lonely victims...Oh yeah, and pack a small jar of vaseline just in case the urge gets to strong :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 29, 2014 4:52 PM
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jnorem
341 posts
Jun 29, 2014
5:37 PM
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Do you have a good road-worthy way to stow your gear? I had a hard road-case briefcase that held everything, harps, mics, cables and assorted stuff; it was a little heavy but it could take a knocking and it was something I could grab out of the van without having to be delicate.
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Call me J
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uncle_tambour
3 posts
Jul 07, 2014
6:05 PM
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Guys, thanks so much. This is exactly what I was looking for!
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Diggsblues
1419 posts
Jul 08, 2014
2:32 AM
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Eat right. Don't go for the burgers and fries. Take vitamins and if you can afford it Sundrider herbs.
Get plenty of rest between gigs. Partying will burn you out fast.
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Rubes
873 posts
Jul 08, 2014
4:56 AM
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.....you gotta party a bit mate!
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Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Dads in Space at Reverbnation
Benny and Rubes at Reverbnation
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LSC
657 posts
Jul 08, 2014
8:21 AM
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Walters list was pretty good. There are a couple of other things I would add.
Things to bring:
Asprin or other pain relievers.
Enough of any meds you are required to take to last the tour and a bit longer.
Gaffer tape. Not duct tape but good quality gaffer. Besides the usual stage applications I've seen gaffer fix everything from a broken clutch pedal to a sliced finger, though we did add toilet paper to that one.
A leather worker multi-tool and a mag light.
At least one good book likely to last you through the tour.
Do not under any circumstance forget your sense of humor.
When things go wrong, and things WILL go wrong, don't whine or go all ballistic. Take a pragmatic Zen approach and simply look for a solution.
Above all do not be a pain in the ass. I've known guys get left behind in foreign countries for not following this rule.
Some people hate touring for understandable reasons. I love it, though I've been off the road for awhile. I actually like being on the highway when the sun is coming up. I like meeting new people and making new fans. I like being places that I don't live in. And I really like the memories and stories that will stay with me forever.
Be prepared. Stay cool. And damn man, have a good time.
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LSC
Last Edited by LSC on Jul 08, 2014 8:27 AM
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