Top 10 Touring Tricks

Things to think about before you go out on the road…

1. Pack efficiently – a large (wheeled) duffle bag and a small book backpack should be enough for a tour under two months long…or even longer. Consider what kinds of weather you’ll be encountering, having a spare sweatshirt can be a lifesaver even in the summer if you’re close to the ocean or in the mountains. I’ll pack in walking shoes as well a gig boots, and a lot more t-shirts, socks and underwear than you think you need. Cotton clothes and drip-dry stuff is great since you may be doing your laundry in the sink at the hotel, especially if you’re in Europe! Laundromats are hard to find, and finding time to use them is harder. I’ll just ask for a couple more towels and wring my socks, t-shirts or whatever out with them…before a show…hang ‘em up and they should be dry by next day.

2. Bring food with you – even in the States it can be hard to find anything remotely edible on the highway stops…pack some Protein Bars and things like that along. Even if promoters tell you that they’ll provide a meal, surprises happen…a lot…and having a bag of granola or whatever can make a big difference. Note: DON’T pack perishable stuff! Those bananas are just gonna stink up the van, trust me. Eat that kind of thing as soon as you get it. And if you’re a band that brings its own cooler along, well, you’re smarter than the ones I’ve traveled with! It’s a great idea, you’ll save a lot of dough if you buy sandwich stuff at a grocery, and you’ll eat better and stay healthier. And don’t just fill it all up with beer!

3. Save those little soaps and shampoos you get in hotels. Nice and disposable. Who wants to travel with a big ol’ slimy bar of wet soap? Not me! Plus, shampoo bottles can open themselves…if you do travel with bottles like that (and toothpaste too), put them in Ziploc bags just in case. Keeps your kit bag from being slimed.

4. DON’T trash your hotel room/dressing room. That’s for babies.

5. If you don’t have your own sound guy, be sure to make friends with the one at the venue you’re at. Yeah, some are idiots and some are insane, but they can make or break your sound, and you have to deal with them. Be pals with them, buy ‘em a drink or whatever, ask ‘em about their job and what the crowds are like. A sound man’s job is difficult…they’re supposed to be transparent…and a lot of the time the only time they get acknowledged is when something is going wrong. If you’re on friendly terms you’re a LOT more likely to get what you want in terms of sound, and your special requests won’t make you seem like prima donnas. Plus, these guys usually talk with the owners of the clubs more than you do…if they like you, they’re liable to talk you up to them, and repeat business is the name of the game.

6. Bring stuff to keep you from going crazy. Back in the day I’d stuff all my available extra space (such as it was) with books and CDs. Nowadays, a well-stocked iPod and a Kindle can take their place, but it’s still an essential thing to have for some distraction. There’s lots of time a band on the road will want to talk together, but some of those long drives can dry that up occasionally. If you’re a game player, bring those. I’ve also spent a lot of road time writing, and if you’re a songwriter you might consider spending time each day with your notebook…it can be a valuable thing to do, and it eats up the miles as well.

7. Try to get a little time for yourself when you can! One of the hardest things about being on tour is that there’s very little privacy, and that can get on your nerves after a fairly short time. If you have some down time, maybe take a walk, check out the city you’re in, find a park or browse a pawnshop, whatever. You’ll get less burned out. And also, if you can, get out and have fun with your bandmates on days you have off! Getting a chance to get out, have new experiences, see new things and meet new people are some of the best things about touring. Don’t spend all your down time watching sports on hotel TV.

8. Do I really have to tell you to be great to your agents, to the club owners, promoters, fans and friends on the road? Everybody you meet will eventually talk about meeting you…give ‘em something good to say. I’ve sure heard bad stories about artists from all those kind of folks, and it does nothing good for their careers!

9. I won’t tell you what to consume (who’d listen anyway), but please, try to be aware of the fact that any intoxicants are gonna affect your performance, your stamina, and your health out on the road. I can speak from the experience of many years of dissipation! Many of us like to relax with a drink or whatever before or after a show, but just remember that the stresses and the ongoing party vibe of the music scene can make overindulgence seem like a good idea. Really, it’s not so good…the sides of the touring road are littered with the bodies of great musicians who fell too far off the wagon. And touring is physically stressful anyway…it’s just very easy to burn yourself out, and that’ll take a toll on the most important thing, the music. So have fun, but if you indulge, please pace yourself.

10. One of the best things about festivals and multi-band shows is getting to hang out with the other musicians! Lots of great times and experiences to be had for sure, and a lot to learn, both about music and survival on the road and in the business. Again, just being friendly has positive results most of the time. Networking with new friends can help your career too…you can get invaluable tips on new venues for booking, the word on promoters and agents, ideas for new shows…it really never hurts to make friends, and you never know where it can lead. When I worked with the Ultrasonics, our keyboardist Ben spent some time hanging out with the members of Blues Traveler while we were at a festival. After our band finally folded, they hired him! He’s been playing with them ever since. I always enjoy being able to spend time with our crazy, wonderful compatriots in this business, it’s always a treat, and part of what makes it a fantastic career at any level. May you too have a lifetime of great experiences as a musician! You’re already well on your way.