The Tour Survival Guide — Part One

The series discussed here continues. 

It's time to go out on tour. You’ve booked the dates, polished your set list, and found someone to feed your cat. The only thing left to do is hit the open road, and embrace the spirit of adventure, right?

Maybe. 

Whether it’s your first tour, or you’re a veteran road warrior, there are always some factors to consider before heading out on tour.

Have a Sleeping Plan

Getting to sleep on the road is difficult in the best of circumstances, and if you (or a bandmate) likes to party, it becomes even more important. Money is tight, and hotels add up quickly, so many artists work out sleeping arrangements with friends, local acts, and occasionally even fans in the cities where they’re performing.

And 50 ft. of rope couldn't hurt.

Pulling this off requires advance planning, a willingness to improvise when things invariably fall through, and above all else; sleeping bags.

No, seriously. Make like a D&D character and pack a bedroll.

“I slept on so many floors — hotel and otherwise — on my first tour, my back was killing me by the end¹,” says Jonathan Killstring, former tour manager (and occasional touring musician). “I always tell new bands to bring a sleeping bag or two; and they’ve always wound up needing them.”

If you’re not sleeping, you’re not going to be performing at your best. So plan ahead.

Over-Prepare Your Budget

Figure out how much cash you’re going to spend on things like gas, food, and the occasional bit of lodging. Then budget a little more for performance-related expenses.

“I was a drummer before playing guitar, and I broke a lot of strings until I learned some technique,” says Killstring. “That was an expensive first tour — but at least I got a nickname out of it²!” If your concerts involve a live band, you can assume the worst; broken strings, missing drumsticks, etc., so bring spares with you so that you don't have to scramble mid-set. This goes for props, too; if you always wear sunglasses onstage, bring a couple spares. If part of your onstage persona is a hat, scarf, whatever, bring a couple; worst-case scenario, you can toss some into the crowd for a memorable memento.

Your budget should include cash, supplies, and — this part is important — shouldn’t count on money coming in. If you’ve never toured before, you don’t really know what your cut of the door is going to be like, nor what your merch profits will be.  And even if you have guarantees, that doesn’t mean that every venue will hold up their end of the bargain³. Sure, you’ll probably get the money eventually — after the right legal threats — but that doesn’t put gas in your tank today.

Never put yourself in a position where you can get stranded.

This involves saving a lot of cash before you head out. Hopefully it’s not necessary, but a few extra shifts at your day job beats the heck out of being stranded in the middle of Iowa because you ran out of fuel.

Consider the Weather

While it sounds mundane, never ignore the effects of Mother Nature on your tour.

Driving in blizzard season? Don’t plan to travel the speed limit on freeways; odds are you’ll be going much slower, increasing your travel times. Gearing up for a summer tour? Well, you’d better make sure you’ve got working A/C, lest you arrive at the venue in need of medical care. And if you've never driven on mountain roads in fog, don't expect to make good time coming back from high-altitude venues.

Embrace the Adventure

No plan survives contact with a tour, and that’s ok. Touring is an adventure – stay flexible, open, and be ready to embrace the challenge, and you’ll have an experience like no other. “Even at its worst,” says Killstring, “I was still getting to live my dream. That’s something not everybody can say.” Touring can be grueling, but there’s nothing else quite like it. Enjoy the ride.

Seriously though, pack a sleeping bag.

* * *

1 -  FACT. I was also the guy driving. Let me tell you, nothing sucks quite like playing the drums in a punk band when you've got a sore back and haven't slept, except maybe driving all night afterwards.

2 - It was bad. At my big return home show, I called up musician friends of mine, and asked them to bring some extra guitars. By the end of the show, I was playing an acoustic with a soundhole magnetic pickup through my amp, wailing away on the 4 remaining good strings. Guitars strewn across the stage, my bassist proclaimed "Johnny Killstring, everybody," and the crowd ate it up. 

It's been my name ever since. (I did eventually learn some subtlety.)

3 - Sad, but true.