Touring is a fundamental component
of any musician’s career. Many young bands are chomping at the bit for their first
chance to go on tour. However, if they’re not fully prepared to deal with the
day-to-day realities of touring beyond the romance of highway rest stops and an
ongoing car-party, then they quickly learn why many more established groups
dread it. There are quite a few things you’ll need to bring beyond the obvious
(clothes, instruments, merch) or the experience will take a very quick
nosedive. Having a smartphone and external battery pack are still in the
‘fairly obvious’ realm. So are sleeping bags, pillows and air mattresses, but
there are a few things that may have crossed your mind as luxuries but they are
just as important as your instruments. First of all: extra instruments. Take
two or three of everything – guitars, drumsticks, guitar strings – these may
seem like things you’ll be able to borrow from another band if something goes
wrong but it’s one of the many lessons about touring that you REALLY don’t want
to learn the hard way. Also on the not-so-obvious list is AAA/car insurance and
a 24-hour gym membership. The value of AAA/car insurance is self-explanatory
but the gym membership gives you, at the very least, a near-guarantee of
near-regular showers. You may already be practicing near-hygiene but you won’t
believe what it can do to your positive attitude (another important ‘item’)
when you’re on the road for weeks at a time.
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