Going on tour is easier said that done. Although the experience can be very rewarding, there are a couple of things that you might want to look out for. Let’s dive right into it.
1. Relationships
When touring with other musicians, relationships are of key importance. In a previous post, we spoke about mindful communication. This is a process which involves being consciously aware of your interaction with others. When on the road, it’s very easy for tensions to crop up within relationships. We should be aware of this fact, and understand the importance of maintaining a positive atmosphere from the start.
The first step in maintaining positive relationships starts with you. There is a popular saying – thoughts become things. We can use this mentality to great success on the road. Here are some tips that will translate towards a positive atmosphere.
- Exercise gratitude for the opportunity to travel and meet new people;
- Surrender the incentive to control given situations;
- Focus on past successes and your goals for the future.
In addition to that, we can exercise strong relationships by doing the following.
- Other people want to feel valued and appreciated. A good way to achieve this is by offering encouragement to others;
- Make a point to see things from other peoples perspective and try to understand what’s important to them in the present.
2. Nutrition
A good diet is an important key for achieving consistency on the road. You are what you eat. Something we’ve all heard but haven’t taken the time to thoughtfully process. If you’re not already consciously aware of what you’re putting into your body, a good place to start would be the beginning of a music tour. Healthy eating has the following benefits on the road.
- It elevates our mood which helps to maintain positive relationships;
- It helps to maintain our physical appearance by providing us with energy which makes us look and feel good;
- It makes up for lack of sleep;
- It prevents illness.
Eating healthy in a world where humans love to eat is, however, easier said that done. On the road our primary option for food would be to purchase it. Preparing our own food can be difficult if we are likely to be travelling in a vehicle with no kitchen facilities. We should always take the time to identify where the healthiest eating spots may be. Sometimes, however, the only option is to rely on easily accessible fast food. Here are some tips for ordering healthy meals from your favorite fast food outlet.
3. No Schedules
Just like an athlete, a musician needs to practice in order to remain “musically fit”. When Michael Jordan was asked about practice in an interview, he said “when the game comes, there’s nothing that I haven’t practiced. It’s a routine. Whatever happens in the game I know I’ve done before. I never fear about my skills because I put in the work.” Playing an instrument is much the same.
The nature of touring means it will be difficult to practice. We find ourselves in situations, such as a car seat, when it’s completely impractical to practice. It’s always a good idea to look out of opportunities where the opportunity for practice may arise. These opportunities usually present themselves in the following ways.
- Sound checks can make for great pre-rehearsal as band;
- When visiting hotel rooms or other types of accommodation we should take the opportunity to practice individually;
- Any alone time that we may find ourselves in when it’s practical to play our instrument.
A suggestion I would make would be to get yourself some form of digital interface that you can plug straight into. This will allow you to practice with a pair of headphones and not disturb other bandmates. If you need to practice in a disruptive environment then this helps too.
4. The Show Makes it Worth It
The reality is that the nature of touring is not particularly fun unless you’re actually playing the gig. Unfortunately the gig only equates to about 5-10% of your actual time spent on tour.
Touring is normally energized by the enjoyment of performing live and being on stage. It’s rewarding in itself to see people who have an appreciation for your art and the effort you have invested in creating your music.
You also have the opportunity to network and build relationships with your fans. These can often present opportunities that wouldn’t come about if you had not been on tour.
Unfortunately, however, touring does take its toll on a lot of people. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. How do you know if touring is for you? There’s only on way to find out.
Do you have any interesting stories you would like to share about your own experiences on tour? Let us know in the comments below.
