charic Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I'm going on my first ever tour with my new (to me) band in a few weeks and I wondered if anyone had any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Make time to eat decent food at least once a day, instead of stuff that's "easy" or cheap. Find the local swimming pool & have a shower. If your on a tourbus with a chemical bog, don't do a No. 2 on the bus, especially if you want to stay friends with the rest of the band or not invoke the wrath of the driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Get absolutely hammered on the first night after the show, wake up feeling really rough and use this a a reminder to not to do it again until the last night of the tour. Apparently it`s a rotten feeling being hungover and having to go to all the tour places. I wouldn`t know about that as I didn`t suffer hangovers, but my band-mates did, and they used to look pretty fed up much of the time, when they really should have been enjoying a great experience. Other than that, eat and drink healthily - make sure you drink lots of water - and take enough clothes with you. If you`ve not got enough clothes, then take some febreeze with you, so that you can make your stage clothes smell nice and fresh for the gigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1423476963' post='2685103'] Get absolutely hammered on the first night after the show, wake up feeling really rough and use this a a reminder to not to do it again until the last night of the tour. Apparently it`s a rotten feeling being hungover and having to go to all the tour places. I wouldn`t know about that as I didn`t suffer hangovers, but my band-mates did, and they used to look pretty fed up much of the time, when they really should have been enjoying a great experience. Other than that, eat and drink healthily - make sure you drink lots of water - and take enough clothes with you. If you`ve not got enough clothes, then take some febreeze with you, so that you can make your stage clothes smell nice and fresh for the gigs. [/quote] We had a band 'sack' their gtr for doing that...drove off and left him there, came back a couple of days later to 'collect' and put him on the flight home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) Take clean pants - WAY more clean pants than you think you'll ever need. Keep them dry in a separate case or bag close to hand. And take a LOT of high-quality, prescription-grade painkillers with you. When it goes tits-up and you're wondering why the hell you ever entertained the idea of going on tour, a few of these help you much better than a skinful of booze, which will make you punchy and depressed. Remember the two 'P's - Pants and Painkillers. That's all you need. Listen to your uncle discreet! Edited February 9, 2015 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 As for the tour. Get accomodation sorted to a standard that is acceptable....single rooms if poss and a decent meal at least once a day. BnB for hotel, and the promoter pays for the evening meal, along with a basic food/drinks rider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) Be positive and happy. This is a great time for the band to pull together and become a better unit. +1 for all the eat and drink sensibly and personal hygiene and clean clothes advice. Keep your fingers crossed that someone doesn't start exhibiting strange personal behavior that wasn't evident before. Take a camera. Edited February 9, 2015 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 When driving you and your band mates should play the tour game. when anybody spots any of the following you must shout the appropriate phrase. A mattress on a roof shout Vanilla Pod A horse box (Must be being towed) shout horse box A boat on a trailer (not a jet ski) shout Leatherface A fire engine shout Ponty Pandy Any army vehicle sing In the Navy A porta loo on a truck shout Bog Truck The first person to call it is winning, if someone calls one and it isn't right they have to get 1 of that category before they be back in the game. The last person to call one is winning that category, the winner is the one who is winning the most amount of categories at the end of the journey, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 Our tour manager has sorted us with shared hotel rooms for the whole tour (it's only 5 days). I'm sharing with the drummer and he's really cool so no problems there! Also I don't get hangovers for some unknown reason either Lozz [b][u]Checklist[/u][/b] Pants Painkillers Booze Febreeze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1423477951' post='2685123'] ...the whole tour (it's only 5 days). [/quote] Ah well, if it's only 5 days you should be OK. In that case, just take ten pairs of new M&S Y-Fronts and a 40-pack of 50mg Tramadol and you'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Do not...DO NOT...drink a bottle of Southern Comfort at 10am while waiting to be picked up in the van. By the time you play the first gig you will be grumpy as hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 People don't normally get this much concentrated playing experience, so just make sure you start the next gig where you left off the night before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1423479507' post='2685150'] People don't normally get this much concentrated playing experience, so just make sure you start the next gig where you left off the night before. [/quote] I'm guessing you don't mean the venue [quote name='paul h' timestamp='1423478137' post='2685126'] Do not...DO NOT...drink a bottle of Southern Comfort at 10am while waiting to be picked up in the van. By the time you play the first gig you will be grumpy as hell. [/quote] I've been told we operate on a no pre-gig drinks policy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Take a good book or something to do, waiting around in hotels and backstage is mind numbing and boring as hell. I used to enjoy walking around the town as it kills time, you get to see new places, you get fresh air and exercise and a break from everyone. The rest is easy, you'll love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 take loads of videos of vaguely amusing bullshit to post on facebook etc. This is what all the cool bands are doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Make sure you take your Bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) Right you are Cheddatom, sadly. Personally I miss the ways of Pink Floyd and Kraftwerk where the music did the talking and the press and self promotion was kept at bay. This could open a can of worms? Edited February 9, 2015 by Chiliwailer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantherairsoft Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Take a toothbrush and toothpaste - Makes a huge difference in the morning with no sleep and feeling like crap. Take a pillow. For the love of god, take a pillow. Oh... and don't forget your bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) [quote name='charic' timestamp='1423476056' post='2685090'] I'm going on my first ever tour with my new (to me) band in a few weeks and I wondered if anyone had any advice? [/quote] Where is the tour, UK, Europe, USA? My first tour was in Florida, USA in 1992 and since then I've done my fair share of touring in the UK and abroad and there are many things to learn as you go round. Most things are pretty much common sense. On stage my view is to quickly establish a logical and methodical approach to setting up and breaking down your gear. That way you are less likely to leave anything behind or wire things up wrongly. Always be polite to the guys/girls setting up the stage, FOH and monitor sound they usually will have a better view of how the sound will be at a particular venue. I never leave my bass plugged in on stage unless I'm playing it for obvious reasons and if you must, then don't leave your bass plugged in whilst the stage is being setup, I've seen the inevitable happen a number of times and the aftermath is unpleasant. Enjoy the experience, take loads of photo's, make contacts & friendships, go and, if possible, meet the punters after the gig let them have photo's taken with you if they want. You don't say where you are travelling but, if I'm touring abroad I always take a memory stick with picture copies of all my travel documents including passport and driving licence. Make sure your gear is properly insured. Edited February 9, 2015 by jazzyvee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 [quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1423482566' post='2685201'] Where is the tour, UK, Europe, USA? I've done my fair share of touring in the UK and abroad and there are many things to learn as you go round. Most things are pretty much common sense. On stage my view is to quickly establish a logical and methodical approach to setting up and breaking down your gear. That way you are less likely to leave anything behind or wire things up wrongly. Always be polite to the guys/girls setting up the stage, FOH and monitor sound they usually will have a better view of how the sound will be at a particular venue. I never leave my bass plugged in on stage unless I'm playing it for obvious reasons and if you must, then don't leave your bass plugged in whilst the stage is being setup, I've seen the inevitable happen a number of times and the aftermath is unpleasant. [/quote] Yeah, I'm a stickler for unplugging anyway (although apparently I'm going to be on wireless for the first time ever) We're playing around the UK Manchester Academy 3 Newcastle SU The Institute Birmingham O2 Academy Islington The Fleece Bristol Excited? Me? Yeah a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 When are you at The Fleece? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Buy a copy of the dirt by Mötley Crüe , and copy what they used to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 [quote name='ern500evo' timestamp='1423483591' post='2685228'] When are you at The Fleece? [/quote] Sunday 8th March mate Drop me a PM if you're interested and I'll sort you some cheaper tickets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 [quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1423482489' post='2685198'] Take a pillow. For the love of god, take a pillow. [/quote] This. My golden advice. Also, a roll or two of loo roll. Because you never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 [quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1423476781' post='2685099'] Make time to eat decent food at least once a day, instead of stuff that's "easy" or cheap. [/quote] This. I tour managed a two week run and ended up with gastritis - wouldn't wish that on anyone. Expensive, but if you can't get to supermarkets make sure you get the occasional healthy meal from motorway services - Waitrose/M&S. Not very rock&roll I know but.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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