Guest post by Angel Carsolin from Comparakeet
Touring is a monumental step when you are in the music industry. While you and your bandmates may be stoked that you get the opportunity to travel to different places and perform at a new city every week, you’ll learn soon enough that it can have negative effects on your well-being.
[How to Book a Tour without a Booking Agent]
To help you survive challenging moments, here are some tips to keep your sanity intact while on the road.
Keep Yourself Entertained
If you’re an entertainer, doesn’t it make sense that you yourself should be entertained as well? Not only will this keep you in a healthy state mentally during a possibly grueling and tiring tour, but you can also get enough space and energy to get the inspiration for the next show, or even lyrics or riffs for a new song.
Some musicians even come up with games and challenges not only to increase camaraderie among the band, but also to have some healthy competition while on the road. The point isn’t really to win, but to have a couple of laughs and to just enjoy the off-time of the tour.
Also, on the note of entertainment, a lot of media has been made portable, like online streaming services and gaming consoles, so you can continue watching your favorite show, or finally finish unlocking all the shrines for the princess in that video game. Whatever it is that gives you good vibes and entertainment, go ahead and indulge, just don’t forget to allot time for band practice!
Meditate Even Just for a Few Minutes
Traveling for hours at a time somehow isolates you from the world, and while the chatter from the outside world lessens, internal voices can take over. Meditation isn’t exclusive to those who do yoga and align their chakras and backbones; a few minutes of silence to sort out your thoughts and get away from the noise is enough.
Besides, you’ll be doing show after show with loud music banging in your ears- a little bit of peace and silence to cool down is warranted. Just sit down, close your eyes, and clear your mind.
Stay Active and Hydrated
Just because you’re stuck inside the hotel or van doesn’t mean you can’t have any physical activity going on. You can do some quick and simple exercises even in a small, confined space to keep your blood flowing and keep yourself energized.
While touring is physically exhausting and you may be tempted to sleep your way until the next show date, it is important to be active so there is balance despite the unhealthy routine and schedule that you may have.
Another important thing to keep in mind when you are out on the road is to always drink plenty of water. Many musicians have attested that water is your bestfriend, especially for vocalists who use their voice for the show. It will also help lessen the hangover should you be attending parties after your gig- you won’t wake up with a massive headache, and you can spend more time planning and practicing rather than waiting for the hangover to go away.
Try to Avoid Fast Food As Much As Possible
With the ease and convenience of ordering fast food, plus the usual menu offers at gig venues that consist of pretty much burgers, fries and soda, it’s not hard to see why it is an easy option for bands, and an even easier choice during a tour, where schedules are tight and there isn’t always time to visit a restaurant for a decently cooked meal.
That said, fast food contributes to a lot of health problems- something you certainly don’t want now, especially if the tour is weeks or months long. If eating outside is not an option, then try to order real food, or pack some protein and health bars with you. It’s easier said than done, but your body will thank you later.
Lay Down the Rules with Bandmates
You’ll be stuck with the same people for days- it’s a fair expectation that somewhere along the road, there will be tension, especially if you haven’t really known them for a long time, or if this is the first time you will be hauled up together for this long. Setting up house rules which everyone agrees on can help lessen these unpleasant conflicts, and help avoid any personal boundaries being stepped on.
On this note, partying, and more specifically, drinking, should definitely be discussed. It’s alright to party, and of course you should enjoy life and have some booze, but this shouldn’t become the reason why you’re always tired and hungover every after event.
There have been band performances, some of them internationally famous already, that were completely ruined due to members being fully intoxicated the whole night and unable to perform decently when the show is on. If you’re always wasted, you won’t finish the whole tour on a high note, and fans may even get disappointed that you got drunk during a show and weren’t able to give your all.
Keep in Touch With Family, Friends and Fans
Gone were the days where communication is limited to texts and calls when you’re on a trip. Social media has made it extremely easy to contact people from any point of the globe. Aside from possible data capping limits, there is nothing stopping you from using social media apps to contact your family and friends back in your hometown. Let your parents know how you’re doing, show your friends the places that you’ve been; share with them your experience as it happens in real time.
Moreover, you can hype up the show even more for you fans by posting snippets of your travel. Of course they already marked their calendars for the event date, but they’ll be even more excited seeing your updates as the moment arrives. Fans from other areas get to know what’s going on, too.
[11 Killer Content Ideas for Musicians to Get More Fans on Social Media]
Set Realistic Expectations With the Show
No matter how well advertised your show is, even if you have press articles and announcements to hype the event, and your band engaged in different media to reach out and invite people to watch, venues will not always be jampacked.
There will be shows scheduled on a weekday, where there will be even less people willing to attend due to work the following day. Or there may be other events happening in the area the same night where you are doing a show, which will have an impact on your audience count.
In this regard, a little bit of disappointment is acceptable, but it is best to make the most of the situation, and enjoy the journey of touring in different places to showcase your music and talent.
Not every band is given the opportunity to go on a tour and perform for different audiences- if done right, this could be your stepping stone to get some exposure, grow your fan base, and get exposed to the right people who can make bigger things happen.
Enjoy What the Place Offers!
Many people would pay to be able to travel for their jobs- isn’t it great that you get to do so while giving entertainment and inspiration to people with your talent? Don’t overthink the whole experience, perform your best, and experience what each city offers!
Try out new food, see the sights, and meet new people and gain experiences that will give you fresh insights about anything and everything!
It doesn’t matter if you are leaving your hometown in high or low spirits for the tour- being out on the road can sometimes slowly burn out your excitement and make the experience feel like a chore. Hopefully, with these tips in mind, you’ll be able to find balance and keep you mentally and physically healthy for the whole duration of the tour.
As a business development officer at Comparakeet, Angel ensures the company's continued growth on a daily basis. In her free time, she enjoys redditing, playing video games, and indulging in general merriment.
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