Touring Tips: From One Musician To Another
I am currently touring across the USA for the first time in 2 years. Even though I’ve toured all over the world for the past 25 years, it did take me a bit of time to get back into the swing of things.
If you’re going back to touring after the pandemic, or are about to embark on your first tour, here are some tips that have really helped me along the way.
Journalling
I decided to try keeping a journal while on the road. In the past there have been days where I felt very disorientated with all the travelling. I am almost 2 weeks into this tour, and I write every night before going to sleep. Having not been on the road in a while, I was nervous going into this tour, but journalling has helped enormously. I write about what happened that day, how it made me feel and where we are off to next. It’s really helped me stay focused and grounded. Highly recommended.
Self-Care
….is EVERYTHING! Be sure to take time out to look after yourself. Touring is very demanding on your body and if you’re either coming back for the first time after a break, or about to start your first tour, remember to pace yourself. Get as much rest as possible, whenever possible. Stay hydrated. I am guilty of not drinking enough water generally, and so I made a conscious decision to drink as much as possible on this tour and I feel a heck of a lot better for it. I can highly recommend getting into a yoga or meditation routine to help both body and mind stay relaxed. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy. I just do 5mins every morning and I’m amazed at the difference it makes.
If you’re an introverted sort like me and need quiet time, make sure you create space for this. I NEED alone time every single day and coming out of the pandemic where I’ve been pretty much isolated for 2 years, I need it more than ever. Don’t feel guilty and in no way are you being selfish. It’s totally ok to ask for what you need and be sure to communicate this to others.
Headphones
Travelling on an airplane really hurts my ears, and this tour involves a lot of flying. A few years ago, I bought myself some noise cancelling headphones and they’ve been an absolute lifesaver. Not only do they remove the sound of the airplane, they also drastically reduce the noise of screaming babies / loud conversations. I got myself a pair of Bose headphones which are a little pricey but well worth it. Bose also do ear buds which some of my friends wear in bed to help with sleep.
Travel Light
I had every intension of packing light for this trip but ended up putting way too much crap in my rucksack and having walked for miles through various airport terminals, I’m really regretting it. Remember to make life on the road as easy and streamlined as possible and only take essentials.
Supplements
Talking of essentials, this is the first time I’ve taken supplements regularly while on the road and it’s made a huge difference. The supplements you need will vary depending on your situation and I’d suggest chatting with someone who knows about these things, but if you want to make your life super easy, just get a bottle of multi-vitamin tablets or gummies that you can take every day. Make sure you get a high-quality brand as the cheapy stuff is a total waste of time.
My supplements include:
- Turmeric Capsules (to help with inflammation).
- Probiotic (to help with digestion).
- Chewable Digestive Enzyme tables (also help with digestion, I only discovered these recently and they’ve been great).
- Vitamin C (to help boost my immune system, especially important as I’ve not been around a ton of people the past few years and now I’m being exposed to many!).
Food Matters
One of the elements that is difficult to manage is food because we often can’t eat the quality or type of food that our bodies need. I’ve become extremely sensitive to highly processed food and have been more strategic with my choices this time around. Drinking plenty of water also comes into play with this as it helps flush toxins out of your body that might well be in the food you’ve consumed. If possible, try not to eat late at night. I completely understand you don’t always get a choice (or you might not like to eat before you go on stage, I totally get it), but if you will be eating late at night, pick something light that your body is able to digest easily.
Kindness is a Strength
Above all else, remember to be kind to yourself and everyone around you. It’s ok to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or anxious. You might even question why on earth you’re even doing this. Know you are most certainly not alone in how you’re feeling. Many of my friends (myself included) are still trying to figure out what this new ‘normal’ looks like and it will take time for things to settle down. Be patient, things will get easier with time.
I hope some of these tips have been useful. If you have any helpful touring tips, feel free to list them in the comments below.
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