Jacquie Roar - TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the country rock artist, Jacquie Roar, recommends advice for being a musician on the road. You can check out the tips below:

I can tell you now that one of the biggest things I can thank "The Voice" for is teaching me how to properly protect my vocals! There are 3 huge DO's when you’re on tour, or even gigging one-offs.

Number 1.) DRINK WATER. Your vocal cords are a muscle and because they are so small, they are just about the last muscles to receive hydration - so, make sure you stay extremely hydrated. I also love using a humidifier or a salt/saline nebulizer to keep my voice tip-top but don’t ever do it because there is such a thing as creating wet vocals where you would have to take medication to dry out your chords. Moderation is key!

Number 2.) REST UP. This one is probably the hardest because some of us can’t sleep on planes, or some schedules are so tight that you can barely get some actual deep sleep in between shows. I highly suggest catnaps or power naps when you can. 15 minute naps are a huge reset and they go a long way! Rest can also mean vocal rest. If I have a stint of shows back-to-back, I usually like to follow a “no talking” rule for the day, until about an hour before the show, in which I do gentle vocal warm-ups to start.

Number 3.) VOCAL WARM-UPS. These are just as important. You don’t want to step on stage cold. Your voice is a muscle and you need to stretch it to be on top of your game. (I also want to mention, since we talked about resting, that you do need to warm back up after a nap - no matter how long it is - because your vocal muscles relax during your sleep.)

These next 2 tips are just things I personally do and it works for me and the band.

4.) I treat my band like family. We go out to eat together to build a bond. You want that connection on that stage. The crowd can feel you. That’s what is so magical about music - the way we all can connect to an artist or their music. I love looking out in the crowds and seeing people singing the words to my songs. I feel like eye contact with the crowd is important because it could change someone’s experience at your show and become a core memory. As a band, we also do little shopping outings and, as a band, we agree on setlists. It just keeps everyone happy to be playing.

5.) If you’re an independent artist like me, that means you’re scheduling interviews, gigs, meet and greets, merch meetings, etc.! It’s a lot for just one person. I recommend using an app like Google Calendar or the Band App to keep things organized for the whole band, and inviting them to overview the schedule. I also recommend learning how to ask for help from your bandmates. This is also why I personally prefer to have regular bandmates over hire-outs because they are more invested in their own bands. When you come up, so do they.

Now, I know there are only supposed to be 5 tips, but I have a few extra just 'cause I’m a bonus queen 😂:

No dairy at least 4 hours before the show. Eat a big meal 3 hours before the show and drink only water after that. At this point in my career, I strongly recommend that you stay away from alcohol, especially during your show. I also recommend only partying with people you know and trust - if you have to drink. I don’t do after parties anymore because it can get dangerous and you don’t know what other people’s intentions are. Also, you could end up making yourself look bad. I have yet to see a graceful drunk!

Pay your band fairly! They are the backbone of your career, so don’t be greedy.

One thing I’m a stickler for is hygiene! I bring toilet spray, antibacterial hand soap, and deodorant for myself and the boys. I don’t need to know what their pheromones and musk smells like!

Finally, and to me, most importantly, touring can mean being away from your family for weeks at a time. Make time to FaceTime your loved ones and, if you easily get homesick like I do, bring a couple of keepsakes from home to keep you sane.

Keep up with Jacquie Roar on her website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.