Bryan McPherson – TOUR TIPS

This new set of Tour Tips was written by the singer songwriter, Bryan McPherson. You can check out his tips for being on the road, after the break.

Water – Drink a lot of water. It’s great for the vocal chords and with all the coffee and road food, one can end up being pretty dehydrated. Water also helps me feel better and when it gets rough out there, as it does sometimes traveling, it’s best to keep a nice well-being.

Be positive – Look for the positive in every situation. Just because a bunch of people show up to a gig in one town doesn’t mean a bunch are going to come to the next and it does not mean that you are a bad artist. So I try to be as positive as possible and to just be like “hey this is awesome. I am out there singing these songs in the great wide open and it beats the hell out of most of the day jobs I have ever had.” Even on the worst day, so I try to keep that perspective.

Sleep – Night off? Get rest. Really every night I’m in a bar or a club and on a night off that’s the last place I want to be. If there is a chance to get 8 hours of sleep, take it. The next night it might be back to 4 hours of sleep on a floor, and the more sleep I get the better I feel and the better I feel, the better the show, so anytime I can get it I go for it. Don’t want to burn out. I go out for 2 months at a time on some of these tours. This is not a weekend warrior type thing. It’s the long haul. It’s my life.

See stuff – A few years ago, I spent the weekend in London playing a gig. It was amazing. I got flown out there and put up in a hotel. I got to see an incredible city. Some of the other acts never left the hotel or the venue. I saw ALL of London and it was incredible. I have great memories of the gig and the city.

Have fun – at the end of the day try, to have fun. As an indie artist, I do a lot of work people have no idea that I do. Work that was traditionally done by labels and the “industry.” Some days it can feel like a drag, especially on those days when I’m not playing a show or writing a song or something. So anytime there is a gig or a session I try to have fun with it. Life is too short. I get to make art and people care to hear it. That is amazing!

Keep up with Bryan McPherson on Twitter and Facebook!

Did you find these tips useful? Let us know in the comments below!