18th & Addison – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, Kait DiBenedetto, of the rock band, 18th & Addison, gives you some advice for being on the road. You can check out the feature, after the break.

Tip #1: Respect the venue and other bands on the show.
Nothing sucks more than being on a show with a bunch of rude bands/venue employees so don’t be that guy. The more respectful you are of everyone around you, the more respect you’ll get back. Watch the other bands sets, be supportive, and promote the show as much as possible so everyone is happy and everyone has an amazing show. And you may even make some friends along the way.

Tip #2. Pack one, maybe two pairs of jeans.
It’s no secret jeans don’t have to be washed every day, and let’s be honest; they’re way more comfortable after about a week anyway. Packing one or two pairs makes life so much easier on the road because not only does is save space in your bag for more important things but considering you won’t always have the luxury of doing laundry you’ll be happy knowing you brought your favorite pair. Packing light is key.

Tip #3. Pack headphones.
Let’s face it, sometimes you either just want to sleep, or tune out everything and everyone around you and just get some “me time”. That’s not always easy when there are four or five other people blasting music OR someone snores. So if you have headphones (preferably noise canceling headphones) it’s a whole lot easier than losing sleep or losing your mind.

Tip #4: Promote your band as you go.
Regardless of how big or small, your band is promotion is key. Packing plenty of stickers and show flyers with you on the road is a great way to promote the shows and your band along the way. Tagging stop signs and poles with stickers or stopping at local businesses that are in close proximity to the shows your playing can only make the shows better!

Tip #5: Explore your surroundings.
As musicians we’re some of the luckiest people to be fortunate enough to do what we love and travel at the same time so why not enjoy it? Exploring the cities you play before or after shows opens your eyes to so many things you had no idea existed. Not to mention all the incredible food you experience along the way, there’s no doubt it’s one of my favorite things to do on tour. Always make a mental note or take a picture to remember places you liked or want to visit or places you just didn’t get a chance to explore!

Keep up with the band on Facebook and Twitter!

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