Alexander Biggs – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the folk artist, Alexander Biggs, recommends advice for being a musician on the road. You can check out the tips, after the break.

Touring is much like reading the news. It’s long and boring and at times you don’t know if you can make it out the other side. But you do, forever a little different to your old self, sleep-deprived, cashless, and maybe, just maybe, slightly creatively fulfilled.

Here I will outline my Terrific Top Touring Tips to make the most of your isolating time on the road.

1. MINIMISE YOUR SINGLE-USE PLASTIC
I mean, for christ’s sake, it’s the least you can do with all the travel miles you’re racking up. Your carbon footprint is the size of a small country.

This can be done by bringing your own water bottle (and using it — water bottles on airplanes still count*)

Remember — nobody’s perfect, but nobody needs a takeaway coffee THAT bad.

*Fun hack: avoid accepting plastic bottles of water on planes by drinking hard liquor instead**
** Bring your own cup.

2. BREAKFAST IS FREE IF YOU ADD IT TO YOUR RIDER
Sadly, we work in an industry that would rather pay us in alcohol and ‘exposure’ than cold hard cash (try paying your landlord with a slab next time rent is due and see what happens), but thankfully with a little forethought, this can work in your favor.

Add a bunch of food to your rider! Fruit, snacks, you name it. Anything you can take on the next 8-hour drive. No tour breakfast is complete without a punnet of strawberries and a Tecate.

3. BRING YOUR SNEAKERS
Generally speaking, us creatives ain’t the most active of people, but you’ll wish you had your runners after the first 20+ hours of transport-related sitting. In Australia, that’s probably the end of the tour (sarcastic lol) but once you’re heading overseas or touring EU/US those numbers stack up. Skipping ropes make things easy if you’re not much of a runner.

4. TOURING IS EXPENSIVE, BUT EATING DINNER OUT EVERY NIGHT IS MORE EXPENSIVE
Do yourself a favor, and make a salad sandwich. Not only will it help your wallet, but it will give your body a much-needed rest from all the vegan fast food shit you eat purely because it’s accessible and vegan. You’ll feel less shit for longer.

5. REST IS FINE
You’re somewhere new! Or at least, you’re somewhere that isn’t your home. You’d think you’d need to get outside and take in the sights while you can, but let me tell you — It’s all going to be there when you’re ready to be there. It’s easy to feel obligated to be out and about, but it’s important to be mindful of how you’re feeling. It’s fine to stay inside if you need a rest day. Touring is all about the long game.

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Upcoming Tour Dates with Hollow Coves:
Jan 16 at Sewing Room in Perth
Jan 17 at Jive in Adelaide
Jan 18 at Corner Hotel in Melbourne
Jan 24 at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney
Jan 25 at Triffid in Brisband