Arabella and The Heist - TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the rock band, Arabella and The Heist, recommends advice for being a musician on the road. You can check out the tips below:

I'm writing this blog from the bag seat of our tour bus (a smaller than average rental SUV) with a guitar on my lap (because it didn't fit in the boot) discussing how awesome last night was. We've just played a show in Sydney at The Duke of Enmore and it was so special. Our first time at that venue and we felt so at home.

I grew up watching the tour docos, the trashed hotel rooms, touring buses, and insane shows. I really had an idea of what it would be like. Packing my bag for our interstate shows, I thought of all the outfits I'd need for all the crazy parties I'd be at. Turns out I forgot to pack any socks and ended up having to detour to a gas station to pay a small fortune for some.

I bestow upon you a list, things to remember, things to forget, and ways to get through the craziest roller coaster you've been on.

Remember
A car doesn’t run without gas.
When we first started touring it was very tempting to find yourself at a truckstop after a huge drive, ordering McDonalds… again. After a while of this, your body starts to scream out ‘Hey dude, maybe I can't run on only happy meals and fries??’. That bit sucks. Even though it’s hard, finding food that might have a little bit more sustenance does wonders. And this goes as well for staying hydrated and being in touch with what your body needs. All this talk of food brings me to my next point….

Forget
Whatever your band member said when they were hangry.
Touring with your friends is the best thing ever. No seriously, it is. However being with the same people day in, day out, you’ll often be up in each other's grill. No matter how much you might love them, if you stand between me and my truck stop burrito after 14 hours driving, I’m probably not writing you a sonnet with my appreciation. A little bit of acceptance and understanding goes a lonnggggg way in making touring as close to smooth sailing as it can be. I promise, after everyones eaten, had a shower and done some truck stop yoga, you’ll be sweet.

Oh yeah,
Remember
Deep heat and truck stop yoga.
Touring is incredibly physically intensive, as much as young me might’ve thought it was all sex, drugs and rock n roll, it’s more like deep heat, yoga at truck stops and a lot of stretching. We discovered our love for deep heat (only the odor free version, trust me, you don’t want to be in a car with the normal stuff) after a three day stint with two festivals and a regional show. Neck aching (who knew headbanging was such a workout??), we joined the bikies on the side of the highway and ‘sun salutat-ed’ our way to a little less body tension. 10/10 highly recommended.

Remember
What comes up must come down.
One thing about playing music I've realized over the years is, it's a drug. You go on stage, you get a massive rush of adrenaline, dopamine, nerves and all of the things your primal brain has programmed to release when a lion thinks you're about to be dinner.

This cocktail of hormones is intense but better than anything. You’re flying and everything is perfect, you’re here with your friends and doing the thing you love most in the whole world.

But what comes up must come down, and next thing you know you're sitting on the greenroom floor feeling like your souls left your body.

Our bodies aren't reaaalllyyy supposed to do this recreationally, so now, congrats you're a junkie. When you're up, you're so high. When you're down,you’re exhausted.

So remember to give your body a rest, to use that time in the car-time to give yourself you-time. I’m still an addict but hey, I’ve come to know a little bit of middle ground in the pendulum

Forget
Everything I just said
Touring is a very individual experience, you share it with your friends but certain people need very different things. Who knows, you might start touring and you decide you run best on quarter pounder meals (let me know how you go).

The most important part of any of this is, HAVE FUN.

No seriously, the tour doesn’t last forever, and you’ll miss it. So take lots of pictures, have lots of laughs and think how awesome it is that you found yourself on the only planet in the solar system with rock and roll (we think).

Keep up with Arabella and The Heist on Instagram and Facebook.