Gizmo Varillas - TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the indie/alternative/pop artist, Gizmo Varillas, recommends advice for being a musician on the road. You can check out the tips below:

1. Learn a few words from the local language
It goes a long way to learn how to say a few basic words in the country you are in—people will appreciate that you made the effort. I like to at least know how to say hello, thank you, and goodbye. It's the most common interaction you'll have with fans, and it's a nice thing to do.

2. Learn something from the local culture
I like to know something about the culture of the place I'm visiting. It allows me to have a connection with the people attending my show. For example, I was recently in Bulgaria and didn't know much about the people there. A friend of mine recommended the Bulgarian State Television Female Choir, and I fell in love with their vocal harmonies. That gave me an insight into their folk tradition, and I somehow felt more in tune with the audience that night.

3. Look up the countries/cities you are visiting on a map
When you do a long tour, sometimes it's easy to lose track of where on earth you are. I used to go on tour without knowing the routing on the map, but I felt a bit disconnected from what I was doing. Now that I check the map, it no longer feels random, and I have a sense of direction. I love knowing where I'm headed next and where I've been. It puts the tour into perspective.

4. Good routines
Having good routines goes a long way while on the road. For example, for me, staying hydrated and warming up daily makes life so much easier in the long run. I usually drink water wherever I can, and it keeps my voice sounding consistent each night. I also do a little exercise each day to keep my body active. Cold water on my head after a shower is also great for avoiding illness.

5. Preemptive medicine and vitamins
It can get tough on the road—many late nights and early mornings. Sometimes when you are running low and feel like you're about to get ill, a hot Lemsip or vitamin D boost will be the thing you need to keep going. It's all about taking it before you get ill and making sure you know your body well enough to feel the early symptoms. If you act quickly, you're much less likely to get sick. I've had mornings when my tonsils started to swell up, and I thought I couldn't do the gig that evening. But I took the medicine I had in my luggage, and that got me through the day and the show.

Keep up with Gizmo Varillas on his website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.