Handsome Ghost – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the indie-prom artist, Handsome Ghost, gives you some advice for being on the road. You can check out the feature, after the break.

1) Get that alone time.
In an ideal world, you’re best friends with all of your bandmates. You think of them as brothers and sisters. But no one can spend six weeks with the same people without going a little crazy. Take a walk. Go to the movies. Do your laundry. Find a little time where you can just do your own thing. My bandmates called it the “whoosh.” If I see an opportunity for a little alone time, I’ll just disappear. I’m gone, see you in an hour. Whoosh.

2) Drive like your life depends on it.
I don’t want to Driver’s Ed you here, but I will…briefly. When you get behind that wheel, you’re responsible for the safety of each one of your bandmates. You’re one accident away from the end of your tour or way, way worse. So drive slow. Be conservative. Leave early enough that you don’t have to drive like a maniac to get to the venue on time. And don’t be a hero…pull over if you’re tired.

3) You don’t have to go out every night.
If it’s your first tour, or one of your first tours, every one of your friends in each of the cities you’re playing is going to be very excited to see you and your show. And if your friends are like my friends, they’re going to want to party. But for them, it’s one night. You have to do this every night. That’s not sustainable. There’s nothing wrong with telling a friend that it’s great to see them, but it’s movie night and you’re not going out. This is your job, right? Be responsible, they’ll understand.

4) Do not sleep directly on the blanket at unsavory hotels.
Check-in. Open the door. Pull the blanket off of the bed and place the blanket on the floor or in a closet. It is now safe to relax.

5) Respect the venue.
This one is most important of all, other than the blanket one. It is unbelievable how small the music world is and it gets even smaller as you grow. Respect the staff at the venues you’re playing, because if things go well, you’re going to see them again. And they are most definitely going to remember you. Thank the front of house, thank whoever is working monitors, the promoter etc. Be polite, be grateful. And clean up your green room…this isn’t a frat party, guy.

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(Photo credit: Daniel Silbert)