High Waisted – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, Jessica Louise Dye of the surf rock band, High Waisted, gives you her tips for being on tour. You can check out the feature, after the break.

1.) Make an “Oh- Shit-Survival-Kit” and keep it in the van at all times.
Think of this as a first aid kit on steroids. Ours has all basic hangover cures like extra sunglasses, midol, ibuprofen and water bottles. Bandaids. Extra Toothbrushes. Tape. Baby Wipes. A utility knife/tool set. Dry Shampoo. Emergency contact numbers for everyone on tour.

2.) Treat tour like one big family vacation.
I love making the most of our time in every city. I hate the monotony of hanging in bars each night, so using our free time during the day is crucial. We always plan ahead to see historical landmarks, visit museums, amusement parks, county fairs and national parks. When it’s warm, we love to stop for picnics or even go swimming in local watering holes, lakes and rivers. It takes a little bit of research and preparation (you’ll have lots of long drives to do your reading on) but it makes the tour much more fulfilling when it feels like a vacation.

3.) Prepare for long, boring drives.
Pre-download movies, tv shows, and books to your iPad/phones. Pack car games like a few deck of cards, UNO and ad libs. Download educational apps and learn a new language. Bring a parlor guitar for van sing-alongs. Big, sound canceling headphones are a must. Also, spring for a good neck support pillow and eye mask for daytime drives. And lastly, we always bring a cooler, so van snacking is a big past time for us. The trick to touring on a budget is not to eat out. Eating from a cooler doesn’t have to be terrible, it’s actually a lot healthier if you can resist the urge to eat Cheetos and candy. Invest in some great Tupperware and microwaveable bowls. We often cook along the way when we crash with friends and reheat things for free at gas stations.

4.) Community Pools are the best-kept secrets.
We often arrive in cities early before load-in and have some time to kill. Look up local community pools for a chill hang. It’s a great way to break the cycle of long nights in dark bars, and a good way to catch a quick nap. Most of them even have grills so you can BBQ. The best part is that they have showers! This is crucial!

5.) When all else fails, there’s Tinder.
Bored? Don’t know anyone in town? Need a place to crash? Just be honest and play safe.

Keep up with the band on Facebook!

(Photo credit: Daniel Topete)