Hollow Coves – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the indie folk duo, Hollow Coves, recommends advice for being a musician on the road. You can check out the tips, after the break.

Touring can be one of the most rewarding parts of being a musician. Playing to a room full of people singing your lyrics is such an incredible feeling. However, touring can also be super tiring and hard work at times. We’ve learned a few lessons the hard way over the years and wanted to share some of our top tips for how to feel your best while on tour.

1. Make time to do some sight-seeing
Plan a few days off throughout the tour. If there are places you really want to see; try to coordinate your days off with those places. We always try to make time to explore some of the places we want to see on tour; even if we have to get up a little earlier. We always find it is refreshing to get out and see some tourist attractions or beautiful nature spots while on tour. Trying to find a balance of making tour life more of a holiday definitely makes the time so much more enjoyable.

2. Having a pre-show ritual can help to lift the energy before a show
I’m not sure how this one even became a thing but our drummer jokingly did a random Irish sea shanty before one of the shows and it somehow it stuck. After that, we did it before every show for the next 3 tours. It goes “There are good ships, wood ships, ships that sail the seven seas. But the best ships are friendships, and long may they be.” I think somehow the ridiculousness of it always manages to make us laugh and lifts the energy before we go on. Find something that works for you and make it into a pre-show ritual. Going on stage energized makes all the difference.

3. Make sure your accommodation is suitable and conveniently located
Try to find decent accommodation that is relatively close to the venue. The last thing you want to have to do after a show is drive for an hour to get to a cheap hotel with child-sized beds just because it was slightly cheaper. Trust me. It is often already quite late by the time you finish the show, talk with fans, pack down all the equipment and merch, and load-out. The sooner you can get to your accommodation and get some sleep; the better.

4. Try to eat healthy
This one can be hard. Especially in America. However, it really makes a difference. With so many back-to-back late nights it is important to give your body good nourishment to avoid getting run down and getting sick. Put fruit and vegetables on your rider. Go to grocery stores and stock up with healthy food to take on the road for big drives. Otherwise, you’ll get stuck with petrol station food as the only option.

5. Ask locals for café/restaurant recommendations
You can’t always trust google reviews. Ask locals for their recommendations for food and coffee places. However, make sure to specify that you want healthy food. People seem to love recommending dirty burger places. Mark good spots on Google Maps so you know to go back next time you’re touring there.

Keep up with them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.