Pyro, Ohio – TOUR TIPS

This new set of Tour Tips was written by the post-hardcore band, Pyro Ohio. You can check out their tips for being on the road, after the break.

1. Cat litter. Never leave home without it. On this tour, we literally couldn’t leave home without it, because we needed it to get out of our backyard with snow on the ground. Our van doesn’t have 4-wheel-drive, so anytime we need traction on snow, ice, or mud, we whip out the kitty litter and spread it under the tires to get out of a sticky situation.

2. Waste management. Keep a trashcan on hand and empty it often. While you’re on the road, the van is your home, so you want to keep it as clean and livable as possible.

3. Pack appropriately. Take note of where you’re going and what the weather is like there. You don’t want to go up north in the winter and only have a bag of shorts and tank tops, and you don’t want to go out west in the summer with nothing but long sleeves and snowsuits. Just pack comfortably or you’re gonna have a bad time.

4. Be self-sufficient. Rather than eating fast food and feeling awful for weeks at a time, bring a propane grill and some food. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll find that you’re saving money too. The same goes for sleeping. We’ve built bunk beds in our van and so it’s literally our home away from home on tour. Good meals and a good night’s sleep all of the time make all of the difference.

5.Have the right mindset. Just because you played to an empty room of just five kids, don’t get discouraged. The reason you’re doing this is to get yourselves out there and to grow as a band. Those five kids will each tell two friends and the next time you’re in that town you might have 15 kids. The next time it’ll be 50, and the next time you could have over a hundred. Always remember to think ahead, stay in good contact with your promoters and the bands you’re touring with and meeting at each stop. Communication is the key to keeping your tour on the right track!

Keep up with Pyro Ohio on Twitter and Facebook!

Did you find these tips useful? Let us know in the comments below!