Reuben and the Dark – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the folk artist, Reuben and the Dark, recommends advice for being a musician on the road. You can check out the tips, after the break.

After almost 10 years of touring and learning absolutely everything the hard way, here are a couple bits of knowledge I have picked up on the road.

1 – Bring reusable coffee and water containers. It will keep your vehicle clean and prevent about a thousand coffee cups and water bottles from the landfill. Good for the environment and a tidy van.

2 – Health. Take a moment to plan for food. Some people can survive on gas station hot dogs, but I cannot. Eating right is such a big part of keeping energy up on the road. As a rule, drink as much water as you do beer, and taking some vitamins is never a bad idea as well. Getting sick on the road is one of the worst things ever. I always carry oil of oregano. A drop a day.

3 – Make lists of all of the cool places in each of the cities you stop in. It’s surprisingly so easy to end up in a city you’ve been to 5 times in the past, and not be able to think of a good place to get coffee.

4 – Take care of your vehicle. Winter tires in the wintertime. Change oil every 5000km. Take your van in for a tune-up before going on a long trip. Every time. Understand your insurance policy and what you are covered for. I also suggest not traveling without a separate instrument insurance plan too.

5 – Meet people. Build little communities. Follow up with new friends. If you plan on spending half of your life on the road, start building your extended family. You will start feeling a little piece of home in every city you go to.

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