Tinpan Orange – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, Emily Lubitz of the indie folk band, Tinpan Orange, gives you some advice for being on the road. You can check out the feature, after the break.

1. Don’t let having kids stop you touring or touring stop you having kids. It’s hard being a parent wherever you are, you may as well be touring. And in fact, the tour schedule is quite compatible with having kids around. If you start them young, kids are great travelers and there is so much down in touring, so instead of starting drinking early, go find a park.

2. If you don’t have kids, have a book or a notepad or how to learn french app. Speaking of down time, I could have learned 6 languages in the amount of time between sound check and show that I have had over the years, where I was otherwise watching the wire or the entire 9 seasons of Seinfeld.

3. Choose people you like for your touring party. It’s ideal if you can love your band even though that doesn’t always happen, but when it comes to the people you employ to be on the road with you, ie. sound engineer and tour manager, choose people who put out a good vibe. If you’re going to be away from home so much, you may as well make the road as close to home as you can.

4. Use soundcheck to rehearse. Get the songs into your bones and your muscle memory. After hours in a car/bus/plane, remind your body and your mind what you’re here to do.

5. Party after the show, not before. Because before you’ll be busy learning French and traditional African basket weaving. Of course.

6. Put on the best show you’ve ever played every time you play a show. Even if there are more people in the band than there are in the crowd. (We have all played those shows). Remember, there are a million other places the people who have come to see you could be. Own it and earn it! Make them feel lucky.

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