Varna – TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the hard rock band, Varna, give you their tips for being on tour. You can check out the feature, after the break.

1. There’s no need to look stylish driving on the road.
Sean: For my first ever out of town gig, I wore tight jeans, Vans high tops, and a fitted shirt while in the car. Needless to say after around an hour and a half I was kicking myself because I was so uncomfortable, and I had about 4 and a half hours of driving to go. The clothes you wear have a huge impact on your comfort. Wear clothes that breath. Now, I wear PJ pants, a sleeveless shirt, and if it’s cold outside I wear a loose fitting sweatshirt, I take my shoes off and that’s it. No need for the latest fashions when you’re gonna be traveling in cramped conditions all day!

2. Staying Clean
Tiana: When you are traveling for days on the road, sweating during shows at night and motels/ laundry stops are few and far between, you are going to want to stay fresh as much as you can. When that happens, deodorant just doesn’t cut it anymore.
-Buy a cheap 6 pack of underwear (Hanes)
-Wet Ones (Antibacterial + doesn’t irritate your skin)
-Downy Wrinkle Releaser is a GOD SENT. It irons out wrinkles, gets rid of horrible odors and smells like you just washed your clothes when you haven’t. For girls/ guys who like to look presentable, dry shampoo and coconut oil will be your two products to carry with you at all times. This is a courtesy to yourself and your bandmates. Never underestimate how feeling clean can enhance your mood and morale of the band!

3. Use Cruise Control Whenever Possible.
Sean: After being behind the wheel for several hours, it’s REALLY annoying to realize that your foot has fallen asleep because it’s been in the same position pushing on the gas pedal for so long. Cruise control is a life saver! You’re not stuck operating pedals for long periods of time (unless you have to hit the brakes so you and everyone else in the car/van don’t die), and it saves gas!

4. Do not allow yourself to sleep too much while traveling.
Sean: While heading out to New Orleans from Los Angeles, I thought it would be a great idea to just sleep as much as I could to pass the time. BAD IDEA. We left LA at midnight, and I had been sleeping at home before we left. By the time we were going through Tucson, AZ I literally couldn’t sleep anymore (by that point I had been sleeping for a collective 13+ hours). I had absolutely zero energy, and we weren’t going to stop anywhere because we were driving through the desert. Keep your mind engaged any way possible (listen to new music, solve the world’s problems with your band mates, crossword puzzles, word searches, find Waldo, learn Mandarin, smack every object around you just to hear the sound it makes etc). Do anything you can to keep yourself on a normal sleep cycle.

5. AAA Will Save Your Life.
Tiana: Do not even think about leaving your house and going on the road without AAA. It is the cheapest piece of mind you will ever provide for your band. Case in point, after driving for days, we were able to rest for a few hours and head back on the road. When they say the devil is in the details, they are not kidding. Touring takes it’s toll on you and due to that, one of our band members didn’t look at the gas gauge before we left to go home. Guess what happened? We ended up in the middle of the desert, 100-degree weather with no gas at 7am in the morning. This is the last thing you want to deal with when you are on your way to your own home. I don’t even want to think what would have happened if I didn’t have AAA. If you can afford it and are planning on traveling long distances, splurge for the GOLD package. It offers more miles on tow, gas and other offers that will save you tons of $$$.

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