Jared James Nichols – TOUR TIPS

This set of Tour Tips was written by the blues rocker, Jared James Nichols. You can check out his tips for being on the road, after the break.

1. Prepare for war:
The touring lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. Make sure you are ready for anything that could come up on the road, good or bad. Anything from van and gear breakdowns, to dealing with the feelings and maintaining relationships with your band/crews.You just don’t want to “survive” on the road, instead “thrive”!

2. Give em’ everything ya got!
I go out on the road with one purpose in mind, and that is to play every show as if it were my last. My intent is to share my music with every person that I can. There is always so much travel, stress and preparation for the tour, so it is worth it BIG TIME when the shows are amazing. Perform at your best and let it all hang out, every single performance.

3. Know your limits:
Sometimes members of bands forget that certain things they do on the road can really mess with the work-flow of the whole tour. Partying all night after gigs, fighting with sound crew or club owners, even abusing some of the advantages of the touring lifestyle can be devastating. Remember, you are on a mission to spread the good word about your art and music, not to miss sound checks, blow off interviews, or have memory lasting bad performances.

4. Show support and be friends:
Bands and musicians you meet and perform with in different city’s are your bread and butter. Playing a new area with a local band with a strong fan base can be great. There is a chance that after hearing you play their fans will soon become a fan of yours as well, and come back when you play the area again. Having a strong connection with like minded groups can ensure a lasting powerful bond and allow you to have many rewarding gigs together in the future.

5. Stop and smell the roses:
Remember how much of a dream it was at one time to be out on the road? Playing music and going places you have never been to before? It is an amazing thing that not many get to experience, so enjoy it!

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