Wild Ponies – TOUR TIPS

This new set of Tour Tips was written by the Doug Williams of the folk duo, Wild Ponies. You can check out their tips for being on the road, after the break.

1- Host housing – ALWAYS have an out. Host housing and staying with friends can be great ways to save a little cash on the road. It can also be a great way to add to tour stress and tension. When you show up somewhere and for whatever reason someone isn’t feeling it, make an excuse and go. If any band member calls it, no questions asked — fuckin’ roll. Can’t argue with the gut sometimes. Of course, the other side of this- don’t abuse it. Save it for when something really gives you the heebie-jeebies. If you wind up on the couch somewhere, and it’s a decent couch, don’t be a jerk and pull the plug.

2- JICC- Just In Case Case – Always have one with what you need. Ours is a vintage “Executair 707”. We keep it stocked with Gin, Rum, and a decent bottle of whiskey. And sparklers. You never know when you’ll need sparklers. Maybe you need something different in yours – Tea? Hot sauce? Whatever. It’s good to have. Our JICC has saved our ass on many occasions! Essential equipment.

3- Never – EVER- reach between the cushions of motel furniture.

4- Think about your health. This can be really tough on the road, but try to eat healthy when you can. Did you know that McDonalds serves oatmeal 24/7? It’s actually pretty good. But get a salad every now and then, too. Bring whatever you need to get sleep at night – Noise machine, small fan, pillow, melatonin, etc. *see number 2. Take a walk or run in the morning before checkout or in the evening after soundcheck. Don’t drink too much. All of those things will make you feel better, play better, and get along with everyone else better. Which leads us to number 5…

5- Don’t be an asshole. Especially to the rest of the band or the sound guy. If your goal is to ruin your show, to just make it a terrible night, the absolute best way to do that is to get into some sort of altercation with the sound engineer. Don’t. Do. It. The best way to avoid that is to have a good stage plot that lays everything out the way the band needs it on stage, and then be sure someone sends it when they advance the show. Of course, half the time no one has forwarded it to the sound tech. Or sometimes you’ll get something like “We don’t mic drums like that here, we only do it…blah blah blah way.” Whatever. Be firm with what you need, but also be willing to compromise on occasion if it’s not integral to the show. You know your show better than he does, and he knows the venue better than you do. You really want to be on the same team. That goes for how you treat everyone else around you as well- assume that everyone has the best intentions and try not to take things personally.

6- Bonus – Do your best, and have fun. Work harder and play better than everyone else out there, every night. Enjoy your time on stage – don’t let it turn into the monotony of “just another show”. If you try to have fun and throw everything you’ve got at it every time you’re on stage, you’ll never regret it. If you let it slip every now and then, I guarantee that you will regret it eventually.

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