Enemy Planes – TOUR TIPS

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

1.) Find the deal of the day. Every touring musician is on a touring budget, and you want to stretch your daily cash as far as possible. You’ll be stopping at countless gas stations and rest stops…each one of them a possible treasure trove if you keep your eye out. You don’t always know what is going to be the deal of the day, but you’ll know what it is when you see it.

2.) Always try the local beer and ask the locals where to eat. One if the greatest perks of touring is the opportunity to visit cities all across the country. The catch is, between the driving, load-in, sound check and show time, you don’t get a whole lot of time to explore the local culture. To get the most out of the scene, seek out a local and get the lowdown. Chances are you’ll end up at a cool nook drinking a local brew, ultimately leaving town with a memory that will help catalog your adventures.

3.) A back lined stage is a treasure; always be cool with it. For those who don’t know, a back line refers to equipment already set up on a stage. Sometimes the club provides the gear, while other times one of the bands on the bill will offer their equipment to share. Either way, always take advantage of the opportunity! If the prospect of not having to unload your entire trailer at the beginning of the night doesn’t entire you, not having to pack it all back at the end of the night should. Also, the lack of gear changeover will make the transitions between sets smoother, not to mention make the sound engineer happy. Perhaps the biggest upside is the opportunity to try out different gear – it’s a way to keep the sets fresh and explore the tools of your trade.

4.) Don’t treat any small city like they’re just a routing date. Tours have an ebb and flow, and for every major market you play on a Saturday, there is a smaller market routing date you hit on a Tuesday. You have to play each show like it’s the biggest show on the tour, if for no other reason than people who come out to your show deserve to see a great set. Furthermore, you’ll often find that smaller markets are super appreciative of touring bands visiting their town. Don’t be surprised if some of your best shows turn out to be in obscure clubs on a weeknight.

5.) Get into a routine and rely on it. You’re going to be sleeping in a different city every night, and the last thing you want is to scatter your personal belongings all across the map. Keeping a routine can help you stay organized and comfortable on the road. One helpful tip is to always secure a power outlet and a pillow wherever you crash.

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