Kickstand Jenny - TOUR TIPS

In this Tour Tips segment, the rock band, Kickstand Jenny, recommends advice for being a musician on the road. You can check out the tips below:

#1 - DON’T WING IT
Do not just hit the road and expect everything to magically work out. Have a plan — a solid plan. Know exactly where you're going before you leave. Lock in lodging, food spots, venue parking, and budgets ahead of time. Touring without a plan is like skydiving without checking your parachute. Get a game plan and stick to it.

#2 - TAKE CARE OF MIND, BODY & SOUL
MIND – Being with your bandmates is usually cool — until it’s not. Long hours in a van can wear anyone down. Pack headphones. Bring a playlist or podcast. Be ready to zone out when you need to. And most importantly, bite your tongue. Even if you’re right, some arguments aren’t worth the vibe kill.

BODY – Touring is exciting, and yeah, post-show parties are fun… until you’re hungover and stuck in a hot van for six hours. Or worse — playing a gig while feeling like death. Pace yourself. No one plays a great show when they’re running on fumes and ibuprofen.

SOUL – Remember why you started. It’s not about fame or fortune — it’s about the love of the music. If you’re doing it for the right reasons, and with the right people, the rest might just fall into place. Keep your soul fed, not just your ego.

#3 - PROMOTE PROMOTE PROMOTE
Flyers. Stickers. QR codes. Bring it all. Hand it out before and after every set. Connect with the local scene. Hit up radio stations. Be down for acoustic in-studio sessions and interviews. And after the show?

Go. To. The. Merch. Table.

Don’t head to the bar. Don’t flirt with the cutie from the crowd. Don’t disappear backstage. Fans will come find you — and they’ll spend more if you’re standing by the merch with a Sharpie and a smile. Use the moment to push your socials, too. QR codes are your best friend.

#4 - PACK SMART
You don’t need five pairs of shoes. You do need extra strings, drumsticks, cables, batteries, and backups of anything that can break mid-set. Gear > fashion. No one cares if you wore the same skin-tight leather pants three nights in a row if you slayed your set.

Also: bring cash. You never know when the card reader’s down, your phone’s dead, or you stumble on a late-night taco truck that only takes quarters and respect.

More on the importance of cash in the next tip.

#5 - BE COOL TO SOUND GUYS, BARTENDERS & WEIRD LOCAL BANDS
These people hold the keys to your night not sucking. The sound guy in the Slayer shirt might look like he eats broken glass for breakfast, but he can make your band sound like legends — or like trash. Be nice. Tip the bar staff. Support the openers. Respect gets respect, and relationships make tours better.

Keep up with Kickstand Jenny on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and their website.