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Entries in on the road (4)

Wednesday
Jan152020

Winter Touring Safety & Etiquette, For Musicians On The Road

Winter is officially here, but that doesn’t mean touring season stops. Maybe you’re not playing sweaty summer festivals at the moment, but there’s nothing quite like cozying up to a coffee shop or even playing a house concert for your next gig.

While touring in the winter can be fun, there are also some extra things to keep in mind that you might not have to think about during other seasons. Your safety, of course, should always be your number one priority.

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Friday
Jul062018

On The Road: 5 Tips To Help Your Band Travel Light When On Tour

Getting your band’s name out there is not simple. One thing you might have to do is plan tours and commit to being on the road. One of the hardest things about being on the road is carrying a heavy load but you actually do not have to. The following are five tips for traveling light.

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Monday
May152017

Hit The Road: 3 Tips For The Ultimate Summer Following Your Favorite Bands

Summer is a time for adventure. When you aren’t busy dealing with school assignments, this is a perfect time to make some memories. Going to concerts is right at the top of the list for many music lovers. However, you can really take this to the next level by deciding to follow your favorite band on tour. This can be a fun way to be a part of your favorite band’s tour while seeing many different cities along the way. While this is a grand adventure, it is always important to stay safe when you are on the road for long periods of time. Here are three tips for the ultimate summer while following your favorite band.

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Thursday
Dec242015

Tips For Effectively Managing Your Roadie Crew

As a professional musician, it goes without saying that you want each performance to go as smoothly as possible. Whether you have been earning a living as a musician for some time or are relatively new to the paying gig scene, it probably didn’t take you long to realize that a seamless performance goes beyond your own vocal chords — you need your entire roadie crew to be on top of their game as well. To make sure you are getting the most from your team, check out the following tips:

Security Guards

Depending on the size of your venue and the rowdiness of your audience, you might need to hire some security guards. Before your show starts, listen to their recommendations and communicate your own concerns and needs about the venue’s security.

For instance, if you tend to get a rowdy group up front, ask at least one security guard to be near the stage to make sure your band members stay safe and to discourage the audience from making bad decisions. If you want the security guards to keep a low profile, request that they stay near the back of the venue. Security also can check people at the door, making sure they are not bringing in glass bottles or any weapons.

Instrument Technicians

To be a successful musician you must treat your entire support staff with respect. If you have a great team of instrument technicians, realize they are in high demand in the music industry, and don’t expect them to read your mind in terms of what you need or want.

Present them with a song list well ahead of time, and ask for their help in making sure each of your instruments is ready to go, whether you need your piano tuned or your guitar strings changed, before your gig starts.

Sound Guys

When it comes to working with your sound crew, STD has rather blunt and useful advice: “Don’t piss off the sound man.” Keep in mind that these people show up early, head home late and have to deal with a huge amount of equipment. The sound crew also listens to your songs more carefully than your most devoted fans.

Go over your set with your sound crew, and come up with an efficient way to communicate before, during and after the show that doesn’t involve shouting over the audience. Make sure everyone has portable, durable and robust smartphones like the iPhone 6s that help coordinate your sound needs before the performance and allow you to communicate quickly.

Lighting Technicians

If you’ve ever been to a show where the singer looks great half the time and is standing in the dark the other half of the show, chances are good the communication is lacking between the performer and lighting technician. Like the sound crew, the lighting technicians come in early to get everything set up so you look as good as you sound.

Go over the set with them and clearly communicate if you want to have fancy lighting effects like strobes, lasers or multi-colored lights. Also be sure to see what they suggest for the size of the venue.

 

Tips For Effectively Managing Your Roadie Crew