Unknown bands often travel abroad for the first time with the expectation of meeting locals and performing music. For bands that think touring is a relaxing, fun vacation, it’s a rude awakening to the demands and inherent discomfort of DIY touring. We’re going to share three reasons why touring is not a vacation.
It’s not relaxing to travel.
Your next tour may include a stroll on the beach if you are lucky. But that doesn’t make it relaxing. It’s the exact opposite. Touring is stressful for musicians, whether it’s the pressure of performing every night or the inability to take time for yourself. You will be disappointed if you try to book a tour to get two birds with one stone. Although there is much time on the road, it is usually spent in a van or green room at the venue. You will visit interesting places but not enough to enjoy them.
Vacations are time off work. Touring is work.
DIY touring is a lot of work. While some musicians may have lived a happy life on the road, performing night after night on stage, it is a far cry from the hard work involved in DIY touring. It would be best if you didn’t consider touring as a vacation. There’s not enough time to do all the things you’d like on vacation. Either you’ll be working on shows, such as driving to and loading into venues or sound-checking, or you will not be able to do the things you want. It’s not like vacation, waiting for your turn, loading out, or waiting in long lines to get to the next city.
Touring should not be about making it, but making it.
For a reason, vacations can be expensive. These vacations are crucial breaks for people who want to break from the stresses of daily living and have fun. If done right, touring should bring you and your band money. Your first tour is a financial and personal investment. However, you should have a plan to earn money, fans and notoriety eventually. You shouldn’t spend money on long tours that don’t yield meaningful results.
Vacation and touring are two distinct things. Trying to combine them can lead to frustration for all involved. You will have the best chance of success with your touring efforts if you keep your music work and personal life separate.
Challenging yourself.
You might feel like you’re stuck in a rut in your daily life. Or you’re yearning for something exciting and different. You’re craving new experiences and new challenges. Travel is the ideal place to test yourself. It pushes people to their limits and gets them outside their comfort zone. You’ll discover how resourceful you are when exposed to new places, people and experiences. Maybe it’s finding your way around a busy city. Or ordering a meal when you don’t speak the language. Or zip-lining. You’ll feel pride when you finish your trip successfully. Overcoming challenges will bring you joy and energy for future tests. You’ll realize how capable you are and build your confidence.