Tips while on tour

Part of being a working musician means "taking that show on the road." We wanted to offer some tips from staff who have lived to tell the tale, beginning with our Executive Director Ruth Brewster.
"I have been on many many tours, both as a performer and as a director. I have traveled in fifteen states, three provinces, and eleven other countries as a touring musician -on busses, cars, trains, planes, and subways. I have toured as a singer and soloist with both student, professional, and church groups. I have played timpani in Sweden, and handbells in Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Finland. I even toured with a small opera company for the Swedish government.
Hopefully I have learned a couple things to make traveling easier for a musician. Here are some tips for when you are on tour:

1. Don't complain. About anything. Unless you can fix the problem, your complaining just makes things worse.
2. Take care of yourself -a sick musician is no help to anyone. Eat right -limit the fast food. Sleep right -staying up late and getting up early to meet the bus the next morning is hard on your health.
3. Remember you are part of a team. This isn't about you. It is about your mission, in your case, it's about the music.
4. Pack light. Whatever you bring you carry yourself. You really CAN make due with a small bag. If you are carrying an instrument, never leave it in a hotel room unsecured. Sometimes you need purchase invoices for your instrument. This is for when you come back through customs. You may need to prove where you bought it. Do your homework before you leave.
5. Remember to enjoy the sights. Think: "will I ever be back in (wherever you are...)"
6. Even if you don't like different types of food, try the local cuisine. You may be suprised.
7. Take lots of digital pictures. Take an extra flash drive to store them, and extra batteries!
8. Leave your laptop at home.
9. Write. Text or e-mail lots of messages back home. Get international service for your phone.
10. Purchase only the ammount of souvenirs that you can carry, or can afford to ship. No one else will carry them for you.
11. Before you go, try and learn a few phrases like "please," "thank you," "can you help me?" in the local language.
12. Understand the money conversion between Dollars and Euros, or Pesos, or whatever else.
13. And again -Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy."

Thanks Ruth. If you have any touring stories to share please post them in the comments section.