How To Survive a DIY Tour

Eventually, artists that dream of taking their craft to the next level will have to make some moves outside of their home city. Touring can be nerve-wracking and expensive at the best of times, and downright depressing at the worst. But it can also be a lot of fun, and very worth the stress if you can weather it.

When you're first getting started, you're going to have to do a lot of the work yourself. Driving, connecting with concert promoters and venue owners, gear maintenance, and many other responsibilities are yours and yours alone. Over time, you'll get the satisfaction of seeing your act grow worldwide. With a bit of luck, you might even be able to carve out a sustainable touring route that you can do again and again.

DIY (do-it-yourself) touring has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. It is an opportunity to grow and improve personally while you do what you love. Here are a few tips to help you have a successful trip every time.

1. Pay attention to your vehicle's needs.

When you're touring, your vehicle is your home. If you make any money touring, the vehicle is the first place that your money should go. Aside from keeping gas in the tank, pay attention to visual/audible cues that your vehicle is not running properly. My recommendation is to take your vehicle in for service at the first sign of trouble. If you don't, chances are higher that you will miss some of your performances. You may even become stranded in an unfamiliar area. Having a smooth touring experience is largely impacted by how reliable your mode of travel is.

2. Make a budget.

Boring, right? It will be worth it, trust me. In terms of monetary gain, DIY touring is essentially a vacation, at least at first. Like any vacation, you will have to save up your money and plan for this time that you spend away from home, which leads me to my next tip...

3. Look for work-from-home/out-of-office job opportunities.

Although they are hard to find, a job that you can chip away at on the road will save you a lot of stress and scrambling at the end of the month. Look for writing and editing work such as transcribing, closed-captioning, and writing reviews. If you're a visual arts-type, graphic design work is a perfect option for people in touring acts. If you're feeling creative, it might be a great time for you to finally start that blog or podcast and build it into something that can be monetized. Bring your laptop (IN A HARD, PROTECTIVE CASE!) and find something that works for you.

4. Bring Back-Up Gear and a Toolbox

Of course you don't want to go overboard, but it is smart to pack some back-up equipment. Something that you need for your show IS going to break or get lost. Try to at least have essentials covered (for example, a guitar player should bring a back-up guitar if possible, and definitely a few packs of strings). Having a small toolbox on hand will also save you a lot of grief.

5. Exercise

One of the nice parts of touring is that it provides a fair bit of downtime. If you can consistently devote some of that time towards going for a jog, playing an outdoor sport/game with your tour-mates, or even doing a few push-ups & sit-ups, your physical and mental health will be in great form. I recommend trying to accomplish this in the morning. Starting the day on such a productive note will boost your mood, something you and your tour-mates will appreciate greatly. One of my favourite ways to get a bit of exercise is to put on music written in/about the city I'm visiting and stroll around. This way, I can take some time to be a tourist as well!

6. Put effort into your diet.

It is all too easy to eat fast-food for every meal when you're on the road. It's cheap! It's fast! It's everywhere! But everyone knows the consequences of an all fast-food diet. Make a plan to go to a grocery store every morning, and know what you're shopping for. Being in a new area of the world and having a massive sweet-tooth, I am often fighting the urge to buy candies that I haven't tried before. It has really helped me to make a list of healthy foods that I need, and to stick to that list every day. Also, it's a great idea to invest in a small personal cooler.

7. Read/Write/Do Something Quiet for YOU

You will have a fair deal of windshield time, and you might as well use it! Bring along a book (or several), and try to finish reading by the end of the tour. Write songs and stories, or keep a journal. Take pictures! Practice your instrument! Do something fun to keep yourself sane. Being cooped up in a van with the same people for weeks or months on end is enough to make anyone a little batty, so bring along a hobby that is calming and personal.

With all of this in mind, you're prepared to live out of a van for the foreseeable future. Now all you have to do is book a few shows and hit the road!