You’re probably aching to get on the road again. Who could blame you? The past year has been a wild ride. While it has taught us new ways of connecting with our audience or allowed us to reset and recharge, the result is nothing but the freedom to travel and experience new places, meet new people, and do what you love every day.
Even if you are a pro at touring, you may still feel overwhelmed by packing for your trip. You might also find yourself resentful for not having packed something after leaving for home.
We’ll be discussing the most important things to take on your next tour, so you have the best experience. You don’t want anything to get in the way of your experience.
The basics
This one may seem obvious, but it is important to remember the basics: good shoes, socks and different outfits for the stage.
You will also need the essentials for your instrument, such as picks, batteries and tuners. It wouldn’t hurt to have backups for the essentials.
There are also things like extra batteries or chargers, vitamins, etc.
It would be best if you were careful about overpacking. If your luggage is getting too full, you might consider reducing the number of hair gels that you need. Perhaps you could wear the same shirt as a tour tradition to every show. Or maybe one pair of shoes is enough. (Shoes take up so much space!)
You can make a list on your phone and add items to it as you pack.
All the comforts of home
A little bit of home is helpful, especially if you are going away for a while or your first time out. You might bring your partner’s sweatshirt or your lucky scarf, a blanket, a water bottle, and preferably a pillow or blanket. While you don’t want too many things, you want to feel your best. Sometimes that means spending a little more on the things you love. Even on the most difficult days, you still have a piece of home.
Exclusive tour merch
You should ensure that you have limited edition merchandise that is only available on tour before you go. This is crucial to making each show and tour memorable for your fans. It’s more likely that they will come to the show if they can only get one t-shirt. This will allow them to feel like they are part of something special long after leaving.
Your fans should feel part of the experience. You want them to have a great time. Showing them an appreciation for their support on tour is one way to build trust.
All your favourite foods
You’ll still be able to eat out on the road. But if you have a favourite snack or food that you cannot live without, it’s advisable to keep your hands full. You don’t want your journey to be a series of stops trying to find the right store. Stock up on essentials if you can see so that you always have them in your van
Make a list of all your favourite snacks and must-haves to ensure you don’t miss anything (e.g. granola bars or dried fruit, chips, chocolate, energy drinks, flavoured drinks, nuts etc.)
Activities for downtime
There is a lot of time to spare on your tour. You have a lot of time to entertain yourself, even if you don’t have an internet connection. Bring a book, notebook or video game.
An acoustic guitarist
This can be filed under “things that you will probably end up doing while driving.” It’s a great way to get some inspiration, pass the time, brainstorm and keep your mind busy. Bonus points if the item is a bit older or more worn than new. This will allow you to play around with it without worrying whether it will break before the show.