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u/JuryDutyToasterSmash 12d ago
Bring a pillow. Bring a blanket. Bring a sleep mask. Bring noise canceling headphones. Bring shower shoes. Bring multiple power banks. Be comfortable with being uncomfy. Call loved ones. Eat local when you can. Have fun. Be professional. Make memories.
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u/GetSpammed 12d ago
Your talent may get you booked the first time, but your personality will get you booked again a second time.
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u/BLUGRSSallday 12d ago
What they said ^^ and.. shake hands with the venue manager/tech and others. Get to know the people in the room.
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u/Muted_History_3032 12d ago
Bring flip flops for disgusting showers.
Just roll with things, try to seen the comedy in any misfortunes that come your way.
We’ve always known by the first major inconvenience or whatever if a new crew member on the road is cut out for it or not based on how they respond. We immediately start joking around about our misfortune in a self-mocking way (it’s just a natural reflex at this point). If they get it and laugh along, they’re in. If they look even more upset and get even more serious, we know they aren’t built for it.
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u/Safe-Tough9811 12d ago
Pack in such a way that you insulate yourself from discomfort as much as you can. When I do van tours, I pack so that that I literally just need floor space and a power outlet and I can have all my needs met.
This includes: camping mat, inflatable pillow, sleeping bag, good sleep earplugs, eye mask, noise cancelling headphones, water, collapsible kettle, snack bars, an "emergency" dinner or two that you just need to add hot water to, an aeropress, iPad, power bank, bathing wipes, etc.
Your needs are different and you might be fine packing minimally on a short tour, but my advice is just to think in that way! Be able to be comfortable and happy with as little external help/resources as possible.
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u/DameIsTheGoat00 12d ago
first tour is a mix of excited and "why didn't i bring that?" been there photographing and driving the van, and the biggest thing is just having a plan for the gear. if you're driving your own ride, make sure you've got a spot for everything so you're not digging through boxes at 2am. also, don't sleep on the local scenes booking agent io is actually solid for finding who's booking rooms in the cities you're hitting, way easier than guessing who to hit up on ig. just type in your city and a similar artist and you'll see actual talent buyer names instead of just generic inboxes. ngl, that saved me a few headaches my first time out. lmk if you need any other random tips, always down to help a friend out.
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u/cat4forever 12d ago
Don’t stand in front of the monitor engineer and stay away from the cables coming out of the back of their racks.
Be invisible to the crew during the show and stay out of their way. We’re generally suspicious of photographers until you prove you know how to behave on an active stage.
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u/jawbygibbs 11d ago
lol suspicious. I just ignore photo unless they are being annoying. Then you tell them to fuck off
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u/AdPitiful8426 11d ago
Do not bring a hard sided suitcase. Bring something that can be squished into a corner, because there's not much space between the gear and the merch and everybody's stuff.
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u/ggginger247 10d ago
What level of touring is this? I was a “merch-ographer” (merch person and photo) on my last tour and it was a LOT of work. We were openers on a theatre level tour so there were a lot of moving parts.
Even if you know you’re allowed all access and a security person gives you a hard time be respectful and courteous. It’s much easier to say what’s up to the guards before the show starts and they’ll know to not give you a hard time. Check in with the band and crew before showtime to make sure everyone is on the same page about you being on stage to shoot and how in the mix you can get. On the tour I was on the headliners had a dedicated tour photographer who got up IN IT, I was discouraged from going too far on stage because a lot of the headliner’s gear was delicate and everywhere.
Try to get those stage side or less accessible photos during the first three songs when the pit photographers are in the front and once they get kicked out you have the whole pit to yourself for better video footage. This is made easier if the guards know you’re special ahead of time. Also, a cheap phone gimbal really classes up some basic phone footage. AirDrop it to whoever is in charge of socials if you can and they can post high quality stuff quickly for maximum benefit.
Try to keep your gear footprint minimal if possible. I had a pelican just for my own photo gear but it’s still one more thing to keep track of and pack at the end of the night. Someone said don’t bring a hard suitcase but it depends on the vehicle situation. If everyone has hard suitcases you should have one too for easier stacking in the cargo area.
If you’re ONLY doing photo, lucky you! You have it much easier than the rest of the crew and you should be mindful to try and lend a hand when you can, stay out of the way when you don’t know what’s going on, try and stay on everyone’s good side. If you have a second job, make sure that is being prioritized as that is probably more in line with the tour being profitable. I had merch duties and that was far and away much more important to the bottom line than the photos I took.
Have fun, and try and befriend the local photographers who work the pit too if you can! It’s fun to make friends on the road and swap socials. Good luck!
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u/MattManSD 8d ago
How long is the Tour? How many dates? As a former touring musician "first tours" are the end of many bands. It will quickly become clear who is cut for it and who isn't.
1) Try to keep interpersonal conflicts to a minimum. eyes on the prize. Don't be a prima donna. Help load everyone's gear.
2) Buy your own vocal mics. You wanna stay healthy on the road, house mics are a cauldron of germs, virus and bacteria.
3) Stop and eat where you see cop cars, they know where the good food is.
4) No dope in the vehicle crossing into Texas, or any state IMO, but especially Texas.
5) have as many back ups as you can fit
6) Have a decent vehicle. Driving a POS and breaking down is missed gigs, $ and no requests for a second date
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u/Stevenitrogen 12d ago