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Lessons from Life on the Road

6/5/2014

The life of a touring artist sounds glamorous, doesn't it? Travel the world, play concerts, stay in fancy places and eat delicious meals... Yes, it can be very enjoyable, but there is a LOT more to it. Packing (one small suitcase for nearly a month?), practicing (hardly ever while on the road), performing the same program over and over and over again (but you can't sound bored!), laundry...

Here are some behind-the-scenes tips for life on the road.

Know your music thoroughly and be 100% ready to perform. Ideally, schedule a few local performances (even at home, for family and friends) before the tour. You will not have time on the way to learn or improve; you will barely have time for sound checks, much less actually practicing.
Never allow yourself to get bored with your pieces. Your audience is hearing you perform them for the first time. It’s your job to give them your very best!
Pianists - you HAVE to be flexible with the instrument you're given. One day you're playing a $200,000 Steinway, a few days later, you're given an electric piano to accompany string players in an outdoor recital. Adjust quickly and just do it.
Select a concert outfit that requires minimal care (e.g. doesn’t need to be ironed).
Be careful walking on and off stages. I've encountered lots of tricky entrances (steps, dark hallways, etc) - it’s all too easy to trip!
You’ve got to be flexible - with scheduling, your food, your comfort level with anything you are faced with. You may have perfected your at-home routine, but life on the road will throw you a curveball and you’ll just have to deal with a lot of “less than ideal” for a while. On the plus side, sometimes you learn things along the way that can help you improve your life at home. :)
Get used to doing your laundry in the sink. Bring along hand-wash detergent (keep it in a tightly closed water bottle and put that in a ziplock bag so that there’s no risk of involuntary spills). Some European bathrooms have heated towel racks - this is a great way to ensure that your clothes will be dry by the time you hit the road the next morning.
Bring snacks and a water bottle or thermos. I love my KIND bars, snack mixes (nuts and dried fruit), and my Contigo thermos - it’s drip-proof, well-insulated, and allows me to keep my favorite beverage on hand. I bring my favorite tea along with me as well. Most European hotels have water boilers in the rooms.
Look up, look around! It’s tempting to keep looking at your phone and try to stay on top of the work that’s piling up while you’re away… but there is so much to be seen as you travel. Enjoy the inspiration you can gather from new scenery, people, and experiences.

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Lessons from Life on the Road

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