A few valuable lessons I learned from Life on Tour
This short blog shares a few lessons I learned from my first few years on the road. Some tips are minor, while others are real game changers. Have a read and see if any of them resonate with your own experiences.
1. Your health is your responsibility
Your health is your responsibility. This doesn’t mean the production manager will ignore an infected cut, but questions will arise about how it got infected in the first place. You are responsible for both your mental and physical health. Many adopt methods to improve their mental health on tour, like running. Similarly, if you get a cut, treat or clean it immediately. Neglecting this responsibility can negatively impact your health, well-being, and your duties on tour.
2. The right shoes
Choose the right shoes. If your tasks on tour involve the risk of dropping heavy objects on your feet, opt for steel toe caps. However, if you can stay safe without them, comfortable shoes are essential. Forget fashionable trainers—go for running shoes. You’ll be on your feet all day, and once your feet start to hurt, so will the rest of your body, leading to fatigue. A great pair of comfortable shoes will be a lifesaver on a labour-intensive tour.
Trust me.
3. Sugar, sugar, sugar
Control yourself when it comes to sweets and fizzy drinks. They are everywhere, free, and often more tempting than water. However, don’t get sucked into drinking two or three a day to quench your thirst. Consuming that much sugar will wreak havoc on your energy levels, leaving you feeling disoriented and drained.
4. Sleep
It's one thing to say you should prioritize sleep, and another thing entirely to actually do it. On show days, finding time to rest can be challenging, else you're at a festival, building in the morning and loading out in the evening. It's unlikely you'll get much sleep on those days.
On your day off, you might just want to have fun, and sometimes you don’t even get into your hotel room until as late as 3 PM. However, getting as much sleep as you can is crucial for keeping a level head and staying strong throughout the tour. Prioritize rest whenever possible—it will benefit you more than anything else.
