The Glamour of Touring
If you are looking for an exciting lifestyle, look no farther, as the glamour of touring is right around the corner! If your job requires travel, you are very familiar with the glamour of touring. But even it not, these days you can work almost anywhere and adopt an exciting itinerary. It has become easier than ever to book your flight online. A couple clicks, a credit card and your destination is confirmed! (Below: Facebook Live video behind the scenes at a recent Double Grande show in Banner Elk, N.C.!)
https://www.facebook.com/678850421/videos/10159021935445422/
Now comes one of the fun parts of travel: the luggage. Of course, your type of luggage depends on what you do. As a touring musician, I always thought speakers had it easy. All they needed to do was walk on stage with a clicker and maybe a little notecard. Wow! That was the life for me! Little did I realize that most speakers are also authors and schlep books. I became one of them. Of course, books add weight and bulk to your bags, so dividing them up appropriately between bags becomes a challenge. There is always the option of shipping the books, but it depends on the type of engagement you book whether that option is worth it. Also, if you have roots that go back to a grandmother that went through the depression as I do, you still stuff as much product as you can in your personal baggage.
Traveling with Equipment?
Of course, if you’re a traveling musician, there are additional challenges and the glamour of touring becomes even more apparent. Depending on the type of entertainment, it becomes absolutely necessary to always carry on your performing clothes. There’s nothing like arriving two days before your luggage does and scouring every thrift store in town for something that resembles a long red dress with sparkles on it. Fortunately, the musicians union has worked hard to make it possible to board with personal smaller musical instruments, but that can still create a challenge with differing overhead bin sizes and flights filled to capacity.
Airport Security
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The glamour of touring has risen to a completely new level now with all the airport security. You can feel safer than ever as you board the plane with numerous checkpoints and pat downs. Of course, you need to get there at least two hours early and hope there are no questionable looking people on your flight. Also, it’s important not to try to make direct eye contact with airport security. They take their job very seriously and it’s not a good idea to come across as too friendly. Also, as I have personally traveled with young children, I know the challenges of traveling with those sweet little transports. However, when you sit across the aisle from the sweet looking twins who start screaming as soon as you take off, the glamour of touring really takes a predictable turn. Earplugs become your best travel accessory, even if they’re bright orange.
Time Changes
It is very exciting to travel across the country or internationally, at least at first. Time changes can really work to your advantage. Or not. When you gain time, it’s wonderful. Flying from the west coast of the U.S. to the east coast, as I do many times, is nice when you can stay up past your 9 P.M. normal bedtime because it’s now midnight in New York. However, when coming the other way and you happen to have a two hour drive to the airport and 6 A.M. flight out, you quickly learn to sleep in not-made-for-comfort plane seating. Heaven forbid if you try to recline!
What’s Your Story?
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I know many others who have their own stories of the glamour of touring. In fact, I’ve toured with some of them. Staying flexible, wearing dark socks without holes and now bringing plenty of your own light snacks for your flights makes travel much more enjoyable. (Have you checked how many calories and how much sugar are in those in-flight cookie snacks?) Of course the greatest joy is getting to do what you do very well, such as speak for an engagement or give a show stopping performance. That makes the quick turn-arounds, the off-site car rentals and the all-out runs between connector flights all worthwhile. Oh, and did I mention sleeping on airport floors when they cancelled your flight and there’s not even enough time to check in a hotel?
I know many who are able to fly first-class and afford many extra perks. But for most, that is not always an option. A great attitude, ability to adapt and have fun wherever you are will serve you well. I look forward to hearing about your stories of the glamour of touring!
This Could be Your Best Trip Ever!
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DEBORAH JOHNSON: Helping others Get Unstuck with Healthy Mental Code. Speaking, Concerts, In-Depth Workshops. Most recent book Bad Code: Overcoming Bad Mental Code That Sabotages Your Life
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