Ahh...the bus and tour life...Its like living in a submarine--close quarter living at its oddest... Some great tips so far--so let me try and fill in some blanks from my experiences..
Biggest issue for most are noise, smell, and leaving your crap around in other peoples way. Keep aware of those things.
In a nutshell--keep your planning and packing simple...as if you were goin camping. In fact camping stores have some GREAT handy ways to compact and consolidate a lot of needs...and most drug stores have bins full of 'travel size' items which are perfect for the
road... If you have your schedule--try and plan out your travel days and your show days and what you need to do. I used to plan and pack for 10-15 days worth at a shot before needing a big 'recycle' of things...but sometimes if your schedule is spaced out enough you can pack for less. I camped a lot--so I was used to spartan living...few shirts, few shorts, couple sweats, couple pants, bag of socks & a second pair of shoes, bag of personal/toiletry items--done.. Think that everything will get worn 2x if not 4x before a
wash break--so 4 shirts can last you 8-10 days (plus the merch guy can hook you up sometimes). Double that use for pants. Not so on socks and undies--pack the most of those. So for me a medium duffelbag and a smaller case or bag, plus my gig/work stuff.. Space is tight--bring out only what you need minimally...everything in the bus belly is for longer stops or overnights or when you have to change out..
Limit whatever 'luxury' items you bring to just a few things you will need (i.e. tools, phone, laptop & accesssories, personal wants
etc) and keep any real valuables down to a bare minimum--if you cannot easily replace it on the
road at walmart or target--you don't need it with you. You're working--not on vacation--and everything can and will get broken or dropped or have issues..so think of everything you bring as 'disposable' and that will help you organize. I have gone
thru many laptops on tours..broken by accident or broken by airlines.. I've had luggage 'lost' and I've seen people SAY they picked up a bag when they didn't..YOU are ultimately responsible for everything you bring but consider it all disposable, which you may have to replace or have a backup for on the important stuff. For example: If you have everything on a laptop harddrive--back it up with a CD AND a USB..AND print it out if needed. If you have your music library on your IPOD--back it up.. Get the idea? I kept all my
venue info & contract info when I was touring in both a pair of big Binders, but also electronically. I worked off electronic versions BUT I would update the binders. You don't want broken items or lost/ stolen items / valuables to become a huge issue for you--oh--and leave your bling at home. The real important stuff--should have a backup or two...
Learn to layer your clothing for needs & be comfortable--undershirts, shorts, sweats and tee's
etc...plus know the general climates you are going to now to plan for. Rain gear is helpful but don't go crazy with boots and 3 piece outfits--a decent rain
jacket and hat is usually more then plenty. Make sure your clothes are durable and comfortable. Extra small things like belts, lanyards, batteries, sharpies and the like--all handy to have..
Pack ALL your worn dirties in sealable plastic bags, til you can get to a
venue with washers. Box of trashbags or gallon zip locks are great--ideally the dirties go in the bus belly, but also good to have it a bag with you in the
bunk just in case you don't get a chance--and a bag will store great at the
foot of the
bunk to prop your feet on--or can double as a pillow.
Make sure you do NOT seal up anything that is wet or it will mold/mildew and ruin everything else...
Don't pack with you to take anything you 'love'...like a favorite leather
jacket or irreplacable memento--consider everything you bring as replacable and disposable if it gets trashed, broken, lost, stolen or used up. Again I have gone
thru laptops, clothes, tools, and so on--stuff gets left behind, stuff gets broken, stuff gets lost no matter how well you plan--it can and does happen. If you bring a camera--keep it small and simple and cheap...again--stuff you can buy or replace at Walmart...
Bonus must-haves in
advance are plenty of socks and shirts/shorts--and buy more socks when you get a chance cause you go
thru them a lot--and being a sock-fairy to others who may have run out can make you friends quick...but re-using the same stinky socks or shirt over and over can make you enemys. Also have an extra pair or two of DRY shoes as mentioned (plus you can 'weatherproof' most shoes to help keep them dry with beeswax/sno-seal and a hair dryer prior to getting them wet). Sweats and loose
fitting clothing are great caused it can get cramped.. you will have your work clothes--you will have you 'resting' clothes. Flip flops as mentioned for
venue showers are great--foot disease and blisters can really ruin your trip..plus your own towels is great. Basic toiletries--again the travel sizes are wonderful...and pack them into a zip lock bag--same for tooothbrush/paste and mouthwash etc--separate baggie...basically if its liquid it should go into a baggy...else you will hate it when a shampoo
bottle or sunscreen tube opens up in clothes or in your laptop bag..or that
bottle of mouthwash cracks open onto your 'minty fresh socks'..
Medicines--this is something many don't think about but get a good zinc powder (Gold Bond) for feet and other areas that could get sweaty or wet or blister. Pack a basic set of cold meds and allergies stuff if you have allergies. Its not uncommon to get a sniffle on the
road or get off a gig at 3am and feel like you have a cold--a couple of Nyquil can help you sleep and
ease the symptoms so you can keep goin the next morning. Also pack some anti-diarreha and nausea stuff--some
road food will make you sick as a dog...so you will want to curb it as quick as you can. There is a general "bus rule" on tours--the bus bathroom is for 'liquid' waste only--no solids if at all possible (they don't get cleaned out for weeks sometimes depending on schedules--and they will smell up out of the holding tank)--so try to save dumping your recycled solids til the rest stop or
venue..or use a trashbag in the bowl...but thats another long story.
Hand sanitizer--wasn't available when I was out--but I would pack it and use it regularly if I was goin on the
road again. If you have any prescript meds--get an advanced supply of them. IF you have severe
med probs--wear your medic alert wristband, keep it listed in your wallet, and keep your doctor or family emergency contact in there...and tell others you are with of this concern should you have a problem. Your Tour manager will probably have this basic info (I kept a general list of basics on my crew)--BUT you may not be around them or they may not be around you all the time. I had one guy give me his BLOOD type when I asked if he had any medical issues I should know about...you don't need to go crazy but just keep the basic info on you....
A small travel sewing kit is great perk to sew up the hole in your pocket you did not know about til later...the one that all your money slipped out of 'somewhere'.. Also--credit cards--overall its best to minimize their use and not travel with more then one or two (in case they get stolen).. I would always keep ONE card empty and ready for any emergency need--i.e. ER visit or emergency
purchase or a backup
escape plan...
Otherwise--use your deim...thats what its there for...
Pay attention to a few personal things while in close quarters--if you snore--bring a method to curb your snoring (nose strips or a jaw insert
etc) or after a few nights--others may smother you when you sleep. If you do not know if you snore--find out now somehow--lest others 'tell you' the 'hard way'.
For my bus trips I liked having a small neck pillow--it was my 'luxury'...to keep my from getting a stiff neck cramped in a
bunk or seat. Some folks brought their own blankets or whatever...be comfortable--have fun...but again don't bring anything that is not 'disposable'. Alternately--if you are like some who can sleep
thru anything (I can easily
nap under a
stage with a full concert going--but not everyone can do that) some folks like to have eye blinders (or a bandanna works great) and some ear plugs which can keep your
bunk mates who may be loud or staying up for some reason from mucking your sack time. Some folks like or 'need' to 'decompress' and stay up a while after a
load out before bed...some just go right to it--just try to be patient... Also--if you smoke--bring some patches or gum for when you run out or if the others do not
smoke and you are not stopping for a while...if you don't
smoke (good for you--don't start!) then keep in mind others may--its a part of this industry, and you might have to tolerate it so don't be a smoking nazi.. Be considerate AND tolerant of others as best you can but also understand that when folks get tired they get 'sloppy' and forget sometimes--everyone does to some degree...so keep that in mind..
Lastly, If you are in need of your passport for this tour--take extra back up measures (i.e. make color copies/scans of them and email them to yourself or store them in a web mail account
etc) and have backup copies of your passport and ID with you.. They won't 'work' as a passport but will be helpful with a consulate office to expedite a replacement and to ID you. Try to keep your passport secure and know where it is at all times. If you are travelling outside the US into Canada or Mexico--US consulate phone #'s in nearby citys are a perk for planning but not neccesary...but what IS a good plan is to take any credit cards or bank phone numbers & info--and keep them in a list handy and secure just in case you need to contact them for lost or stolen items. Last thing you want is to have a lost passport or stolen wallet in another country holding you up or pissing you off and distracting you from things with worry. This website can help you with backup travel plans for passport & ID tips..
Things Travelers Need To Know | Copy Your Passport's Identificiation Page for backup | Passports and Visas
Keep ID/wallets/passports in a secure location--and keep copies in your luggage and with family/friends at home, as well as extra passport photo's if needed. Sometimes there will be a small valuables safe the
driver has access to--but not always--and it may not be as 'safe' as locked in your luggage. Do the same with your other ID--drivers license / ID
etc..
Well that is all I can think of for now...I'm sure I left a ton out.
Point here is to stay focused on your job, keep open to the new learning experience and all you will get to do and see...and all you may learn in every stop to expand your
current knowledge...but also have fun. Be aware of everything you do for
safety & personal security, and be a safe working professional out there. Learn to adapt to the situations as they come--and the challenges you may
face...and lastly be respectful to your local crews & their venues--cause many times you're doing what they want to do....or you're doing what they used to do. GL...
-w