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This one is for the touring musicians and crew. We wake up at wee hours to catch early flights to cities thousands of miles away. We hope that the plane takes off on time so that we’re on time for soundcheck. We land and go straight to the venue most of the time and at the end of it all, we hardly get two hours to get set and go before dressing up and getting ready for the show.
We finish the show and head back to the hotel room only to get three or four hours of sleep and then catch the early flight out to the next city or back home. Needless to say that the body doesn’t get consistent patterns of rest. Food intake is untimely and the body takes a beating over time. We have to deal with snooty clients and snarky event organizers who don’t give two hoots about all this. The worst part is that we get accustomed to it knowing fully well that we’re screwing up our health physically and mentally.
All of this for our childhood dreams of conquering the world with music. All for that adrenaline rush. All for that escapism. All for that euphoria. But at the end of the day, it’s also our bread and butter. Always remember that the perceived glamour associated with this industry is only the tip of the iceberg.
Editors Note: The author of this piece is a seasoned sound engineer with years of experience touring with bands across the country. Like countless other musicians across the country, the deaths of beloved musicians such as KK and Taylor Hawkins caused him a great deal of anguish and compelled him to try and encapsulate just a little part of the rigours that touring musicians and the crews who are instrumental in putting together a live show of any scale go through over the course of their careers.
While there is no clear solution to tour burn-out and its related complications on both physical and mental well-being, it’s important to be kind, patient and understanding every time you attend a concert, festival or gig. Music should not come at the cost of anyone’s well-being.
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