Say you’re a singer/songwriter and you’ve decided to hit the road. That’s a great path toward success: future record executives will like to see that you’ve managed to do a lot of work on your own and have a lot of contacts to start with. It used to be, back in the day, that a total unknown could get signed and pushed by a big company, but those days are all but gone now. You have to prove that you can do a lot of it on your own, and then you can get latched on with a record label who can help you get to that next level. So if you’re trying to make it on your own, you are up against the world. Here are a few good tips to getting to that next level by yourself.
Make Friends
It may seem obvious, but it’s not. You’re not just looking for a place to sleep, you are building a friend circle around the whole country. What this means is that when you’re in a town, actually make friends, get their phone number, go to lunch with them the next day, text them from the road, this type of thing. Engage with the people you meet. Also, you should always be on the look out for other musicians touring around who might need a place to crash. You can then say that you have a friend in that city, and you put them in touch, and a true social network has been established. Also, definitely host random musicians when you’re off the road. The notion of pay-it-forward is alive and well in the touring life.
Reliable Car
The worst thing you can do is have an old clunker break down on you somewhere in the middle of Arizona. You need to have a car that is not only reliable, but can also fit all your gear and be comfortable to drive for 8-10 hours at a time. A friend of mine who drives 50,000+ miles per year loves her Nissan Cube. She said she didn’t think of it too highly, aesthetically, and I don’t blame her, but after she saw it at Universal City Nissan she realized that it would have enough room for all her guitars and clothes. She swears by it and recently told me she’d never drive another type of car while she’s still doing this type of work. Check them out for yourself at http://www.downtownnissan.com, and don’t worry that they look weird.
Water, Snacks and Socks
One thing you don’t want to waste your money on is buying food and water at every travel stop you go by. That gets expensive really quickly. A little dollar or two here or there can really break the bank without you even knowing. Go to a store with bulk food and get lots of snacks and waters so that you don’t have to stop all the time for things like that. Also, while you’re there, pick up a pack of fresh socks. You will love yourself for having those extra socks when you need them. It may be a month in, or two, but there will most definitely be a time when you will be stoked to have a fresh pair of socks. Take it from me!
