Nothing has changed since I was a young musician in the 1960s…except as I got older the fun became less and less and the pain became more and more. Touring is a young person’s game.
Same here 42 years on the Drums retired from Live Shows for Health Reasons. Thank GOD I can still play Drums and Found a Great Producer at a Great Price. I Enjoy it now; Recording w/ Professional Musicians from Hollywood to London. I work at my own pace and pick the Sessions/Bands I want. Life is Good!!🥁🎼🎵🎶🎸🎹🎧📻
Agree. Not sure why, but maybe when you're younger, you're more ready to be social or up for anything. As I got older I just wanted to do the gig and head home or to the hotel. It takes it's toll, up late in a smoky room, alcohol everywhere...lot's of BS and egos!
@aaronapter a welcome addition to the mix. I also enjoyed all the comedic elements. If starfish man only knew how much we enjoyed watching the misery he put you through 😄
A lot of work, etc. to play small venues, festivals, etc. for a few people and a bit of paper - Way back when, I absolutely loved it, nowadays, not so much, left that all behind for more stress-free vibes - Anyway, enjoy the journey... \m/
Aaron, I just finished your post about what we don’t hear about touring, and I enjoyed it immensely. I am a retired from 39 years as an elementary school and 45 years as a varsity football coach. I am a self taught drummer with playing in a band while in high school for school dances has been my only experience in gigging, if you can even call it that. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your video, especially the part when you were in New Mexico and took the time to stop and be thankful for that which you have. One thing I tried to instill in my football players is the concept of “quality time left” and how things can change in a single heartbeat. You take care, my young friend🙏🏻
I truly love this channel, you give such good insight in the industry and of a touring/gigging drummer. This spring I did my first tour("Weekend warrior" tour with 10 gigs in roughly a month around Sweden) and it was an amazing experience(But struggle to arrange everything with my regular 9-5 work). Your videos are helpful giving insight since I really wanna try and pursue this as at least a part time career in the future!
Wow. I’m humbled that you are watching from the other side of the world. You made my day. Thanks for coming along on the journey! And I believe we all write our own futures. If you set your intent, you can succeed in your pursuits!
@@aaronapter Great to hear, well deserved! Yes I believe so as well, If i hadn't done tons of local gigs and practiced a lot as well I prob wouldn't have gotten this professional tour. So I guess you just gotta stick too it and gig as much as possible :)
What ever ya do don't lose the gigs with Kara - she's great and covers a lot of ground band member wise - looks great, front person, plays great, sings great.....a real pleasing tone to her voice that probably wins a lot of new fans and keeps people in the clubs. 'Uncle Algorithm' has sent me a ton of her vids which I have watched.
I was “fortunate” enough to tour around the world when I was younger. It can be tough. Ask yourself this? : When you were a kid, did you want to run away with the carnival or circus? Because that’s what you are doing.
I toured from 1971-1975 doing 150-200 nights a year on the road. It really started to wear on me. Bands are like marriages except you are together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But the Arab oil embargo, rising or non-existant gas (we carried tons of equipment) and the damage it did to clubs really killed the economics of the business. Club owners started cutting back on nights and that killed revenues. Then they figured they could get a big sound system for less than a few weeks of paying a live band. Then disco. I got tired of being poor, quit and went to grad school so everything worked out. Still friends with my old band mates and we get together and tell war stories when we can. Love them all!
I'm typing this before I watch the video as I'm a touring entertainer. I want to see if you mention the same things I do. I've been in showbiz for 34 years and as a touring entertainer for 24 years. Without question the toughest part is the lack of sleep, and the constant travel. I wake up most mornings not knowing (for a few seconds) where I am. I also NEVER know the day or date. Every day is like the previous day, except I'm in a different city. I usually eat poorly, even though catering at the venues is always great, I still manage to not eat right, and I always end a tour 10lbs heavier than when it starts. I'll start to notice my stage clothes getting a little snug as the tours get close to ending. You're not always in a hotel. Sometimes you're on a tour bus all night (I do not sleep well on tour buses). We usually travel with about 25 people. People will start to get on each other's nerves as the tour wears on. We usually work 6 days on and 1 day off, but on your off day, you're traveling. We do about 1/3 of the shows at outdoor venues. If it's humid, I can have voice issues, and guitars will go out of tune, so you've got to stay on top of that. Rain is also an issue. We did the Minnesota State Fair this past year. It stormed like crazy, but you have to wait around for hours to see if the gig is still happening or if it'll be canceled. We drove all the way to Minnesota from somewhere in eastern Wisconsin the night before, only to sit and wait for word on whether or not the show would happen (it did NOT happen). We all always say, "the gig is a piece of cake, we're paid for all the other stuff." When the tour ends, I'm relieved, but it's tough to reacclimate to home life for me. Now I'll watch and see if you mention the same things I do.
Very cool insight! I really appreciate the perspective and wisdom that you share here! You got some tasty groove too! I'm very aware, I think, of all the hardships that traveling and touring can bring...but God knows that I want to AT LEAST have a shot at it and see how I feel. It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I HAVE played plenty of local gigs in California where I live, but I've never traveled out of state for one. I don't give a flying rat's behind about playing arenas and large stadiums...altho I would love for people regardless to come and hear me play. I just wanna get out there and do SOMETHING MORE with the abilities that God has given me. I'm not satisfied with playing in my church only, as much as I love doing that.
Great info here! Especially being respectful to the sound crew and how your speech/behavior can affect the perception of your artist. And you gotta get some noise cancelling ear buds!
I toured between 1962 and 1970 most of the time we slept on a converted School Bus occasionally we got a motel room but I think it was the experience of a lifetime sincerely JW Miller age 75 and Still rocking❤
I don’t have time to watch this in full ….but I’ll tell you as someone who got to tour when there was still magic in the biz……..y’all got ‘Nashvilled’!!! Anyone who knows the difference of old school rock touring versus Nashville will know exactly what I’m talking bout and since a massive part of the industry has moved to Nashville……it was just a matter of time!! But let’s face it, this business and the magic of it all was gutted a long ass time ago!!!
My husband toured for months of one night stands for all of the 1960s. His first marriage broke up when he finally came home to stay. When we married years later I still had to break him of the habit of hanging his socks on the lampshade to dry after he hand washed them in the sink.
When a group first starts out most singers band members just want people to hear there music. And get there message out there next minute some one spots them amd says l want to make you a star but you need to ditch your band or singers suddenly you become isolated and feel that your now on a hamsters wheel going through the motions and no longer happy .a good video keep up the good work and keep healthy as well. I saw a few big names over the years but mist of the guys are no longer with us due to burn out or scandals in there lives Michael Jackson was the best live gig I ever saw but look what fame did to him
After a month, we start to get homesick.......After two months, we start to go stir crazy(good crazy, not evil crazy). Beer is our friend. Beer is our enemy. .....oh yeah !!! You'll get to pee in many gas stations along the way. In the end, it's all about meeting new people along the trip.....P.S., be working at booking & building your shows back at home while you're on the road......& bring me back some fireworks & everclear. Thx.
Touring is a 24 hour a day job in order to play an hour on stage. If you wanna your, soak in the entire day, not just the gig. I’ve seen the world through touring. 25 tours of Europe, a dozen of Asia, about forty North American tours.
@@NikosKatsikanis a bunch of hardcore punk bands, since 1980. The thing is, when the tour’s dry up you’ll be hard pressed to find a “ regular” job, so learned how to operate audio consoles and got into IATSE. I have a house gig in a performing arts center that allows me to tour from time to time, but I had a hardcore band called The detonators that made a bunch of records, and Ive toured with guys like DOA from Canada. I had a Mexican norteno /rock band that did some touring too
I'm new here. I hope I'm wrong but I imagine you have to put up with musicians shooting up H (?) Hope I'm wrong but that's my impression from the past legends.
I'm not a Musician but I am a professional stage diver who is currently out of work , I work cheap (tickets and beer)and do all my own stunts so just hit me up if anyone is interested , lol
Nice job on the video! as a European drummer Id love to tour the states...not doable visa wise for us. Unless you're paying lot or are a huge name. booo
rule #1: just be a professional, don't be a dick. I do a ton of freelance on bass, and I bite my tongue a lot when a bandleader tells me to turn up/down, make it brighter, make it darker....just keep reminding myself--job #1 is being professional. An average player can distinguish themselves a lot from better players just by their behavior.
Typical tour stuff... Of course, my first tour we had venues double book, a venue "forgot" we were coming, and didn't book a PA, nights the promoter didn't book rooms so we had to either find fans to crash with or sleep in the van in February in Lencoln Nebraska.... It was 22 hours of bullshit for 2 hours of fun.....
He could‘ve been nicer and more motivating. But as a coordinator at a festival you‘re really under stress. You have to deal with a lot of people with all kinds of expectations, wishes and needs. You also have to fix or deal with all the shortcomings that come with each band and their divas. That alone requires quite some experience and takes a lot of patience. But if you give in to one band, you‘re in trouble with all that follow.
@@richardervins Yes, you have make friends and play nice with the sound and light folk. There is no upside to creating tensions. The sound guy can put the screws to you and you're the one that ends up looking bad. Better to be kind and have patients. I've worked with good sound people and some very bad ones.
This is the promo for Kara's show in Seville Quarter, I am a retired school teacher who is also the drum tech for the Blues Society of Northwest Florida 197977719_10161242943404768_2322863456821287294_n - Shortcut
It's no different than being an IT programmer or engineer traveling across country to work on projects a few day or months at a time. Commuting to work and airports while only seeing home once a month wears on you even if you build up coupons and travel miles...it gets old...relationships get sloppy. But the money is good...$200k a year when all added up. Do it while your young though.
3:42, I will say I used to be like this until I had kids. I'm so much more understanding now of parents with crying babies.
Beautiful. It's a privilege for you to take us with you, thank you
Nothing has changed since I was a young musician in the 1960s…except as I got older the fun became less and less and the pain became more and more. Touring is a young person’s game.
Yes, yes it has___immensely
Same here 42 years on the Drums retired from Live Shows for Health Reasons. Thank GOD I can still play Drums and Found a Great Producer at a Great Price. I Enjoy it now; Recording w/ Professional Musicians from Hollywood to London. I work at my own pace and pick the Sessions/Bands I want. Life is Good!!🥁🎼🎵🎶🎸🎹🎧📻
Agree. Not sure why, but maybe when you're younger, you're more ready to be social or up for anything. As I got older I just wanted to do the gig and head home or to the hotel.
It takes it's toll, up late in a smoky room, alcohol everywhere...lot's of BS and egos!
@@kendallevans4079 You are so right!
@@petesmith6434 👌
Great video! - It received a 420 minute standing ovation in my studio
Awesome video Aaron! I really admire what you guys do. Keep up the great work! 🥁❤️
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Another banger of a video! Keep em coming!
Figured you’d like the cat angle!
@aaronapter a welcome addition to the mix. I also enjoyed all the comedic elements. If starfish man only knew how much we enjoyed watching the misery he put you through 😄
18:08 is spot on. Represent, be nice and don't be a liability. Very well said.
Really nice video!! Probably my favorite so far. Getting recognition for the kitten account is hilarious!
Thanks so much. I put a lot of time and effort into this one.
A lot of work, etc. to play small venues, festivals, etc. for a few people and a bit of paper - Way back when, I absolutely loved it, nowadays, not so much, left that all behind for more stress-free vibes - Anyway, enjoy the journey... \m/
Great video Aaron! The late night karaoke at Hotel Congress in Tucson cracked me up. I know these long form videos take a lot of work, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Cool video, Aaron--great job!
Awesome to see you here mark!! Great playing on those gigs!!
@@aaronapter 😎😎
Aaron, I just finished your post about what we don’t hear about touring, and I enjoyed it immensely.
I am a retired from 39 years as an elementary school and 45 years as a varsity football coach.
I am a self taught drummer with playing in a band while in high school for school dances has been my only experience in gigging, if you can even call it that.
Anyway, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your video, especially the part when you were in New Mexico and took the time to stop and be thankful for that which you have. One thing I tried to instill in my football players is the concept of “quality time left” and how things can change in a single heartbeat.
You take care, my young friend🙏🏻
I truly love this channel, you give such good insight in the industry and of a touring/gigging drummer.
This spring I did my first tour("Weekend warrior" tour with 10 gigs in roughly a month around Sweden) and it was an amazing experience(But struggle to arrange everything with my regular 9-5 work).
Your videos are helpful giving insight since I really wanna try and pursue this as at least a part time career in the future!
Wow. I’m humbled that you are watching from the other side of the world. You made my day. Thanks for coming along on the journey! And I believe we all write our own futures. If you set your intent, you can succeed in your pursuits!
@@aaronapter Great to hear, well deserved! Yes I believe so as well, If i hadn't done tons of local gigs and practiced a lot as well I prob wouldn't have gotten this professional tour. So I guess you just gotta stick too it and gig as much as possible :)
Enjoyed this!! Great video and thanks for sharing.
Good stuff man. Safe travels. 🤘🥁🤘
Thanks! Will do!
Amen to Gratitude,,,,i get grumpy on the road sometimes
What ever ya do don't lose the gigs with Kara - she's great and covers a lot of ground band member wise - looks great, front person, plays great, sings great.....a real pleasing tone to her voice that probably wins a lot of new fans and keeps people in the clubs. 'Uncle Algorithm' has sent me a ton of her vids which I have watched.
Kara is one of my favorite musicians and favorite people. I’m always honored to play with her and will go the extra mile for her. She’s a true pal.
@@aaronapter I have listened to a lot of the onstage banter between y'all and I detect zero 'diva' lol
Aaron thank you for letting me tour with you. The best Paul.
❤thank you sir. I retired 2001. From the FL key's to Cali and gigs in-between. Conversion van 4 members rock reggae. I play in my studio now. ❤
I really enjoyed hearing you tell your story.
Nice seeing my friend Chuck Hall in your video from The Alpine BluesFest
I was “fortunate” enough to tour around the world when I was younger. It can be tough. Ask yourself this? : When you were a kid, did you want to run away with the carnival or circus? Because that’s what you are doing.
I toured from 1971-1975 doing 150-200 nights a year on the road. It really started to wear on me. Bands are like marriages except you are together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But the Arab oil embargo, rising or non-existant gas (we carried tons of equipment) and the damage it did to clubs really killed the economics of the business. Club owners started cutting back on nights and that killed revenues. Then they figured they could get a big sound system for less than a few weeks of paying a live band. Then disco. I got tired of being poor, quit and went to grad school so everything worked out. Still friends with my old band mates and we get together and tell war stories when we can. Love them all!
I'm typing this before I watch the video as I'm a touring entertainer. I want to see if you mention the same things I do. I've been in showbiz for 34 years and as a touring entertainer for 24 years. Without question the toughest part is the lack of sleep, and the constant travel. I wake up most mornings not knowing (for a few seconds) where I am. I also NEVER know the day or date. Every day is like the previous day, except I'm in a different city. I usually eat poorly, even though catering at the venues is always great, I still manage to not eat right, and I always end a tour 10lbs heavier than when it starts. I'll start to notice my stage clothes getting a little snug as the tours get close to ending. You're not always in a hotel. Sometimes you're on a tour bus all night (I do not sleep well on tour buses). We usually travel with about 25 people. People will start to get on each other's nerves as the tour wears on. We usually work 6 days on and 1 day off, but on your off day, you're traveling. We do about 1/3 of the shows at outdoor venues. If it's humid, I can have voice issues, and guitars will go out of tune, so you've got to stay on top of that. Rain is also an issue. We did the Minnesota State Fair this past year. It stormed like crazy, but you have to wait around for hours to see if the gig is still happening or if it'll be canceled. We drove all the way to Minnesota from somewhere in eastern Wisconsin the night before, only to sit and wait for word on whether or not the show would happen (it did NOT happen).
We all always say, "the gig is a piece of cake, we're paid for all the other stuff." When the tour ends, I'm relieved, but it's tough to reacclimate to home life for me. Now I'll watch and see if you mention the same things I do.
Very cool insight! I really appreciate the perspective and wisdom that you share here! You got some tasty groove too!
I'm very aware, I think, of all the hardships that traveling and touring can bring...but God knows that I want to AT LEAST have a shot at it and see how I feel. It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid.
I HAVE played plenty of local gigs in California where I live, but I've never traveled out of state for one.
I don't give a flying rat's behind about playing arenas and large stadiums...altho I would love for people regardless to come and hear me play. I just wanna get out there and do SOMETHING MORE with the abilities that God has given me.
I'm not satisfied with playing in my church only, as much as I love doing that.
Great video!
Great info here! Especially being respectful to the sound crew and how your speech/behavior can affect the perception of your artist. And you gotta get some noise cancelling ear buds!
I toured between 1962 and 1970 most of the time we slept on a converted School Bus occasionally we got a motel room but I think it was the experience of a lifetime sincerely JW Miller age 75 and Still rocking❤
albert lee is awesome and always on the road❤
I don’t have time to watch this in full ….but I’ll tell you as someone who got to tour when there was still magic in the biz……..y’all got ‘Nashvilled’!!! Anyone who knows the difference of old school rock touring versus Nashville will know exactly what I’m talking bout and since a massive part of the industry has moved to Nashville……it was just a matter of time!! But let’s face it, this business and the magic of it all was gutted a long ass time ago!!!
Yeah my bud Bob Corritore's place. amazing harp player
My husband toured for months of one night stands for all of the 1960s. His first marriage broke up when he finally came home to stay. When we married years later I still had to break him of the habit of hanging his socks on the lampshade to dry after he hand washed them in the sink.
If that was your only hurdle, then that’s not too bad.
When a group first starts out most singers band members just want people to hear there music. And get there message out there next minute some one spots them amd says l want to make you a star but you need to ditch your band or singers suddenly you become isolated and feel that your now on a hamsters wheel going through the motions and no longer happy .a good video keep up the good work and keep healthy as well. I saw a few big names over the years but mist of the guys are no longer with us due to burn out or scandals in there lives Michael Jackson was the best live gig I ever saw but look what fame did to him
😮
Festivals are awful for bands. Usually 30 minutes to switch out bands is ridiculous and much worse when you have an "I'm in charge here" sound tech
For real. That sound guy seemed awful to work with.
Enjoyed this. What gear doe you take with you?
Much rather play in the heat than the cold. The cold is THE WORST condition to play in.
After a month, we start to get homesick.......After two months, we start to go stir crazy(good crazy, not evil crazy). Beer is our friend. Beer is our enemy. .....oh yeah !!! You'll get to pee in many gas stations along the way. In the end, it's all about meeting new people along the trip.....P.S., be working at booking & building your shows back at home while you're on the road......& bring me back some fireworks & everclear. Thx.
The gal in the band is really awesome.. !!
Touring is a 24 hour a day job in order to play an hour on stage.
If you wanna your, soak in the entire day, not just the gig.
I’ve seen the world through touring. 25 tours of Europe, a dozen of Asia, about forty North American tours.
🎉what band
@@NikosKatsikanis a bunch of hardcore punk bands, since 1980. The thing is, when the tour’s dry up you’ll be hard pressed to find a “ regular” job, so learned how to operate audio consoles and got into IATSE. I have a house gig in a performing arts center that allows me to tour from time to time, but I had a hardcore band called The detonators that made a bunch of records, and Ive toured with guys like DOA from Canada. I had a Mexican norteno /rock band that did some touring too
@@brucehartnell1475 sweet I will Google them
@@brucehartnell1475 detonation rocket?
if so, I’m getting Roy Orbison and Chuck Berry vibes
I'm new here. I hope I'm wrong but I imagine you have to put up with musicians shooting up H (?) Hope I'm wrong but that's my impression from the past legends.
That sounds guy was the worst haha
I'm not a Musician but I am a professional stage diver who is currently out of work , I work cheap (tickets and beer)and do all my own stunts so just hit me up if anyone is interested , lol
In every soundstage clip I saw,the keyboard was way to upfront in the mix
I went through 58 drummers and 8 bass players in 25 years of touring full time It’s not for MOST.
TAMA vic firth 😊
Nice job on the video! as a European drummer Id love to tour the states...not doable visa wise for us. Unless you're paying lot or are a huge name. booo
2 weeks here, 2 weeks there....
rule #1: just be a professional, don't be a dick. I do a ton of freelance on bass, and I bite my tongue a lot when a bandleader tells me to turn up/down, make it brighter, make it darker....just keep reminding myself--job #1 is being professional. An average player can distinguish themselves a lot from better players just by their behavior.
Typical tour stuff...
Of course, my first tour we had venues double book, a venue "forgot" we were coming, and didn't book a PA, nights the promoter didn't book rooms so we had to either find fans to crash with or sleep in the van in February in Lencoln Nebraska....
It was 22 hours of bullshit for 2 hours of fun.....
Tasty slide player Kara
is...
Yes, she shines on slide ... particularly on the slower tempo songs.
Man that sound guy was RUDE!
He could‘ve been nicer and more motivating. But as a coordinator at a festival you‘re really under stress. You have to deal with a lot of people with all kinds of expectations, wishes and needs. You also have to fix or deal with all the shortcomings that come with each band and their divas. That alone requires quite some experience and takes a lot of patience. But if you give in to one band, you‘re in trouble with all that follow.
@@richardervins Yes, you have make friends and play nice with the sound and light folk. There is no upside to creating tensions. The sound guy can put the screws to you and you're the one that ends up looking bad. Better to be kind and have patients. I've worked with good sound people and some very bad ones.
Long hours little sleep super Trucking
Geez The cringe factor! It's like an episode of The Wonder Years.
Or you could quit, be regular & work on a computer on a cubicle.
Jeeeeez!
This is the promo for Kara's show in Seville Quarter, I am a retired school teacher who is also the drum tech for the Blues Society of Northwest Florida 197977719_10161242943404768_2322863456821287294_n - Shortcut
I'm out. Boohoo hoo. My life in a band is so hard.
i wouldn’t recommend it. At all.
Great… a crying baby…and someone spilling out like a busted can of biscuits… yeaaa! 🤢
Keeping it 100: y'all suck . . .
get a job if its not all cracked up to be
It's no different than being an IT programmer or engineer traveling across country to work on projects a few day or months at a time. Commuting to work and airports while only seeing home once a month wears on you even if you build up coupons and travel miles...it gets old...relationships get sloppy. But the money is good...$200k a year when all added up. Do it while your young though.