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Part of what makes musicians work so hard and sacrifice so much is to attain the goal of making a decent living off the music they make. When you're an aspiring musician, you want to take part in the glamorous lifestyle of being on the road, seeing different cities, meeting different people, and going on adventures.

The fact of the matter is, however, life on the road and touring as a musician is a tough experience when you're first starting out. Imagine a road trip in a cramped van with 5 other people for hours on end, book-ended by sometimes having to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag. And then starting all over again the very next day. Many bands that have otherwise gotten along perfectly have ended up breaking up after their first long tour. So, in this post, we will point out some "tricks of the trade" to make your tour experience a bit more comfortable.

- Be prepared to spend more money than you make. The cost of the van rental, food, gas, the occasional emergency such as a flat tire - all of these things end up coming out of the band's wallet and the money you'll make at shows and with your merch might cover half of those expenses. Touring is an essential part of expanding your band's fan base, and it is also a large monetary investment that is well worth it if you want your band to succeed beyond playing in your local town.

- Bring the same personal belongings you would bring on a camping trip. Bring as much clean clothing as you can fit. You'll thank yourself for those extra clean socks and underwear after only a couple days. Toothpaste, soap, deodorant, and aspirin are essential. Bring more than one pillow because you might lose the other. Same goes for an extra jacket. Touring is essentially an urban camping trip. So, remember the cell phone charger too.

- Don't expect to have much time to see sights. While the idea of stopping at Venice Beach to play in the sand or go to the top of the Empire State Building may sound amazing, the reality is that you probably won't have time to do such things. Some clubs request that the touring band be at the venue at 3 or 4 oclock to load in and do sound check. Plus, take into account the traffic patterns of unfamiliar cities and stopping for gas and food, as well as the fact that if you're trying to conserve money, you won't want to waste the extra gas to drive an hour out of the way to visit a sight. Remember, you're on official band business so any extra frills come after any band-related business.

These are just a few tips for touring. Being on tour with a band is an adventure most people never get to experience. It is one of those things that may seem like a tough burden and at times may make you wonder if it's really worth it. However, when you come back home after a long slog on the road with your bandmates - tired, hungry, and feeling like you could take 5 showers in a row - you'll realize how much you have grown, both as a person and as a band.

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