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Few careers allow a person to share their passion and creativity daily with an audience. Performing in a band is a very tough life on tour, though, involving constant balancing to perform at highs and low points.
Probably the biggest sacrifice includes personal relationships and time with family and friends back home. You could spend months each year living out of a suitcase, constantly moving from one city to another. It is very challenging to keep close ties if you are in a different place all the time. Video chat is very much in its aid; however, this is just no substitute for real, genuine face time.
Exhaustion is another huge hurdle. Even with the adrenaline rush of every performance, performing is physically and mentally draining work. Add in long drives, late nights, early calls, and you end up running on fumes more often than not. It’s easy to get burnt out if you’re not careful with self-care like rest, nutrition, and exercise wherever possible.
One other inescapable challenge is finances. Quite often, ticket and merchandise sales will fall short of allowing a group to cover fuel, repairs, food, and lodging. You have got to hustle all the time—looking for every possible paying gig. No guarantees. The norm is financial instability, and thus saving becomes next to impossible.
Travel headaches of their own—missing flights, breakdowns, getting lost, having bad weather—add to the stress. Things that would be mere annoyances for most become major obstacles if you’re trying to make it to the next venue on a tight schedule. Backup plans are essential at all times.
Then there are the interpersonal demands. The tiny living quarters in a van or tour bus shared with bandmates for days on end present a fair challenge to even the closest of friendships. Small aggravations have no place to go, so arguments or resentments can easily result if you aren’t communicating well as a group.
Despite this, many artists still opt for the touring route due to its unparalleled level of creativity and connection. For most, the musical rewards far outweigh any challenges. Maintain your pacing, and strong relationships, adapt your schedule when needed, and always move forward one show at a time; it’s possible to retain a meaningful career and lifestyle on the road.
