The music landscape these days is such that, in order to make a mark with the public, performers have to tour.

The media environment is so overcrowded (particularly with everybody with a guitar posting videos on social media) that itB次元官网网址檚 incumbent upon performers to go out to where the audience is and to establish the personal connection that is the foundation of any fan base.

And letB次元官网网址檚 face it, who amongst us hasnB次元官网网址檛 had at least a momentary fantasy about being on tour with a band B次元官网网址� taking the stage to the cheers of thousands of adoring lovers of your music and blowing the roof off the house with a performance that, on any given night, could become the stuff of legends.

But the reality of touring can be a tad more daunting.

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden fame summed it up when he observed that B次元官网网址淪ome days youB次元官网网址檙e the pigeon and some days youB次元官网网址檙e the statue.B次元官网网址�

Travel can be a challenge

To start with, except for the handful of superstars who breathe the rarefied air of stardom, most performers travel between gigs in a collection of personal vehicles, vans, trains and economy flights.

Take The Sheepdogs, for example.

TheyB次元官网网址檙e the first unsigned band to make the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and have a host of platinum sales and three Juno nominations to their credit. They also have an impressive touring history to appreciative crowds that seem to get bigger with every stop (thesheepdogs.com).

But band member Ryan Gullen knows all about some of the pitfalls of touring.

B次元官网网址淲e have a tour bus now, but when we started we travelled by van,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭ry being in a van for eight hours with a band. ItB次元官网网址檚 a real test of whether the band is going to last. ThatB次元官网网址檚 for sure.B次元官网网址�

Still, a tour bus may not be as carefree as one might imagine.
When we caught up with Gullen, the group was on its way from Nashville to Chicago for its next gig but had brokedown in a little-travelled spot in Indiana.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in the parking lot of an outlet mall in Indiana right now, waiting for a tow truck and mechanic,B次元官网网址� Gullen quipps. B次元官网网址淥f course, itB次元官网网址檚 not all bad. WeB次元官网网址榲e been shopping and I bought my very first pair of Crocs at a very reasonable price.B次元官网网址�

Skye Wallace (skyewallace.com) has a voice that soars and captivates audiences, and her mix of folk, rock and alternative music has allowed her to make a real mark on the music world. Her 2019 self-titled album was described as one of the B次元官网网址淏est 4 Canadian Albums in the WorldB次元官网网址� by the Globe and Mail.

But when Wallace started travelling to gigs (she was 19 at the time) she had no driverB次元官网网址檚 license and made her way by train.

B次元官网网址淚t was a slow trip, but an organic one,B次元官网网址� Wallace says. B次元官网网址淚 had a lot of time to think.B次元官网网址�

Then there was her experience of touring in Europe, where an accommodating promoter arranged for a large panel van for Wallace and her band.

B次元官网网址淭he problem was that the van was so big that we had trouble getting it through some of the narrow roadways in Europe. We had to fold in the mirrors and have someone guide us through some areas.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址榟angB次元官网网址� is important
& supports can be lacking

Still, the touring experience is something that Wallace treasures.

B次元官网网址淚 play with some awesome people, and IB次元官网网址檝e been really fortunate. The B次元官网网址榟angB次元官网网址� (slang for the camaraderie that the group develops) has been great,B次元官网网址� Wallace says. B次元官网网址淭he hang is imperative. The (groupB次元官网网址檚) energy starts with the hang on the way to the show. No matter how good the tour is, you have to want to be there. ItB次元官网网址檚 not for the faint of heart.B次元官网网址�

Hawksley Workman, (hawksleyworkman.com), another amazing Canadian musical talent, agrees.

B次元官网网址淔or me now, touring is a wonderful place to be. It makes sense to me now, but that wasnB次元官网网址檛 always the case,B次元官网网址� Workman says. B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 not making sense to you and youB次元官网网址檙e out there, surrounded by alcohol and stuff, it can be a very dangerous place. For me these days, itB次元官网网址檚 a productive place, but it took some work.B次元官网网址�

Those dangers can be even more daunting when an artist is separated from the support of home.

B次元官网网址淚 did get married last summer, and it can be tough being away from home so much,B次元官网网址� says Darren Metz (Young D) of the Snotty Nosed Rez Kids. B次元官网网址淲e spend more time together than we do with our partners and that can really put a strain on things.B次元官网网址�

The longer the tour, and the greater the distances from home, the greater those strains can become.

B次元官网网址淭he road is an education,B次元官网网址� observes Canadian singer/songwriter, Barney Bentall. B次元官网网址淭here are parts that you love but there are definitely times when youB次元官网网址檙e lonely and homesick.B次元官网网址�

Uncertainty is always a factor

But perhaps the hardest part of any tour, particularly for groups that are at the start of their careers, is the uncertainty.

SheepdogsB次元官网网址� Gullen recalls getting into some very weird scenarios.

B次元官网网址淵ou go into a town and donB次元官网网址檛 know what youB次元官网网址檙e getting yourself into,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淔irst of all, before GPS, finding these places was a challenge. WeB次元官网网址檇 print up all these maps and constantly get lost. Then weB次元官网网址檇 end up in some bar in a small town where it can get real uncomfortable, really quickly.

B次元官网网址淵ou learn fast how to entice a cold audience. Some of them donB次元官网网址檛 want you there and others just want to be left alone. Some groups canB次元官网网址檛 handle it and just give up.B次元官网网址�

The most unusual experience Gullen had was when his band was booked by someone who thought theyB次元官网网址檇 booked The Sled Dogs, a group made up of some friends of the organizers of the show.

B次元官网网址淚t sort of explained why theyB次元官网网址檇 said not to bother with hotels and that we could stay at their house,B次元官网网址� Gullen says.

B次元官网网址淲e played and stayed at this house where  they partied all night. We had to hit the road in the morning and just needed to get some sleep.B次元官网网址�

And, of course, thereB次元官网网址檚 ValdyB次元官网网址檚 experience way back in 1969. Just starting out at the time, the now iconic Canadian folk artist was booked for a gig at the Aldergrove Rock Festival.

B次元官网网址淗ere I was, this lanky kid with an acoustic guitar and I roll into town where 30,000 people are expecting a rock show,B次元官网网址� said Valdy.

B次元官网网址淚t didnB次元官网网址檛 go well. I was booed and jeered at and I played until someone clapped and I ran off the stage.B次元官网网址�

Of course, that experience gave Valdy the inspiration for his timeless song Play me a Rock and Roll Song, which has been inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

B次元官网网址淢ost gigs are positive, but touring has always been challenging and you learn lessons from doing it the wrong way. You just have to pay attention and be as good as you can be.B次元官网网址�

Valdy is now 79 years of age, but still touring, so weB次元官网网址檙e guessing heB次元官网网址檚 learned a lot of lessons along the way.