As a working musician, a big part of the job involves travel. Out of town gigs, big tours, weekend festivals traveling by plane, train, gondola, donkey (don’t ask), car, bus: you name it, we’ve probably done it. And when you travel as much as I do, you get pretty good at knowing what to pack.
Don’t make the mistake of overpacking and getting hit with pesky airline fees, or running out of space in the van. Your fellow band members will not look fondly upon being squashed in the back seat because you needed to bring your brand new Swedish deluxe ergonomic neck pillow. Austerity is the name of the game for the touring pro.
Let’s pay homage to the great Bucky Pizzarelli, who packs nothing but his guitar. The suit he’ll perform in? He wears it on the plane. And if anyone knows the biz, it’s Bucky.
So in honor of the great tradition of the traveling muso: here’s the Professor’s guide: How to Pack for a Tour.
Let’s start with a list of essentials, and then discuss the luxury items.
Essentials:
1.Reeds
2.Copy of Syncopated Times
3.Passport
1. Reeds. Sax reeds, clarinet reeds. Enough is never enough. What if one breaks? Or worse yet, what if you left that perfect reed at home because you foolishly thought “200 reeds is enough to pack for one gig?” And if you don’t play a reed instrument? My advice: pack reeds. And give them to the reed player.
2.
