Honestly a big part of getting gigs is little things like this. If you bring a marshal stack to your local bar, its very unlikely they're going to take you seriously and book you more.
Pick loss doesn't just happen on tour. I rock out in my study and bedroom, and even my picks sometimes disappear into the void. Maybe there are little wormholes sucking up all of our picks and transporting them to another dimension.
Didn't mention; Vocalist bring your own microphone. You want a good quality mic that you are used to performing with and more importantly you don't want to expose yourself to multiple strains of herpetic-bologna-breath, you'll have strep by the second gig.
Also, that Microphone should compliment your voice. Do the research, spend the money. You will always sound great and makes it easier for the sound guy to dial it in without much effort trying to get you to sit in the mix.Eliminates that annoying frequency that crushes your natural tone, and a sound guy who doesnt really care about getting it right. Along with the entire band. They have no investment in you to be perfect, there are tons of bands they are mixing in the bar or venue every weekend. If you are running your own PA, it will be a ton easier finding the best result as well.
*Hank's Top 5 Pro Touring Tips* 1.) Bring a ridiculous ammount of condoms. If you think you have enough condoms, buy more. It's never enough. 2.) Bring your own cocaine. Sometimes you'll be able to get some powder from some of the nice people on tour, but it's good to have some of your own as a backup. 3.) Forget all your guitar strings. You're going to anyways, so just decide to forget them. 4.) Don't bring any money with you, it ruins the adventure and excitement. 5.) Red Bull. Seriously bring as many cans of Red Bull as you can fit in the van. You are never going to sleep on this tour.
Hopefully one day I will be touring in a band and will come back to this video for advice, but I still watched it anyways, another great vid Chappers! :)
thank you thank you thank you for comment about smaller amps. honestly a 22 watt tube amp will do more than you know and no matter what kinda of music you make if your guitars are louder than the vocals than people are only hearing 75% of your product
My old singer who suddenly wasn't in his cozy white collar 9-5 life where he was going to bed at 10pm every night and sleeping 8 hours, would always get sick within the first week, guaranteed, every time. Then the rest of the band would end up with it so the second week was always awful. You can always control yourself, but you can't control other people. When you follow this nice advice, it's good for you, but you will likely have at least one other bandmate that will get sick or be out of control. For this reason, I now recommend bringing a doctor/dentist type face mask. Your sick bandmate should be courteous enough to wear it him/herself, but if (s)he's anything like my old bandmate who doesn't know how to cover his mouth when coughing, blows his nose in his hands and wipes it on the van seat, then you need to wear one yourself and constantly wash your hands. Being trapped in a van for 12 hours at a time with someone like that is guaranteed to make you sick. Even if it bums that person out, quarantine them as much as possible for a couple days til their illness subsides. Crashing on a hotel room floor with that person breathing in your face is likely not the best way to prevent getting sick yourself.
Hey Rob! Any way you could make a video about how to set up your first tour? It's been a dream of mine to go on tour with my band for a while now. LOVE the channel! Thanks so much for all the amazing content! Cheers from Chicago!
I still have the 2011 or so , Monkeylord on back / Marshall Amplification on front T from your shop . its one of 5 t shirts I own and still in decent knick. good buy that one . wear it fairly often in my vids .
Excellent advice video, Chappers. I like black tea too. Never tried with ginger though. I'm gonna try to add it to my cups of tea between the cups of black coffee. I drink a mug of coffee every four hours... sometimes I try to replace a mug of black coffee with a mug of black tea. Average: 3 cups of coffee per day, trying to reduce to two. Locals here use to bring me "chimarrão". P.S.: chimarrão looks like some sort of "green soil" tea, and it sort of... tastes like soil (mate herb, "yerba mate", erva mate). But if the chimarrão is strong, it gives me headaches sometimes, like a super strong coffee, then I try to ask first to know if its strong, medium or weak.
Well, looks actually quite similar with all the things I have to think about before going on a movie set for days! ...except we don’t have guitar/bass... or even singer... Would be cool though! 🤘🏾 You made me laugh and I kept some of your advices preciously in my notepad, keep on the good work! 😊
For "Small gear" I'd also recommend the Boss BB-1X Bass Driver. I have never actually needed an amp or a cab since I got that thing, just plugging straight into the PA has been fine.
Great video. I feel a lot of people underestimate what they'll need on the road, or plan poorly, and it ends up costing them money by the end. Plan ahead = more $$ in ya pocket!
All great tips! My big thing with road gigs was always a"simple" thing, but shockingly not followed by most: spend the extra few bucks on RELIABLE gear. Don't bring beater guitars if they won't stay in tune, and for god's sake - buy extra cables!!!
Tips all good, dog melody/ riff was excellent. That’s how good shit happens, thanks for post. Still love the YJM Marshall review from couple years back...
Chappers would u ever do another challenge where you and lee do a mod challenge that is my absolute favorite challenge that u and him have ever done I watch it a couple times every holiday season and I just want to see what u and him would do now that it has been a couple years
Vocalists and hot liquids are only a short term solution, in my experience..... vocalists only thrive when proper vocal warm up and a moist pair of vocal folds are present. My regimen is similar to the great RJD: 15-20 minute warm up, going to easy, and recognized places your voice can readily hit. Warm up the diaphragm, and the body overall. Drink water up to 45 minutes of performing, then stop fluids. This always helped to get me prepared. On stage, only drink sips as needed, because too much water will have the opposite effect and dry your vocal folds out when performing. This is how i have always done it, and the proof is in the performance. Finally, i totally agree with rob; DONT TALK TO PEOPLE before or after set times... let your band mates network. I can't even count the number of singers i have watched give poor vocal performances due to back slapping and networking before their set time... your voice is your instrument. Keep it safe!!! Keep it strong!!
Hey chappers, what kind of guitar would you suggest getting for around $460? I'm getting a Peavy 6505 mini head and also a guitar but not sure on the guitar. the Style I like is high gain metal and I enjoy playing 6 and 7 string guitars. Don't mind Floyd rose bridges as well
Man, bands nowadays have it so much easier than when I was playing in bands and touring, especially with all the advances in social media and technology in general. Chappers, you bring up some good points and I agree with most of your tips (except for the small gear and eating as you would at home. Eating a normal diet on tour is next to impossible IME). I also have a couple tips of my own. 1). Condoms, and plenty of them. 2). This one doesn't apply to everyone but it did to me because I used to be a junkie. No matter how much heroin you bring (and you can't play a show or even function if you're dope sick) you WILL run out way earlier than you think (primarily due to all the down time you have on tour. A trick I used to use in a strange city where I don't know anyone is to look in the phone book, find the local methadone clinic, and hang around outside until you find some people you get a good vibe from (experienced junkies can usually tell a scam artist). You'll be able to find some good dope (let them know that you're going to buy a bundle for a tester and if it's good you'll be back for more and make it worth their while if they get you the same good dope. Make sure and be good on your word, get the dealer/connection's number for the next time you play that city). Try and find someone to sell you some of their take home bottles of methadone and try and find Suboxone (buy as much as you can). 3). Bring plenty of money. 4). Bring as much of any prescription medicines you take as possible (make sure they are in current RX bottles with your name on them).
Hi Rob, Thanks for this, but do you have a trick or tips for left hand fingertips issues, when I have to play 2 or 3 days in a row our 2 hours set, my fingertips hurts like there's someone pushing needles into it when I'm fretting, sometimes to point skin tears up and bleed?(I play hard so using 9-42 instead of 10-46 is not an option)
HI Rob! Love your videos, however I play different genre. Could you do a video including your tips about social media? How should a beginer band use it? What should we avoid in your point of view? Thank for your answer, Tom
I watched 'Big Trouble in Little China' the 1st time expecting nothing, just because I like Kurt Russell and Kim Catrall. But I love that movie, it is underrated and fantastic. Also in USA, try G.N.C. nutrition stores. It's a nationwide chain and they sell all the health stuff.
"Including the bass player Glenn" 😂
It has to be a meme!! :D
glenn flicker bass lives matter
"Including the bass player Glenn"...I lost my shit at that point. ROFL
not everyone got that one I laughed for a full 5 min.over it
Why Am I watching this? I'm not even close to touring...I'm just hoping to find a gig...lolol
Mini Surf Same brother, still trying to get my name out there.
WE'LL MAKE IT BIG!
Honestly a big part of getting gigs is little things like this. If you bring a marshal stack to your local bar, its very unlikely they're going to take you seriously and book you more.
haha i'm still trying to actually find a band lol
Pick loss doesn't just happen on tour. I rock out in my study and bedroom, and even my picks sometimes disappear into the void. Maybe there are little wormholes sucking up all of our picks and transporting them to another dimension.
Didn't mention; Vocalist bring your own microphone. You want a good quality mic that you are used to performing with and more importantly you don't want to expose yourself to multiple strains of herpetic-bologna-breath, you'll have strep by the second gig.
Also, that Microphone should compliment your voice. Do the research, spend the money. You will always sound great and makes it easier for the sound guy to dial it in without much effort trying to get you to sit in the mix.Eliminates that annoying frequency that crushes your natural tone, and a sound guy who doesnt really care about getting it right. Along with the entire band. They have no investment in you to be perfect, there are tons of bands they are mixing in the bar or venue every weekend.
If you are running your own PA, it will be a ton easier finding the best result as well.
...if you do your own roadying, always carry half-a-dozen rubber doorstops.
This truly is good advice!
p1eces Genius!!!!
What is roadying??
H. Mesa - Lugging your own gear in and out of venues.
best tip of about 1000 videos I find in the comments ;)
*Hank's Top 5 Pro Touring Tips* 1.) Bring a ridiculous ammount of condoms. If you think you have enough condoms, buy more. It's never enough. 2.) Bring your own cocaine. Sometimes you'll be able to get some powder from some of the nice people on tour, but it's good to have some of your own as a backup. 3.) Forget all your guitar strings. You're going to anyways, so just decide to forget them. 4.) Don't bring any money with you, it ruins the adventure and excitement. 5.) Red Bull. Seriously bring as many cans of Red Bull as you can fit in the van. You are never going to sleep on this tour.
Hank Hill
6) bring propane
7.) And propane accessories.
Hank Hill you forgot the heroin
8) Don't forget the money for the sluts, the cheapest ones of course
No standards whatsoever. Disgusting. Also, your body will hate you, and rightfully so.
I raided the Wal-Mart vitamin section day 2 into our American tour. Thanks for the awesome video Rob!
Didn't know you were on tour right now. Any Canadian dates?
ToxicxEternity Good luck bro :-)
What's your band called?
great stuff dude!
#21. Never accidentally bring a piece of the house drum kit back with you from a gig 350 Km away ;-)
Essential video for touring musicians. I especially loved the last "wisdom" bit at the end!
"including the bass player, Glenn" I am still laughing
Hopefully one day I will be touring in a band and will come back to this video for advice, but I still watched it anyways, another great vid Chappers! :)
Hey Rob. Great vid, mate. I toured for 4 years straight. Every point you made rings true. Good on you for sharing. RAWWWKKK!!!
That melody was amazing! The guitar riff sounded amazing, an Alice In Chains vibe... don't know why, but it was epic dude :-)
*casually juggles/throws on the floor about $5,000,000 worth of picks...*
CLASSIC CHAPPERS HAS RETURNED!!!! really enjoyed this video!!! both imformative and entertaining! :D
My band is planning on going on our first tour this coming year. I will absolutely have us all sit down and watch this video together haha
Great video Rob. Ship me a ghost fret for christmas thx
and me
Liam Plays Guitar me pls!
Me toooooooooo
Bit late, but can I have one too?
thank you thank you thank you for comment about smaller amps. honestly a 22 watt tube amp will do more than you know and no matter what kinda of music you make if your guitars are louder than the vocals than people are only hearing 75% of your product
The most important thing you could do as a vocalist while touring, is warming up for 20 min 1 hour before you’re set. Cool vid!
Heading out on my first little tour end of this month. There were some good tips in here for sure!
The best packing vid yet! Thanks for the singer's tips! YES, you ARE qualified to give advice. You're hilarious too.
My old singer who suddenly wasn't in his cozy white collar 9-5 life where he was going to bed at 10pm every night and sleeping 8 hours, would always get sick within the first week, guaranteed, every time. Then the rest of the band would end up with it so the second week was always awful.
You can always control yourself, but you can't control other people. When you follow this nice advice, it's good for you, but you will likely have at least one other bandmate that will get sick or be out of control. For this reason, I now recommend bringing a doctor/dentist type face mask. Your sick bandmate should be courteous enough to wear it him/herself, but if (s)he's anything like my old bandmate who doesn't know how to cover his mouth when coughing, blows his nose in his hands and wipes it on the van seat, then you need to wear one yourself and constantly wash your hands. Being trapped in a van for 12 hours at a time with someone like that is guaranteed to make you sick. Even if it bums that person out, quarantine them as much as possible for a couple days til their illness subsides. Crashing on a hotel room floor with that person breathing in your face is likely not the best way to prevent getting sick yourself.
reading this in 2021 hits different
"Even the bass player. Glenn." Shots fired.
Terrific tips, sir - you're an inspiration to us all.
Hey Rob! Any way you could make a video about how to set up your first tour? It's been a dream of mine to go on tour with my band for a while now. LOVE the channel! Thanks so much for all the amazing content! Cheers from Chicago!
If more bassists were like Dave I think Glenn would like them more...
"...including the bass player Glenn" JAJAJAJAJAJAJA damn I laughed a lot wih that one, nice Rob
"Including the bass player. Glenn!" Great one!
I love how distracted you get, and start jamming out haha. its great!
Haha, just a random sub from Germany here, saw InMe on my first trip to Glasgow in 2006, you mentioning them brings back memories.. :D
to do with the filming your self bit I can say this as a fan that one night i binge watched one of the dorje tour vlog series. so yeah its useful
Great tips Rob! And so true! Thanks for posting!
Luna melody ! ! Most lunatic beautiful thing ever
I'm not touring yet, but in the Future, I'm sure I will, so I will favorite this video, and be back!!!
oscar9876543 touring t
Yet?
" Better to have it and not need it , than need it and not have it ' works well too !!
this video made me want to tour
I still have the 2011 or so , Monkeylord on back / Marshall Amplification on front T from your shop . its one of 5 t shirts I own and still in decent knick. good buy that one . wear it fairly often in my vids .
nows thats wot u call wisdom! top man rob....
really into the tune you played at 10:18, good stuff
Damn that solo sounded epic!
Excellent video! Thank you kind sir!
When naming tools, you came up with like 15 new band names
Excellent advice video, Chappers. I like black tea too. Never tried with ginger though. I'm gonna try to add it to my cups of tea between the cups of black coffee. I drink a mug of coffee every four hours... sometimes I try to replace a mug of black coffee with a mug of black tea. Average: 3 cups of coffee per day, trying to reduce to two. Locals here use to bring me "chimarrão".
P.S.: chimarrão looks like some sort of "green soil" tea, and it sort of... tastes like soil (mate herb, "yerba mate", erva mate). But if the chimarrão is strong, it gives me headaches sometimes, like a super strong coffee, then I try to ask first to know if its strong, medium or weak.
Well, looks actually quite similar with all the things I have to think about before going on a movie set for days! ...except we don’t have guitar/bass... or even singer...
Would be cool though! 🤘🏾
You made me laugh and I kept some of your advices preciously in my notepad, keep on the good work! 😊
You're the best dude: "and also prevents you from crossing borders" LOL preach brotha! church!!
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS keep a close eye on your gear!
You're a good person. No horseshit, Wang.
Very helpful, thanks Chappers!!
Love what you do man. Keep it up.
GNC would be the vitamin supplier in America. Though much of what you mentioned could also be found in a CVS Pharmacy or even Walmart.
For "Small gear" I'd also recommend the Boss BB-1X Bass Driver. I have never actually needed an amp or a cab since I got that thing, just plugging straight into the PA has been fine.
Thank U Rob, Good INFO!!!!
makes me wanna tour now
8:54 "including the bass player, Glenn hahahahahahaha
Those swords are freaking sick bro!!!
Amazing! Really helpful thank you 🙏
Great video. I feel a lot of people underestimate what they'll need on the road, or plan poorly, and it ends up costing them money by the end.
Plan ahead = more $$ in ya pocket!
Love your video topics. Such a help Sir. Thank you
Good video! My fav tip is the Phil X 85% one.
great video mr. chapman!
Thank you from Florida 😀
Good stuff Chappers!
Great video dude! how about one about tips to find gigs and planning a tour?
Keep up the awesome work!
You have a brilliant voice.
Nice video man, hype!
Liked the feet facing front of bus tip...gotta get a tour bus!
This guy is awesome!
Dorje is awesome!
Those Calimacil's in the back of shot at 00:57, Never knew you were a LARP guy Rob.
All great tips! My big thing with road gigs was always a"simple" thing, but shockingly not followed by most: spend the extra few bucks on RELIABLE gear. Don't bring beater guitars if they won't stay in tune, and for god's sake - buy extra cables!!!
Thank you for the advice. Debating. Worst or best pants ever. A strong W.
chappers does lubricant confirmed
really liking that tshirt design
Tips all good, dog melody/ riff was excellent. That’s how good shit happens, thanks for post. Still love the YJM Marshall review from couple years back...
Chappers would u ever do another challenge where you and lee do a mod challenge that is my absolute favorite challenge that u and him have ever done I watch it a couple times every holiday season and I just want to see what u and him would do now that it has been a couple years
HEY ROB what is the picture in that black frame it looks like a man playing guitar is there any cool history to it?
ben galvin That's my dad, he's a guitarist and one of the main reasons I play :-)
Vocalists and hot liquids are only a short term solution, in my experience..... vocalists only thrive when proper vocal warm up and a moist pair of vocal folds are present.
My regimen is similar to the great RJD: 15-20 minute warm up, going to easy, and recognized places your voice can readily hit. Warm up the diaphragm, and the body overall. Drink water up to 45 minutes of performing, then stop fluids. This always helped to get me prepared. On stage, only drink sips as needed, because too much water will have the opposite effect and dry your vocal folds out when performing. This is how i have always done it, and the proof is in the performance. Finally, i totally agree with rob; DONT TALK TO PEOPLE before or after set times... let your band mates network. I can't even count the number of singers i have watched give poor vocal performances due to back slapping and networking before their set time... your voice is your instrument. Keep it safe!!! Keep it strong!!
Hey chappers, what kind of guitar would you suggest getting for around $460? I'm getting a Peavy 6505 mini head and also a guitar but not sure on the guitar. the Style I like is high gain metal and I enjoy playing 6 and 7 string guitars. Don't mind Floyd rose bridges as well
actually some good tips there
enjoyabke thanks Rob.
Reasonably good video
I used to be a tour guy like you, but then I took a pick on my knee
Man, bands nowadays have it so much easier than when I was playing in bands and touring, especially with all the advances in social media and technology in general. Chappers, you bring up some good points and I agree with most of your tips (except for the small gear and eating as you would at home. Eating a normal diet on tour is next to impossible IME).
I also have a couple tips of my own. 1). Condoms, and plenty of them. 2). This one doesn't apply to everyone but it did to me because I used to be a junkie. No matter how much heroin you bring (and you can't play a show or even function if you're dope sick) you WILL run out way earlier than you think (primarily due to all the down time you have on tour. A trick I used to use in a strange city where I don't know anyone is to look in the phone book, find the local methadone clinic, and hang around outside until you find some people you get a good vibe from (experienced junkies can usually tell a scam artist). You'll be able to find some good dope (let them know that you're going to buy a bundle for a tester and if it's good you'll be back for more and make it worth their while if they get you the same good dope. Make sure and be good on your word, get the dealer/connection's number for the next time you play that city). Try and find someone to sell you some of their take home bottles of methadone and try and find Suboxone (buy as much as you can). 3). Bring plenty of money. 4). Bring as much of any prescription medicines you take as possible (make sure they are in current RX bottles with your name on them).
What a great video.
THE KEMPER!
Rob you are cheating^^ your dog writes your melodies =P
....copyright by Luna the dog =D =D
Wow, I used to have that black robot at 2:44 when I was a kid. Haven't seen one of those in decades! Hey, Rob....can I have that?
Hi Rob,
Thanks for this, but do you have a trick or tips for left hand fingertips issues, when I have to play 2 or 3 days in a row our 2 hours set, my fingertips hurts like there's someone pushing needles into it when I'm fretting, sometimes to point skin tears up and bleed?(I play hard so using 9-42 instead of 10-46 is not an option)
chappers is the man in my opinion.
HI Rob!
Love your videos, however I play different genre. Could you do a video including your tips about social media? How should a beginer band use it? What should we avoid in your point of view?
Thank for your answer,
Tom
please please please order a custom select ESP and do a review on it! 😊
Regarding picks, Rick Neilson from Cheap Trick, is well known for taking handfuls of pick and just throwing them into the crowd.
I like this content
hi rob. does Chapman guitars have a website or something where I could see prices. I'm quite interested in the ghost fret
Pawel Habrajski We have more than 30 retailers now, just google your nearest store and they will have prices bro!
Rob Chapman thanks bro
That @ glenn comment was priceless! All good fun.
@Robchapman Rob, Which van firm do you recommend in the U.K? Thank you
Rob: "every band member is as important as the other"
me: "not the bass player"
Rob: "including the bass player Glenn"
me: *bursts into laughter*
"Including the bass player, Glenn" I giggled
I watched 'Big Trouble in Little China' the 1st time expecting nothing, just because I like Kurt Russell and Kim Catrall. But I love that movie, it is underrated and fantastic. Also in USA, try G.N.C. nutrition stores. It's a nationwide chain and they sell all the health stuff.