The Musician's Guide to the Road: A Survival Handbook & All-Access Backstage Pass to Touring

by Susan Voelz

An all-access pass to what goes on backstage, onstage, and on the way to the stage. What's a tour bus like? What are the band members saying to each other on stage? Exactly how much sex, how many drugs, how much rock 'n' roll are we talking here? The Musician's Guide to the Road answers all these questions and many, many, many more. Both a valuable primer designed to prepare young musicians for life on the road and an entertaining memoir of the touring life written by a seasoned musician, this is the book that reveals the scene behind the scenes. Chapters focus on preparing to tour, touring by van and bus, the day of the show, the afternoon before the show, the night of the show, and the morning after, life on the road, and the end of the road.

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good musician's guide to going out on tour. Lots of good practical info about what to expect, what to bring, different kinds of tours and shows, dealing with clubs, administrative details--useful forms, riders, etc. While there are some interesting anecdotes, stories, and quotes, it's more of a how to book than a bunch of road stories. Non-touring musicians might find it interesting to skim, but probably wouldn't be intrigued enough to go through it cover-to-cover. Volez has a straightforward, engaging style.

[Georg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful look into the life of a musician - I'd recommend this for anyone interested in the music business, even if you're not a musician yourself.