In this Tour Tips segment, the indie folk artist, Lydia Luce, recommends advice for being a musician on the road. You can check out her tips below:
In 2023 I went to the doctor because I couldn’t feel my fingers and hands and was in severe pain while playing viola and guitar. In May right before I was about to take off on a lengthy tour my doctor told me I had herniated and bulged discs in my cervical spine, bilateral carpal tunnel and tendonitis. This completely changed my life as a musician. I had to take a break from playing for a while and still after that break I decided to get bilateral carpal tunnel surgery (helped tremendously!!).
While you can’t undo a herniated disc I have learned so many tools to help me manage the pain and continue to perform. One of those being PT, massage therapy, good posture and pillows. Touring for me looks a lot different now and I am dedicated to taking care of my body while I’m on the road.
Here are some things that work for me!
Bring your own pillow. You’re in a different hotel/airbnb every night and it really makes a difference to have that little piece of home.
Bring a white noise sound machine/ear plugs. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been on a bus or shared a room with a snorer. For me this is crucial to getting good sleep.
On days off hit up local spas and offer to take content for them in exchange for free visits! I’ve been to saunas and cold plunge facilities all through this country because of this. It helps everyone out and sometimes they even come to the show!
Create space for solitude. You are constantly with people when you’re on tour and it’s important to set boundaries for yourself to protect your sanity. We love our buddies but don’t need to be with them 24/7. :)
Take care of your body. I don’t drink on tour and try to bring healthy foods/snacks with me on tour. I hit grocery stores to avoid having to emergency stop at fast food spots. I bring my own water bottle and stay really hydrated. All of this helps me not get sick on the road. I stretch daily before I begin the day and do my PT exercises on off days. I try to walk every day on tour.
These are just a few tips. Tour is tough on the body. Especially if you’re not in your 20s anymore. It’s also such a beautiful way to connect with people around the world and I love it so much.
Hope this is helpful to you!
Keep up with Lydia Luce on Instagram and her website.
source https://www.digitaltourbus.com/features/lydia-luce-tour-tips/
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