Even if your band hasn’t gotten “big” yet and you’re still playing only in local venues, having these items handy will keep you practiced and prepared for anything.
Great performances are the result of hard work, dedication, consistency, and preparation.
As a musician (or band), you need to ensure that you are well-prepared for any gig. This includes planning ahead and ensuring you have the equipment necessary to offer audiences delightful performances.
If you’re a musician who’s always on the go, here are 5 handy items you want to make sure you always have on hand.
1. Tuner
Very little is worse than arriving at a venue to perform and realizing that you don’t have a tuner. Tuning all your instruments without one can quickly turn into a nightmare.
It’s even worse if you’re one of those unfortunate musicians who can’t tune by ear! Tuners are essential and easy to pack, so there’s no excuse for having an instrument that’s out of tune.
Having a handheld tuner to use before performances will help you start on the right foot! If you’re a guitarist be sure to pack a pedal or clip-on tuner so you can adjust throughout the performance as needed.
2. Music stand
You might think that music stands are only for musicians who utilize sheet music. However, this is far from the truth! Not only do they fit nicely into any touring vehicle, but music stands are great for holding anything you need, but can’t hold during a show. This includes setlists or drumsticks.
When using a music stand, make sure not to impede the audience’s view. You can avoid this by placing it toward the back of the stage or just offstage so if you need to access anything, you can quickly grab it instead of fumbling with your bag on stage.
3. Drum pads
You might be incredibly confident in your drumming abilities, but you could always benefit from some practice. Guitars and most other instruments are small enough to bring everywhere and practice with, but you can’t do that with a full drum set.
If you need to practice drumming on the go, consider drum pads. Drum pads are smaller and quieter versions of a regular drum kit that you can bring everywhere. Invest in a good drum practice pad kit and you’ll be grateful for the ability to practice anywhere.
4. Extra guitar straps
You might not think it’s necessary, but guitar straps break more frequently than you think while you’re touring on on-the-go. Musicians who put on a high-energy show are more likely to break their guitar or bass strap.
Once you do, making time for a stop in a music store will waste time and may even put you in a time crunch for your next show. Therefore, always make sure to keep an extra guitar strap on you.
5. Microphones
Bringing your microphones seems like overkill, but you should always have extras. Here’s why:
Most of the time, the venue will provide their own microphones. You don’t know the make, model, or quality of these microphones until you get there. What if they aren’t of great quality or what if they’re not what you’re used to?
It’s a guessing game that you shouldn’t have to play when you’re already stressed about a gig. Bringing your microphones eliminates that guessing game so you know what to expect.
Final thoughts
This is by no means an exhaustive list of things to bring around with you, but it’s a good start for musicians who aren’t sure what to bring with them while they’re on the road touring.
Even if your band hasn’t gotten “big” yet and you’re still playing only in local venues, having these items handy will keep you practiced and prepared for anything. From there, you’ll bring your band from “up-and-coming” to “on-the-road rock stars” in no time!
