Touring Life on the Road Questions

[Steve2]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:46pm

I recently attended the pre-tour opening of "Bombay Dreams" and it got me to wondering about life on the road. Everyone seemed so excited and energetic these first two shows. Looking at their tour schedule seemed grueling as they will traverse accross the US. I am curious as to how they keep the same energy level, freshness, and enthusiam consistently.
How do they travel from city to city? How do they find lodging? Does the excitement wear off after a while and all the cities blur together? Do the cast members get a chance to be a tourist in these new cities?

People have posted very positive things about the current "Les Miserables" tour so it must be possible!

Does anyone have first or second hand knowledge so that I could find out about their experiences? Does anyone keep a journal online?

Thanks.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:49pm

I can't answer much, but I have a few friends on the road...it isn't as glamorous as most think.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:49pm

My aunt toured with three different shows and believe me--it's less than glamorous.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:49pm

I'm sure "Rational Reasoning" or "Andrew" could answer a lot of those.

Updated On: 2/28/06 at 12:49 PM

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:59pm

I'd recommend reading Letters from Backstage by Michael Kostroff. It tells the tales of his experience as a touring stage actor.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:33pm

I currently have two friends on tour, and although I wouldn't call it glamorous, they're doing what they love and enjoying it. Most travel is done by bus, and when two cities are a longer distance apart, they do fly. They're allowed one carry-on type piece of luggage and two suitcases. Hotel accomodations are arranged for them through the tour company. Yes, if they're in a city for more than one night, they do get time to explore. Keeping healthy and keeping energy levels up are important. Performing with enthusiasm and professionalism is what they're being paid to do so regardless if it gets difficult, they're still expected to perform for every audience as if it's their first show.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:35pm

Of course the enjoy it...I would LOVE to tour. It definitely something to do while you are young, though.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:37pm

As far as lodging goes, the tour management company will give the actors a list of lodging options in advance for each city - different price levels for different quality hotels. Each actor decides if he wants to have a private room or if he wants to share a room with another actor, etc.

If you are not too extravagant as far as lodgings and restaurants are concerned, it is possible to live of your per diem and put your regular salary in the bank. I know someone who toured in a show for a year and saved $60,000.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:40pm

I've done 6 tours...4 across the US and two in Europe. They were the most amazing, incredible, stressful and heartbreaking days of my life. From one end of the emotional spectrum to the other.

I could fill a website with stories and experiences, but you would still have to do one yourself to get the full brunt.

I would still say to anyone who wants to, to do at least one just to get the experience. And if you can survive non Union, or a single night concert tour, you can do just about anything life throws at you trust me!

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:49pm

Although not 'in the business' myself, I have heard from friends that all it takes to find a bed partner for the night is to walk into a bar with your show jacket on and you're an instant celebrity. This is not to imply that all touring actors are sluts, just an observation that being the new, uh, face in town has its advantages. But I've also heard that such bed-hopping gets really old really fast so take it for what's it worth.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 2:02pm

Thanks for the adivce hushpuppy...We had one of the guys from the Lion King come and he was like 40something and he hit on every female in our dept. Must get lonely on the road lol.

[Steve2]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 3:02pm

Thanks for everyone's input so far. PitPro2004, someday if you ever have time, I am sure there are many people that would love to hear about your experiences.

I will check out "Letters from Backstage" also.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 3:17pm

lizzie, i am still in a quandry about the Elmo thing! LOL
touring is fun..especially at first. after many months it gets grueling. hotels get old. its more fun when you're single and don't have a special someone to be missing desperately. the money is great and some cities are soo much fun to hang out in!
i always loved getting to the theater and seeing which dressing room was mine and setting it up! the only negative thing for me was not being home so i could cook!
one weekers (or less) are hardest because you don't get a day off at all. your day off is spent on planes, trains or automobiles so you never really have time to "re-energize".
all that being said, i would tour in a MINUTE!

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 8:08pm

Off the top of my head...

Seven Years of Touring....some of the highlights.

* Playing for the Prince of Denmark and his family in 1994.
* 6 weeks in Vienna, Austria the musician's city.
* Democratic Party Fund Raiser for, then, Vice President Al Gore.
* Making the biggest money I ever made in my life.
* Playing two of the Ford Centers in Canada.
* Getting mentioned in two newspaper reviews, which is unheard of for a pit musician!
* Opening parties with tons of free food and drink.
* Post opening night hangovers with...whooops! Sorry, wrong list!
* Family members who have never seen me perform, now get to see me...and in their backyards, practically!
* Meeting Mike Stoller who wrote the music for one of my tours, Smokey Joes Cafe.
* Seeing tons of America that I would otherwise never see, such as - The St.Louis Arch; Deserts of the West; Graceland in Memphis; Madison, Wisconsin - the Greatest college town in the US!; The Colorado Rockies; Mall of America!; Mt Ranier in Washington, just beautiful!; Meeting the cast of Victor/Victoria, and running into other touring companies and friends; Free tickets to the national tour of Ragtime on a night off in Ohio; Boston, Mass on New Year's Eve is fun: Easter Sunday at Notre Dame in Montreal; Breakfast on the beach in Cupertino, California; Visiting the graves of the Wright Brothers in Dayton, Ohio, and Buddy Holly's museum in Texas; Macho Man Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan eating dinner next to me in our hotel in West Virginia; Going to Cedar Point Amusement park with company members and feeling like you have a life after 4 months on tour; Snow covered Vermont in January; MASSIVE home made dinner for the whole company in Michigan; Myrtle Beach clubbing and restaraunt hopping.

* Staying in 4-5 star hotels in Europe.
* St Stephens Cathedral in Vienna and the Vienna Boys Choir.
* Tons of sightseeing in Berlin for very appreciative audiences.
* Munich...one word...OKTOBERFEST!!
* Switzerland...one word...SHOPPING! Oh..and chocolate!
* Germany as a whole can be summed up in one word as well - BEER!
* Standing ovations...wow!
* I signed my first autograph in Germany....a pit musician signs an autograph, are you KIDDING ME???!!
* Seeing Mozart's birthplace and the Sound of Music tour
* Koln Cathedral
* The best dance/rave music in the world can be bought in Europe, I swear!
*** PARIS, FRANCE*** ...In a day! Eiffel Tower, Shopping, Paris Opera minus the Phantom and there is no such thing as Box 5! The Arch de Triumph, Notre Dame Cathedral with no Quasimodo, must have been his day off, and the Louvre which culminated in ...*insert drum roll*...the MONA LISA!!!

Those are the good things...in addition to making life long tour friends and meeting wonderful new people from town to town.

As for the bad...well....as soon as I pour myself a stiff drink, I will post some of them later...

[LyTeMyCanDyI]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 11:24pm

"I'd recommend reading Letters from Backstage by Michael Kostroff. It tells the tales of his experience as a touring stage actor."

Great book! A must read!

[tourboi]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 11:41pm

Having worked on a few tours I can say that I, for one, love it. But it's hard. Yes, there is time to be a tourist.

As for hotels/lodging, the company secures them and you pay for them out of your per deum.

Favourite cities: LA, San Fran, Philly...

Least favourite: Detroit (scary.)

[proptart101]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:42pm

I spent almost all of the 90s on the road, doing everything from bus & truck one nighters to huge 1st Nationals, Opera, Ballet, and avant garde classical tours, with a little rock 'n' roll added in for fun.

The advantage of being a stagehand is you can work in almost any medium. The disadvantage is you have to be in the theater long before and long after the talent.

It was very hard, & very cool - definitely something you do when you're young and single.

To me one of the best aspects of touring was getting to know the local stagehands and letting them show you the coolest parts of their city. I've been to more amazing little clubs, bars, restaurants, parks, musuems and other stuff off the "tourist path" than you could imagine.

You also form deep and (hopefully) lasting bonds with the others who are touring with you. In fact, I met my wife on a tour.

I would definitely advise anyone who is serious about learning any of the crafts of theater (be it performing / managing / technician) to try to do at least some touring.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:44pm

Steve2- You should pick up the book "Making it On Broadway" by Wienir and Langel. Lots of great stories about being on Broadway tours. Lots of great stories about other aspects of being a Broadway performer too!

[beenthere]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 6:09pm

I've toured the country several times as a performer. Yes the stops blur together, but it is still exciting from the first curtain up till the last final curtain. Cities all start looking the same and you realize just how much of a shopping mall the United States has become. Travel usually consists of a bus, or plane depending on the distance between stops and the accessability. Touring in Brazil was nice because I was able to be a tourist and see what the country had to offer. We thankfully flew while in South America, and our sit-downs were long.

[Triple Threat]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:31pm

I would totally recommend "Letters from Backstage" too. It's like watching a reality TV show about touring with a Broadway musical! You totally feel like you're there. A friend of mine gave it to me for my birthday. I could hardly put it down. Great book. Definitely get it!

RG

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 2:04pm

I loved every moment of being on tour. It was so amazing. But I can tell you this, it's not made for everybody. I had a few castmates that felt claustrophobic and trapped. I, for one, felt a rush knowing that I was just traveling doing what I loved to do.