Here touring artist Tim Lowman, who performs as the blues rock n’ roller Low Volts, shares with us his top ten touring tips, as well discussing his experience on the road with the Brian Setzer Orchestra.
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Guest Post from the ReverbNation Blog
Tim Lowman aka Low Volts, the electrifying one-man, dirty-blues-rock n’ roller, recently finished a 28-stop nationwide tour with Brian Setzer Orchestra. Read on to learn about his experience on the road and to check out his top 10 touring tips!
Thanks for being a part of our Life on the Road series! Introduce yourself.
Thanks for reaching out! My name is Tim Lowman and I have a one-man act called Low Volts. It’s a dark and heavy, dirty-blues rock project I started about five years ago for fun and It’s been a wild ride ever since! I play down tuned slide guitar through a few amps in stereo, stomp on a vintage kick drum that’s loaded with shakers and tambourines, all while howling through a microphone. It’s heavy enough to be able to perform at larger theaters and arenas when everything is mic’d up through the mains, but can also be tame enough to play more intimate venues. Being a one-man act keeps things more streamlined for touring and the crowd seems to really dig the uniqueness of it all.
Last November you were selected to support the Brian Setzer Orchestra on a 28-stop nationwide tour! Tell us about your experience.
It was really a dream come true and a huge thanks goes out to the Reverberation CONNECT program for helping bring us together! I learned so much about the in’s and out’s of professional show production and how to keep the crowd engaged. We played some of the finest theaters in the country where you can hear a pin drop in between songs so it really kept me on my toes about keeping my gear in proper working order and tailoring a setlist that works for the specific crowd and venue. When you’re on a tour of this caliber you only get about thirty to forty minutes to make a mark so you better knock ‘em dead!
What was the most memorable moment from the tour?
I’d have to say performing at The Ryman in Nashville was the most memorable and impactful moment from that tour. There’s so much history that’s happened there and to know I walked out on that stage by my lonesome to entertain an over-capacity sold out crowd will forever stay with me. Truly honored and grateful for the opportunity.
What was your favorite tour stop and why?
Oh man there’s too many! I’d say on that tour one of my favorite stops was in Austin, Texas at The Moody Theater where they film ACL Live. My sound and show is a bit different from the norm and Austin really embraces the weirdness. I really felt like I was in my element there, plus I randomly hung out with Gary Clark Jr. after the show at Jackalope. Austin is just great no matter what.
What are your top 10 touring tips for artists who are hitting the road?
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Be early or on time for soundcheck and showtime.
This is a general no brainer in life. Don’t make people wait around for you. If you can, tip the person running sound $10 or $20 bucks, remember their name and briefly describe how you like your mix to sound. The person running your sound is your greatest ally. Also, even if you get free drinks, tip your bartenders and thank them from the stage. This is their domain you are visiting, so behave accordingly and you will always be remembered and welcomed back - Touring can really drain your pockets quick so here’s a couple things I try to do to save dough: I drink a LOT of green tea instead of coffee so I’ll buy a couple boxes of tea before tour and just fill up my travel mug with free hot water from gas stations. This could also work with oatmeal or ramen if you’re REALLY on a budget.
- Bring a cooler if you have the space. Load it up with sandwich materials, fruit, beverages, etc and just replace the ice at gas stops. It’ll take the same time to make a turkey and cheese sandwich at a rest stop as it will to wait in line for a heavily processed garbage-burger from a fast food joint at twice the price. It’s really tough to find healthy places to eat on the road and staying fit and healthy is critical to a prosperous tour.
- Use a buddy system when loading in and out of the tour machine. As much as we’d like to trust in our fellow man, some people out there won’t think twice about grabbing that 1935 Gibson your grandpappy handed down to you and making a run for it. Unless you’re in a secure tour bus, you shouldn’t bring rare guitars and gear on the road anyways. It’s a cruel world out there so always make sure there’s someone at the car and alternate loads. If you’re staying in a hotel or friends house, BRING YOUR GEAR INSIDE or have someone sleep in the van with it.
- If you’re feeling tired while driving, cracking sunflower seeds always seems to wake me up. Not sure why, it just works and I don’t question it. Otherwise, get someone else to drive or pull over and sleep. It’s not worth it.
- Travel light, tour heavy! I usually only bring a couple shirts for the stage and keep them on hangers after the show to dry out the sweat. You’re in a different city every night so no one knows you’re wearing the same thing and there’s hardly any time to hit a laundromat on the road. Bring extra socks though!
- If you are on tour supporting a larger act, find a quick moment in your set to thank them for bringing you on the road with them. The crowd is most likely there to see them anyways so give an appreciative nod to the greats and continue to rock their faces off.
- Treat your tour machine well. Change your oil, check fluids at every stop and invest in AAA Plus roadside service. It’s around $75 for the whole year and they will tow you 100 miles, bring you gas, unlock your car and give you a jump anywhere in the U.S for free. Trust me, all of the above will happen at one point so don’t gamble when you have places to be and fans to make!
- Merch. Having really great merchandise and an eye-catching display is crucial. This is why you are on the road, to push your music and goods. Mention and point to the merch booth from the stage, have your ‘cotton tech’ wave their hand and really remind the crowd about the cool stuff they can own. If there’s a really good response to one of your songs, mention on the mic that it’s available on CD or vinyl. Let them know you’ll be hangin’ at the merch booth after the set. While you’re signing CD’s or body parts, ask them to write down their info on your email list. You only have so much time to keep them engaged so strike directly after your set and make new friends and fans while you’re at it.
- Take time to see national parks, landmarks, dive bars etc. One of the beautiful things about being in a touring band is seeing new places, meeting new people and creating new experiences. Ask around after your shows where the good swimmin’ holes or secret beaches are. People love to show you their town and why they live there. There’s an incredible motorcycle museum in North Carolina I would have never discovered if I wasn’t chatting with a fan at the bar. Take some time off here and there to learn the history of where you are traveling through or why that city is even there. Who knows, you might get inspired to write a song that you can sing next time you’re touring through!