Traveling Tees

The Big Start Part 2

chriswalk — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 05:10:00 GMT

We left off in a hotel room after I was beginning to believe I was left alone and uncared for in Seattle on my first major tour. It's the first day of the tour now and the show starts in roughly 12 hours. I wake up to our drummer sleeping and a text. The text from the TM says that crew needs to show by 10AM--Chris you can come a little later if you like. The 10AM call was to set up the stage, and running merch, I really didn't need to be there that early, so I get anothr Uber and arrive at 10:30.

Everyone is running around frantic. First shows always suck! I briefly see my old friends, I want to catch up, but everyone is too busy. First order of business, where do I put my bags. I walk in, see a suitcase and throw mine with it. Next order of business-Merch World. I check Fedex and everyhthing is supposed to arrive this morning. It's not here yet so I have some time. I go around the venue and find out where merch will be set up and try to help out with some basic tasks with the crew.

I believe an hour or so had passed, when I walked outside and saw a Fedex truck. I thought, Awesome I can start my day and get everything ready. Wait, could I be so naive? Nothing goes right on the first show day! The Fedex truck drives by...Checking the Fedex page it shows that Unable to Accept Delivery. Basically, that noone was at the venue to recieve it..Well that's bullshit. So I immedately lt my managers know and start on it. Obiviously, this isn't good. For me or my above manager. I call Fedex and it goes to a robot.Fuck that! I call again, Robot! Third times the charm, note that if you immediatly ask to speak with representaitve you will get someone, I get transferred to India. I won't bore you with the whole conversation written up to the best of my memory, but long story-short there was nothing they could do. Fedex drivers do not come back and everything will go to their main storage facility an hour away.

It's nice to have connections. My boss had a connection at Fedex. He was able to get a Currier to get everything from the Fedex warehouse to the venue 2 hours before doors! (Make Note of this, you'll see it again). I get my merch in, some things are worng, but we make the most of it.

The artist calls me over and has another task for me once he see's that everything looks pretty good for what we have. the Co-Headliner had body forms and looked WAY nicer, but it will do for now, but we should get some body forms. Done. ANyways, I'me helping with the show buy recruiting volunteers outside to pop balloons during the show, which is nothing new to me show wise, but the added responsiblity is awesome.

Finding a spot on the bus. It was hours later after the bus arrived that I found out it was here. I get my luggage and try to figure out the door lock. Not going to happen, so I find someone in our Crew and they help me out- not for the last time. Naturally being last, I get a spot on the very top of the three rows of bunks. But it's cool I have a place to sleep. Only later after the show doI find out that not only does my light not work, but I don't have a blanket! And buses are kept very coold in order to prevent the spread of germs in close quarters. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Mainly I dind't want to sound like an idiot for some reason and because I was the last one in after the show, I wrapped myself up in sweaters and pants and made it through the night a couple hours at a time. You may think that it is hard to sleep in a bus bunk. My parents can still never fathom of doing it. It's like having a sleep chamber. Eveything is cut off except the the rolling of the bus down the road and the sound of the AC and Engine, also maybe the band and crew if it's one of those nights where Bourbon and Music come hand in hand after a show. The first show went great all things considering, and I learned that once again, always expect for the worst. Everthing tends to be last minute. This would be my worst sleeping night on a bus as we rolled onto the next one and I prepared for two more months of this. And it only got better!

Photos: Summer 2016

chriswalk — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 23:22:00 GMT

Travels between April-August 2016

The Big Start

chriswalk — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 11:25:00 GMT

Early October , 2015.

This is it. My big moment, and I'm scared as hell--but I won't let anyone notice. I've already completed my first trial tour, but more on that in a diffeerent story. It's time for the big one. This time I have a rough idea of what to pack, I'm prepped, I have people asking ME questions, heck, I'll manage the hell out of this merch. I'm confident and ready to go.

Mom drops me off at the airport as it was a two hour drive there from my house. Not to Seattle-my final destination- but Detriot. I'm sure it was harder for her than it was for me, and even harder yet for my Girlfriend Marlee--and that truely was hard for me. But this was my big moment and I wasn't going to let emotions get in my way. We said our goodbyes, and on my nth time checking my printed boarding pass, I was on my way to security. I wasn't going to Check my baggage. That would cost money! Who new about band reimbursement when nothing was explained properly? Besides, I had just gotten my tickets 3 days prior, as original plans were for me to Drive Gear up from Las Vegas. Naturally in the Music Biz, plans change, and I get a free trip to Seattle with a lay-over in Denver. I'm through security easily and quickly find my gate. Time to wait two hours before initail boarding...wouldn't have wanted to be late because of security.

Fast-Forward through a lot of reading and listening to music on my iPod Classic.

I arrive in Seattle. Holy Shit it's actually raining, and I thought that was just what they say. Now what? I have no idea. I text our Tour Manager (TM) and the plan is to take an Uber to the hotel where I'll have a room with one of the band guys. Cool. Time to download the App--theres no uber in rural Michigan.

The uber is great. Easy-Enough and I'm glad I put some money in my checking account before hand. I arrive at the hotel and check in. First problem- I'm not in the system. Luckely, I notice one of the crew in the lobby. He's getting ready to leave. Call the TM, he says and takes off. Ok, so I call the TM. He's busy with the Artist, wait around for the Manager or one of the band guys to come and hang with them unitl he can take care of it. Cool...I guess I'll just wait in the lobby. Which is exactly what I do for about a half hour until our Manager arrives. I interned for him over Spring and was glad to see him again. I tell him the situation and he let's me stay in his room until then. Now rememeber, this was my first REAL tour and starting off without a room and any idea of what to do wasn't my favorite start esspessially when I want to impress boss. I get to stay in his room for several hours until the drummer arrives and I can bunk with him, meanwhile the manager will be at dinner with the artist--I'm not invited. Hot Pockets it is! and that's when I started my first walk aroung the city.

Several hours and a phone meeting later the drummer arrives and I make it to his room. I knew him already, but the first tour was so short that I really didn't get ot know anyone really well. We hit it off, wathc South Park, and thus ends my first night across the country on a two month tour.