Metal Sludge Gossip Board

What would your preference be if you were currently in a touring group? If you are in a touring group, we definitely want to hear your thoughts.

Depends how many shows you are doing. On a bus you can bring your own gear, crew, and wider selection of merch range.

The fly ins are easier, but you are at the mercy of the promoters (and the airlines). The backline companies these days are pretty solid, so chances are good that the equipment will be ok. Depends on how picky you are with your gear.

With the bus you can do more shows and fall into a routine. You might need to get dayrooms for showers... or... Most times part of the deal of getting a bus is providing a hotel for the bus driver during the day so he can sleep. So, when he shows up at 11pm to warm up the bus, the act can go to the hotel and grab showers before heading to the next gig. I prefer a shower after the gig, some guys like showering in the morning. I would rather sleep "clean". Another trick is hanging your clothes in the trailer of the bus. With fly dates you are flying around with wet/ stinky clothes in a garbage bag. The nice thing is you are only gone a few days so it's not that many stinky clothes.

Another thing to mention with the fly ins is you usually have an early lobby call (after a late gig) so sleep schedule can get whacked out. Whereas on a bus you can sleep in... And at any time during the day, roll out to the bus and catch a nap. Some guys can't sleep with a rolling bus but it's not so bad if you get used to it.

Maaaan, speaking for myself now where I play in some successful cover bands, fly-ins for sure.

...but back in the day when I worked for people, the busses+hotel rooms was the fucking deal. Nothing beats just going to sleep on a bus, then waking up at the next gig.

Fly ins. Most bands have dates thurs through the weekend.

Air travel used to be pretty dependable and not so much of a hassle until the underwear bomber, 9-11 and the worsening of climate change.
Nowadays, the schedules can't be depended upon. I've know of artists cutting back on touring because of that lack of dependability. There are LOTS of flight delays in Jason's videos, yet he maintains a very mellow attitude.
I worked with a road manager who got so upset about something, he threw his Halliburton briefcase at a hotel room mirror in New Orleans. That hissy fit cost him hundreds of dollars.

And I haven't seen any band crew guys in Jason's traveling footage. Do they travel without a guitar tech or FOH person?
A guy I've crossed paths with (James Wood) used to mix FOH for Blotzer (and Pearcy, I think) and I haven't' seen him on camera.

Also....I haven't heard it mentioned, but Matt Thorne looks like Brian Cranston.

Unless you're arena level (and maybe even bigger) only one or the other is appropriate for what you do.

If you're on a tour, playing most nights of the week, van or bus is necessary.
If you're playing weekend dates, only flying there and back makes sense.

it's not like a band is like "hmm, what do we feel like this run? Shall we take a bus to our one date this weekend from LA to Mohegan Sun?" or conversely "Hmm, we're playing clubs all across the midwest and south. Shall we fly ourselves to each and every stop?"

Turner Coates wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2025 9:27 am Air travel used to be pretty dependable and not so much of a hassle until the underwear bomber, 9-11 and the worsening of climate change.
Nowadays, the schedules can't be depended upon. I've know of artists cutting back on touring because of that lack of dependability. There are LOTS of flight delays in Jason's videos, yet he maintains a very mellow attitude.
I worked with a road manager who got so upset about something, he threw his Halliburton briefcase at a hotel room mirror in New Orleans. That hissy fit cost him hundreds of dollars.

And I haven't seen any band crew guys in Jason's traveling footage. Do they travel without a guitar tech or FOH person?
A guy I've crossed paths with (James Wood) used to mix FOH for Blotzer (and Pearcy, I think) and I haven't' seen him on camera.

Also....I haven't heard it mentioned, but Matt Thorne looks like Brian Cranston.

Thorne does look exactly like Cranston. Is Matt an actor? If he isn’t, he should certainly start.

ParaDime77 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 3:55 pm What would your preference be if you were currently in a touring group? If you are in a touring group, we definitely want to hear your thoughts.

That's easy! I'd rather fly alone in my private jet than share a broken-down bus with 12 other dudes.

In reality, if you're a DIY band, take the bus route. If you truly have enough money to have people on payroll to handle the rest, fly private at least for the longer hauls. Take the bus on shorter drives.

I’m staring a tour on Monday for the next two months. We are playing almost every night and have one bus for everyone. Unless you are a weekend band like the ones that we talk about on here, a Pearcy/Jason video where they are at some casino or if it’s a massive taylor tour, it’s van/trailer, bandwagon or bus, nobody is flying. I honestly prefer sleeping on a bus and get the best sleep of my life.