The music landscape these days is such that, in order to make a mark with the public, performers have to tour.

The media environment is so overcrowded (particularly with everybody with a guitar posting videos on social media) that it香蕉视频直播檚 incumbent upon performers to go out to where the audience is and to establish the personal connection that is the foundation of any fan base.

And let香蕉视频直播檚 face it, who amongst us hasn香蕉视频直播檛 had at least a momentary fantasy about being on tour with a band 香蕉视频直播� taking the stage to the cheers of thousands of adoring lovers of your music and blowing the roof off the house with a performance that, on any given night, could become the stuff of legends.

But the reality of touring can be a tad more daunting.

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden fame summed it up when he observed that 香蕉视频直播淪ome days you香蕉视频直播檙e the pigeon and some days you香蕉视频直播檙e the statue.香蕉视频直播�

Travel can be a challenge

To start with, except for the handful of superstars who breathe the rarefied air of stardom, most performers travel between gigs in a collection of personal vehicles, vans, trains and economy flights.

Take The Sheepdogs, for example.

They香蕉视频直播檙e the first unsigned band to make the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and have a host of platinum sales and three Juno nominations to their credit. They also have an impressive touring history to appreciative crowds that seem to get bigger with every stop (thesheepdogs.com).

But band member Ryan Gullen knows all about some of the pitfalls of touring.

香蕉视频直播淲e have a tour bus now, but when we started we travelled by van,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淭ry being in a van for eight hours with a band. It香蕉视频直播檚 a real test of whether the band is going to last. That香蕉视频直播檚 for sure.香蕉视频直播�

Still, a tour bus may not be as carefree as one might imagine.
When we caught up with Gullen, the group was on its way from Nashville to Chicago for its next gig but had brokedown in a little-travelled spot in Indiana.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e in the parking lot of an outlet mall in Indiana right now, waiting for a tow truck and mechanic,香蕉视频直播� Gullen quipps. 香蕉视频直播淥f course, it香蕉视频直播檚 not all bad. We香蕉视频直播榲e been shopping and I bought my very first pair of Crocs at a very reasonable price.香蕉视频直播�

Skye Wallace (skyewallace.com) has a voice that soars and captivates audiences, and her mix of folk, rock and alternative music has allowed her to make a real mark on the music world. Her 2019 self-titled album was described as one of the 香蕉视频直播淏est 4 Canadian Albums in the World香蕉视频直播� by the Globe and Mail.

But when Wallace started travelling to gigs (she was 19 at the time) she had no driver香蕉视频直播檚 license and made her way by train.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a slow trip, but an organic one,香蕉视频直播� Wallace says. 香蕉视频直播淚 had a lot of time to think.香蕉视频直播�

Then there was her experience of touring in Europe, where an accommodating promoter arranged for a large panel van for Wallace and her band.

香蕉视频直播淭he problem was that the van was so big that we had trouble getting it through some of the narrow roadways in Europe. We had to fold in the mirrors and have someone guide us through some areas.香蕉视频直播�

The 香蕉视频直播榟ang香蕉视频直播� is important
& supports can be lacking

Still, the touring experience is something that Wallace treasures.

香蕉视频直播淚 play with some awesome people, and I香蕉视频直播檝e been really fortunate. The 香蕉视频直播榟ang香蕉视频直播� (slang for the camaraderie that the group develops) has been great,香蕉视频直播� Wallace says. 香蕉视频直播淭he hang is imperative. The (group香蕉视频直播檚) energy starts with the hang on the way to the show. No matter how good the tour is, you have to want to be there. It香蕉视频直播檚 not for the faint of heart.香蕉视频直播�

Hawksley Workman, (hawksleyworkman.com), another amazing Canadian musical talent, agrees.

香蕉视频直播淔or me now, touring is a wonderful place to be. It makes sense to me now, but that wasn香蕉视频直播檛 always the case,香蕉视频直播� Workman says. 香蕉视频直播淚f it香蕉视频直播檚 not making sense to you and you香蕉视频直播檙e out there, surrounded by alcohol and stuff, it can be a very dangerous place. For me these days, it香蕉视频直播檚 a productive place, but it took some work.香蕉视频直播�

Those dangers can be even more daunting when an artist is separated from the support of home.

香蕉视频直播淚 did get married last summer, and it can be tough being away from home so much,香蕉视频直播� says Darren Metz (Young D) of the Snotty Nosed Rez Kids. 香蕉视频直播淲e spend more time together than we do with our partners and that can really put a strain on things.香蕉视频直播�

The longer the tour, and the greater the distances from home, the greater those strains can become.

香蕉视频直播淭he road is an education,香蕉视频直播� observes Canadian singer/songwriter, Barney Bentall. 香蕉视频直播淭here are parts that you love but there are definitely times when you香蕉视频直播檙e lonely and homesick.香蕉视频直播�

Uncertainty is always a factor

But perhaps the hardest part of any tour, particularly for groups that are at the start of their careers, is the uncertainty.

Sheepdogs香蕉视频直播� Gullen recalls getting into some very weird scenarios.

香蕉视频直播淵ou go into a town and don香蕉视频直播檛 know what you香蕉视频直播檙e getting yourself into,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淔irst of all, before GPS, finding these places was a challenge. We香蕉视频直播檇 print up all these maps and constantly get lost. Then we香蕉视频直播檇 end up in some bar in a small town where it can get real uncomfortable, really quickly.

香蕉视频直播淵ou learn fast how to entice a cold audience. Some of them don香蕉视频直播檛 want you there and others just want to be left alone. Some groups can香蕉视频直播檛 handle it and just give up.香蕉视频直播�

The most unusual experience Gullen had was when his band was booked by someone who thought they香蕉视频直播檇 booked The Sled Dogs, a group made up of some friends of the organizers of the show.

香蕉视频直播淚t sort of explained why they香蕉视频直播檇 said not to bother with hotels and that we could stay at their house,香蕉视频直播� Gullen says.

香蕉视频直播淲e played and stayed at this house where  they partied all night. We had to hit the road in the morning and just needed to get some sleep.香蕉视频直播�

And, of course, there香蕉视频直播檚 Valdy香蕉视频直播檚 experience way back in 1969. Just starting out at the time, the now iconic Canadian folk artist was booked for a gig at the Aldergrove Rock Festival.

香蕉视频直播淗ere I was, this lanky kid with an acoustic guitar and I roll into town where 30,000 people are expecting a rock show,香蕉视频直播� said Valdy.

香蕉视频直播淚t didn香蕉视频直播檛 go well. I was booed and jeered at and I played until someone clapped and I ran off the stage.香蕉视频直播�

Of course, that experience gave Valdy the inspiration for his timeless song Play me a Rock and Roll Song, which has been inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

香蕉视频直播淢ost gigs are positive, but touring has always been challenging and you learn lessons from doing it the wrong way. You just have to pay attention and be as good as you can be.香蕉视频直播�

Valdy is now 79 years of age, but still touring, so we香蕉视频直播檙e guessing he香蕉视频直播檚 learned a lot of lessons along the way.