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 it91裸聊视频檚 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 let91裸聊视频檚 face it, who amongst us hasn91裸聊视频檛 had at least a momentary fantasy about being on tour with a band 91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频淪ome days you91裸聊视频檙e the pigeon and some days you91裸聊视频檙e the statue.91裸聊视频�

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.

They91裸聊视频檙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.

91裸聊视频淲e have a tour bus now, but when we started we travelled by van,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淭ry being in a van for eight hours with a band. It91裸聊视频檚 a real test of whether the band is going to last. That91裸聊视频檚 for sure.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e in the parking lot of an outlet mall in Indiana right now, waiting for a tow truck and mechanic,91裸聊视频� Gullen quipps. 91裸聊视频淥f course, it91裸聊视频檚 not all bad. We91裸聊视频榲e been shopping and I bought my very first pair of Crocs at a very reasonable price.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频淏est 4 Canadian Albums in the World91裸聊视频� by the Globe and Mail.

But when Wallace started travelling to gigs (she was 19 at the time) she had no driver91裸聊视频檚 license and made her way by train.

91裸聊视频淚t was a slow trip, but an organic one,91裸聊视频� Wallace says. 91裸聊视频淚 had a lot of time to think.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

The 91裸聊视频榟ang91裸聊视频� is important
& supports can be lacking

Still, the touring experience is something that Wallace treasures.

91裸聊视频淚 play with some awesome people, and I91裸聊视频檝e been really fortunate. The 91裸聊视频榟ang91裸聊视频� (slang for the camaraderie that the group develops) has been great,91裸聊视频� Wallace says. 91裸聊视频淭he hang is imperative. The (group91裸聊视频檚) 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. It91裸聊视频檚 not for the faint of heart.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淔or me now, touring is a wonderful place to be. It makes sense to me now, but that wasn91裸聊视频檛 always the case,91裸聊视频� Workman says. 91裸聊视频淚f it91裸聊视频檚 not making sense to you and you91裸聊视频檙e out there, surrounded by alcohol and stuff, it can be a very dangerous place. For me these days, it91裸聊视频檚 a productive place, but it took some work.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚 did get married last summer, and it can be tough being away from home so much,91裸聊视频� says Darren Metz (Young D) of the Snotty Nosed Rez Kids. 91裸聊视频淲e spend more time together than we do with our partners and that can really put a strain on things.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淭he road is an education,91裸聊视频� observes Canadian singer/songwriter, Barney Bentall. 91裸聊视频淭here are parts that you love but there are definitely times when you91裸聊视频檙e lonely and homesick.91裸聊视频�

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.

Sheepdogs91裸聊视频� Gullen recalls getting into some very weird scenarios.

91裸聊视频淵ou go into a town and don91裸聊视频檛 know what you91裸聊视频檙e getting yourself into,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淔irst of all, before GPS, finding these places was a challenge. We91裸聊视频檇 print up all these maps and constantly get lost. Then we91裸聊视频檇 end up in some bar in a small town where it can get real uncomfortable, really quickly.

91裸聊视频淵ou learn fast how to entice a cold audience. Some of them don91裸聊视频檛 want you there and others just want to be left alone. Some groups can91裸聊视频檛 handle it and just give up.91裸聊视频�

The most unusual experience Gullen had was when his band was booked by someone who thought they91裸聊视频檇 booked The Sled Dogs, a group made up of some friends of the organizers of the show.

91裸聊视频淚t sort of explained why they91裸聊视频檇 said not to bother with hotels and that we could stay at their house,91裸聊视频� Gullen says.

91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�

And, of course, there91裸聊视频檚 Valdy91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淗ere I was, this lanky kid with an acoustic guitar and I roll into town where 30,000 people are expecting a rock show,91裸聊视频� said Valdy.

91裸聊视频淚t didn91裸聊视频檛 go well. I was booed and jeered at and I played until someone clapped and I ran off the stage.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淢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.91裸聊视频�

Valdy is now 79 years of age, but still touring, so we91裸聊视频檙e guessing he91裸聊视频檚 learned a lot of lessons along the way.