Surviving on the Road: Tour Tips From a Metal Drummer

Guitars, Travel
May 27, 2025

Surviving on the Road: Tour Tips From a Metal Drummer

By Kristian

Touring in a band might sound somewhat easy or glamorous, but it’s not all about being on stage playing in front of adoring fans and after parties. I would say that’s less than 10% of the entire experience. The truth is that being a musician is gruelling and requires hours of work behind the scenes just to get on that stage for a small fraction of time. It’s not easy and it takes a special kind of person to be able to become a touring musician.

After playing for over a decade around the world, I’ve found the experience of touring to be an interesting blend of chaos, exhaustion and camaraderie, mixed with unforgettable experiences if you can survive it all. For those looking to tour the world or pursue music, here are some tips that I’ve learned from touring the world that you can hopefully implement to better survive the road dog lifestyle.

Keep Away from Alcohol and Other Substances

This is my first point because I think for those in the rock or metal scene, it can be the most difficult to give up. You’re playing shows every night with free drinks being offered, and in these kinds of environments, it’s quite common to drink, smoke cigarettes and consume other substances. So it’s also the environmental and social pressure that comes with the territory, but as most of you know, long-term usage never ends well.

If you’re a weekend warrior and can handle a few drinks on occasion, that is fine, but if you’re on the road and consider touring your career, then you need to treat it like that. Not only will excessive drinking give you terrible hangovers and worsen performance, but it can also strain relationships with those you are with. I’ve seen many arguments break out due to uncontrolled drinking, or bands go downhill because of substances.

You should completely cut out these vices if you’re set on performing 100%, but it also puts you in a healthier state, and you will feel better. If not for others, you should do this for yourself. While it might be hard to say no all the time, it’s worth it. Try having soft drinks or soda instead, and even opting for alcohol free beers (yes, they exist).

Stay Active Outside of Playing Shows

I could go on for hours about the benefits of working out, so it’s no surprise I’ve included this here, but I genuinely found it a game-changer for keeping a good mental and physical condition while on the road. I made a point to go to the gym every day while on the road, and while others would make excuses, there was always a way for me to train, whether that be going to a weights gym, boxing gym or even sauna. In major cities, there is always one close by, and if not, you can always do bodyweight exercises or go for a run.

When you get to a new city and finish loading in, there are usually a few hours between setting up and having to play, so these were my prime hours for working out. All you need to do is find the nearest gym on Google Maps and get a one-day pass. If transport is an issue, I would either use Uber or hire an electric scooter to get there. Also, if you’re spending 1 month or more in a country, I would suggest getting a short-term membership for the cheaper training and, not to mention, free showers.

Look After the Tour Van or Bus

Now, if you’re flying from destination to destination, then this might not be as applicable, but even then, you’re likely to be hiring a tour bus when arriving in different countries. The reason why it’s important to take care of your tour van is that it’s pretty much your second home. When band members start piling garbage on the ground, it can accumulate super fast, and next thing you know it you’re losing your belongings in a pile of trash, not to mention your environment looking like the end of a dirty alleyway.

I learned pretty early on that you should take advantage of any van stops to empty trash as well as keep some plastic bags on hand to throw everything inside. Sure, if it were just one or two people, then it wouldn’t be an issue, but with over 5 people sharing a van, things can easily accumulate. It’s also important to organise belongings appropriately, I can’t remember how many times I’ve lost personal belongings, whether that be chargers, cables or clothing in a van that is severely unorganised. So look after your second home!

Gear Maintenance and Spare Parts

While I’m a drummer, this advice is also applicable to other musicians. You’re going to be playing shows in new cities and travelling frequently, it’s not easy to find certain products, whether that be strings, drum heads, drumsticks or even cables or chargers. I’ve had plenty of times where a piece of equipment is lost or broken, and there are no shops in the vicinity to find an appropriate replacement. Especially when you’re quite specific with what you use, I typically use drumsticks that are 2b, which are thicker than the traditional 5b sticks and are harder to find.

If you want to overcome this problem, then the first line of defence is to take care of everything you have. Make sure you invest in good travel cases, don’t be too rough with your gear and ensure you’re following the recommended operation instructions. Check absolutely everything before and after every show. I know you might be tired or rushing to play, but even noticing the smallest problems early can save you from a lot of trouble. I’ve encountered countless occasions where my drumheads would break mid-set or in-ears fail me while playing live.

Sleep is Your Friend

Without trying to sound like your parents, you need to prioritise your sleep. This is so important, especially when you’re touring for a long period. If you have bad quality sleep, it can affect everything, from your ability to perform to even interacting with other people and recovering from playing night after night. While it can be difficult when you don’t have a consistent environment, there are little hacks that can help you sleep well while on the road.

I would always keep a lookout for comfortable areas to have quick naps, this can be on couches, in the green room or even if you have extra space in the van. If you can manage to get 20 minutes in when you’re sleep deprived from the night before, this can make a heap of difference. Not only that, but touring is a lot less fun when you’re always battling with sleep deprivation.

You can also take some things that can help you sleep better on the road. I like to take with me earplugs or even sound-proof headphones or monitors that can reduce external noise. Also, eye covers to block out any light are also helpful (but I didn’t use these too much). I would also recommend getting yourself a high-quality travel pillow that can easily hold your head up when in the van or plane.

Focus on a Healthy Diet

Now, being a metal musician isn’t usually synonymous with eating and living clean, but I would consider touring and performing as high-impact on the body. If you’re going to look at yourself as a high-level performer, then you will need to fuel your body with high-performance food. This means ditching McDonald’s, gas station food and sweets. It might be hard at first, but your body will thank you, and I guarantee you will perform better on stage. When I have been eating well and getting on stage, I can notice my energy levels staying high and consistent, which is truly priceless.

I understand that it’s easier said than done, you don’t have a kitchen, and sometimes supermarkets are hard to find. But there are ways around this, and I’ve always managed to have a good diet while touring. If you go to a gas station, there are generally few healthy options, but it’s better than nothing. I opt for nuts, fruits (if available) and protein bars. When going to venues usually you can usually request salads or customise your dietary options. If this fails, though, I would stock up at supermarkets wherever I can or even just have a temporary fast if lunch or dinner didn’t have anything healthy.

Tour Tips from a Metal Drummer Article Image1

Every tour starts with this view. Headphones in, world off.

Tour Tips from a Metal Drummer Article Image2

The tour grind starts in the skies. Hydrate, rest, and stretch before soundcheck

Create a Pre-Show Ritual

When it comes to consistent performance every night, one piece of advice I would give is to engage in a pre-show ritual every night if you can. Even better if you can get the whole band involved as well. Mine has changed drastically over the years, but it almost always consists of some sort of warm-up, stretching and going through a song or two backstage. The best thing about this is that it gives me a sense of confidence and readiness as opposed to rushing into playing.

My last few tours, I enjoyed going running before the set, which helped me feel extremely loose and warm before getting on stage. I found it even more effective than hitting pads backstage because it gets the blood flowing throughout the whole body. You can get a similar effect with skipping rope, and I know that this is something that Dave Elitch promotes and does himself.

Don’t Overpack

Every tour for me up until now, I have progressively packed less and less. To the point of having only 1-2 shirts, 1 pair of shorts, pants and a jumper, and I survived. You’d be surprised how little you need, and the big thing to remember is that no matter where you are in the world, you should be able to buy any missing items. But this isn’t usually the case, usually, we take more than we need and realise when it’s too late. I think most of us are guilty, especially the first few times we go travelling.

It needs to be tactical, though. For example, when I play drums, I know I sweat a lot, so my go-to clothing is usually running shorts and a quick dry sports shirt or singlet. The best thing about this gear is that I’m able to rinse and quickly wash these items in the sink and hang them to dry somewhere. Making it super easy for me to not pile up dirty washing. But if you don’t plan on washing your clothes regularly, I would recommend you take slightly more. This is just what works for me.

In terms of other gear, you don’t need too much on the road, think toiletries, technology, chargers, laptops and even cameras. I would recommend against taking books and getting a Kindle instead. Mine has been a lifesaver during long tour drives, and you can get essentially any title you want, as most are in digital format nowadays.

Keep Diplomacy Between Members

This is one that many (including me) can struggle with, it’s not easy being in a band and couple that with staying together for months on end in a van or sharing hotel rooms. You very rarely get your own space, and for better or worse, are almost always in each other’s faces. This can make for some more dramatic events or scenarios to arise. Arguments, disagreements and personal issues can arise easily in these situations and are almost inevitable, but I would best advise you to solve these issues like adults, speak about them and move on with the tour.

The touring band environment has no space for egos, everyone is stressed enough as it is, and the pressure to perform night after night is enough; you don’t need anything else. When encountering disagreements, I would advise cooling things off for a bit, then, when both parties are chill, discuss the problem at hand. This can be hard if you’re dealing with stubborn parties, and musicians can be stubborn at times, so be prepared.

Enjoy the Chaos

It is going to be chaotic, there’s no doubt about it, and don’t expect things to be running smoothly at all. You’re going to be running into all sorts of problems, issues, weird situations and instead of looking at them as hurdles, try to have a laugh and figure things out without being too stressed out. I’ve been in some pickles during my time touring, and I can tell you that losing your temper and worrying too much never ends well. You’ll be looking back at these times when you’re older and laughing, so don’t take it too seriously.

Summary

So there you have it, you’ve just gone through some of the most important tips you need to consider when touring. Remember, no matter if you’re a metal drummer or not, all these tips are relevant if you’re touring or just travelling. Travelling around the world and touring in a band is a unique experience very few get to cherish, so make sure that you maximise your experience the best you can. Look after yourself and have fun, see you on the road.