The Venetia Fair were kind enough to take some time to write up a list of their tips for touring and send over some pictures of their life on the road, which may be of interest to anyone considering life in a touring band, or someone interested in what touring involves for a band like The Venetia Far. The tips below regarding eating, cleaning, and promoting come from the band’s bass player, Mike Abiuso.
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For those up and coming bands you will shortly find that touring is not easy and it certainly is not for everyone. In fact you have to be slightly crazy to pursue this career being that you will work extremely hard to make no money and sometimes even end up in incredible debt. We were just fortunate enough to become very rich, very famous, and very brave right out of the gate (or womb what ever tickles you boat).
But being a touring band, and all human it is key to try and get a little bit of sleep and a little bit of food. I would say it is important to get along, but The Venetia Fair would NEVER get along with anyone including ourselves. As a matter of fact we probably treat each other with more disrespect than an old man treats his cane (or a king treats his crown, what ever floats your fancy)
Anywho…as far as eating, the cheapest way to feed 8 people in a van HANDS FUCKING DOWN…ready? Go to Wal Mart, find the cheapest pack of 8 hot dogs and buy 2 packs. Next, fuck the luxury or buns and grab the cheapest loaf of bread. The total should be under $3 and you have 8 people fed for the night. Now either drive or go to bed!
"It is key to try and get a little bit of sleep."
There’s a weird thing that happens to those that are so rich, they tend to start getting things for free. Us abiding by the same logistics get food stamp money, so that $3 meal was absolutely FREE for The Venetia Fair!
Next…clean. Well we would never do laundry or pack more than 1 pair of pants and 4 shirts, but in the event that one’s article of clothing becomes unbearable there is always the option of washing it in a Wal Mart sink (Wal Mart is your 2nd home on tour, your van is your 1st one) then hanging it on a clothes line in the trailer. As far as our bodies go, you can get an $8 sun shower and a $3 shampoo/body/shave wash for the whole band at none other than the redundant, job sucking, commonwealth destroying Wal Mart. The bags are to be filled up by the nearest spigot then laid out on the roof of the trailer to be heated up by the sun and put to use.
"Make your own flyers, spray paint and cut out your own stencils, banners, flags."
DI fucking Y…there are trillions of bands in the world trying to achieve the same goal. What the fuck makes you think you are any different? You are a worthless peasant in this shitty life, which is obviously a toilet. You have to stand out from everyone else in your own way…if you start treating everyone like shit and saying ‘life is a toilet’ then you are an uncreative pussy and will be just as shitty as The Venetia Fair. Create your own identity. Book your own tours if none are handed to you, remember no one cares more about your band than you and your band. Make your own flyers, spray paint and cut out your own stencils, banners, flags, etc. Build your own personal stage set. I can’t hold your hand through this, but just force your goals that are in your head to be achieved just make them within reach.
I’m sick of typing on my phone on the Fung Wah bus to NYC…if I continue, my frustration with this bus and my phone’s incorrect auto correct will show. So go fuck yourself and we’ll meet on the old road.
–Mike Abiuso of The Venetia Fair
Catch The Venetia Fair and their crazy antics as they wrap up their current set of dates this week:
Aug 31 – Whitman Square Mens Club – Blackwood, NJ
Sep 01 – The Vibe Lounge – Rockville Centre, NY
Sep 02 – Park Rock Festival – Great Mills, MD
Sep 03 – Park Rock Festival – Great Mills, MD
Sep 04 – Park Rock Festival – Great Mills, MD
And check out The Pits, out now.
Tags: the venetia fair, touring
Evan
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