Tim's Road Guide

Rip It Up, Issue 83, 1 June 1984, Page 30

Tim's Road Guide

Hitting the Road (and Staying On It)

Soon after the Blam Blam ' Blam reunion bassist Tim Mahon left these shores for England. He left behind a wealth of experience in touring New Zealand with the Whizz Kids, Blams and Export Lamb, not to mention those he has helped out, like the Gurlz and Miltown Stowaways. . In an effort to help others avoid the mistakes he made, Mahon helped RIU prepare a basic practical touring guide. He has concentrated particularly on alternative ways of touring, such as art galleries. ' The Homework You should never even consider touring without first doing your homework. The first step is a press kit Your press kit should contain information on who is in the band, when it was formed, etc, press clippings and details on record(s). If you can do it properly, it's.a good idea to write up something that a lazy reporter can put straight in the paper - such a story must have an "angel". however, a simple history of the band won t do. You should have enough kits to send to everyone you’re liaising with for gigs - pub managers, radio stations (especially student stations), newspapers, etc. Photos are a good idea and someone like Pressprint in Auckland will run oft a hundred prints for SSO or so. The big thing is to get your presentation done a month before you go away at the latest. That

means when you re on the phone booking gigs you can post immediately the material to help your case to get guarantees, accommodation, etc. That all negotiable. Bromides Bromides are the originals of the ads you put in newspapers and it's good to have a tour bromide because papers can mess things up horribly. 1 remember the Plague being called the Plaque once in New Plymouth - maybe we should have played with the Dentists. Records Having a record is a big help for touring. It is possible without but having one gives you extra support from radio, reviews, etc. If you haven got one it might be a good idea to send out some demo tapes. Posters We’ve found screening posters is the cheapest way The charge for getting a screen made isn't much and from then on it's paper (which you can sometimes get cheap), ink and labour. Budgeting You must budget a tour properly before you go. Items should include petrol, PA, lights, spare sticks and strings, food ... The Post Office If you're booking a tour you're going to make a few toll calls. Make them all price required so you can keep track of everything from the start. You need to be at

a phone number where people can reach you and where .you can make all your toll calls from the one phone. Postage can cost a lot. Within each island, surface mail is just as quick as air. Len Lye says, post early. Friends A - tradesman is a band's best friend. If you've got a mate who's a printer or a mechanic you'll need them and, it they're into music, they'll help you. If it costs you a bottle of Scotch or whatever, it's worth it. Your friends on tour are other musicians, they should help you out. That's the only way it can work, when musicians get together and help each other out. The Arts Council The Arts Council has a touring grant of 5750. You won't get it if you’re just doing pubs, only it you play alternative venues as well. So if you're going to do it yourself.it s worth working a little harder and getting the alternative Venues happening. You can also get support from the local arts council all councils have a certain amount per year to give out to performing artists. Brendan Smythe at the QEII Arts Council in Wellington is very helpful, particularly if you have something that's new and good and is going to amuse people, like a big roadshow. Art Galleries One of the beauties of places like these is you don t need a PA - you need monitors. 1 believe that the best thing for bands to do is get away from the big PAs and lighting rigs. Unless, of course, you do get to that stage where you have released records and people expect it of you. Some galleries aren't sympathetic but those listed in this issue will generally be pleased to have you play. The Van If you feel you going to do okay on tour and you want to be hassle-free, hire a van. If you own one, go over it with a fine-tooth comb before you go away. Make sure all tyres, are brand new, the brakes aren't going to crap out and so on. Always carry a comprehensive toolkit, clutch and brake fluid, lots of oil, bits of hose, bits of string, gaffa ... One Commer did 350,000 miles on 14 tours of the country before I put a new motor in it and that was only a 1700ccvan. A Thames Trader is another good van, as is the little Toyota Liteace (the Hiace isn’t as good). The Morris Commercial is really good, slow and . steady. Bedford Jumbos aren't built to carry PA systems. They're not built for the weight unless you make expensive modifications. . Join the AA you'll be glad of their help when you break down miles from anywhere. Packing Tight packing is a must. Road cases are essential if you want your equipment to stay in good condition, otherwise lots of blankets and sleeping bags wrapped round the bits. Cases aren't cheap to buy but you can find suitable boxes and things at the dump I have. Old suitcases can be useful

and they're easy to pack. Driving When you're driving long hauls you have to have several drivers. And each driver must have a codriver, whether the other person can drive or not. When the Blams' accident happened everyone but me in the van was asleep. Usually David Rudolph, who didn't even have his licence, used to stay up with me but not this time.

Don't drink. Don't smoke dope. Staying Sleeping on'people's, floors is cheaper than staying in motels and it's usually more fun: When the Blams were touring with Split Enz we went up to Neil's room at the Abel Tasman in Wellington and told him about this place we were sleeping at on The Terrace that had a huge fishtank full of seahorses and things and he wanted to-come and doss down with us.

Staying in motels is boring. So if you've got mates and they don't mind, stay with them. Buy them a bottle of Scotch and you've got good accommodation. You meet people and I think that's one of the best things about touring. But of course there's not much privacy so if you want that, get a motel. Motels

There are good, cheap motels in most centres - ask other bands. But don't throw TV sets through the window or anything. Tidy up after yourselves. Musicians who are animals fuck it up for everyone else. You might arrive there and look strange and be stared at but if you act reasonably they'll cheerfully have you back. PA

A big PA will cost you up to SSOO a week but you don't really need that much. A bass bin and one a side is fine. It's best to take

your PA with you because you get to know it and how it works.

Soundmen - once you get your mikes you look after them. Hold •on to them, never let then) out of your sight because they're worth as much as S3OO each and they're easy to steal. Never leave any gear lying round, lock it up in the van. It's often a good idea to immobilise the van. Vans are easy to steal and you don't want to kiss all your gear goodbye. Money Don't let people fuck you round over money. If you've got a t written contract and they renege on it, go and see a lawyer, the law's on your side. Don't threaten to beat people up, although I must confess I have done that ... Petrol coupons are a really smart idea. Carrying a lot of money on the road is dangerous because you'll find yourself saying: Hey, let's stop for a Devonshire tea!" We were famous for that, we used to stop for Devonshire teas every 10 miles. But it's better to stop in at a pub and buy a dozen Steiniagers and get a couple of loaves and some camembert from a deli and stop by a river somewhere. That's good if you've got the time because it breaks up the trip. When you get money you must bank it regularly. The amount of money that’s been stolen from tills, hotel rooms, everywhere ...

Take your own door person on tour, someone you can trust. It's unlikely that you'll get cheated but if you have your own person there you can't moan. Door Prices

I think it's time people charged at least $5 on the door." You can't survive on the road unless you do. Guarantees

Not many places give guarantees now, it gets worse every year. But that shouldn't matter because you're either going to do it and you're good or you're not.

Support Bands Support bands have to realise that going on the road costs a lot. A reasonable fee is S6O-70 a night - any lower's a bit silly. Extra Bucks

Selling T-shirts and tapes or records at the door can be a nice money spinner. Avant Garage made nearly SIOOO selling tapes. Multiple Tours When touring two or more bands it makes a lot of sense for the guitarists to sort out which amp suits everyone and for the drummers to use the same kit and bring along their own cymbals and bass pedal. For the bass, obviously the most powerful stack is the one to take.

Organisation Put one person in charge as tour manager and if he treats it like he's taking a lot of old age pensioners on a coach trip it should be a really good tour. Everyone should have a sheet telling them what time to get up and so on.

Serious Drinking If you going to get pissed every night you'll come home from the tour with a shocking cold and feel awful. It's not worth it. The Party If you've got a long drive, the next morning, don't go to the party. Or, if you do, make sure two people bed down so they're fit and well for the drive. Safety If there are girls in the band, stay with them all the time. Don't go wandering around alone in strange places, stick with each other. Booking Agencies Booking agencies are the lazy way, at least early on. They'll charge 10 per cent for very little and charge extra for doing all those, things like press kits - which is fair enough, they have to make their money. You may have to use them later on when you get too busy, however, and if you go to them and say: "Look, we haven't got the time to book the North Island leg of this tour, could you do it*?" they'll be good to you because they know eventually you’re going to get so busy that you can't do it yourself. Don’t let them be your enemies —that's stupid. But you must do it yourself at first or you'll just get stuck in the job of support band, for the rest of your time. Remember Short of vehicles crapping out, gear blowing up, earthquakes, war damage or floods, a tour should not lose money if you've done your homework and keep your overheads down.

CONTACTS • This is some information you might find useful. I've left out some of the more obvious ones you can look them up yourself. Art Galleries and Other Alternative Venues: Sergeant Art Gallery Wanganui Paul Rayner, PO Box 637, ph 58-195. Masterton Art Gallery Neil Rowe, ph Masterton 81-210. Waikato Art Museum Keith McMillar, ph Hamilton 392-118. Christchurch Arts Centre Martin McPherson, ph 63-324. Eltham Town Hall Cynthia Douds, ph Kapuka 540. Snailclamps Palmerston North The Skeptics, ph 629. Suter Art Gallery Nelson Rotorua Art Gallery John Perry, c/- District Council Govett-Brewster Gallery - New Plymouth Dick Belt, PO Box 647. Academic Institutions: Aside from universities (very good; especially at Orientation time, when a band can make lots of money louring for a month or more) there are teachers' colleges and technical institutes. All the students' associations will have an Activities Officer or Entertainment Officer. Some Pubs: Oriental Dunedin Warren Cates, 157 Frederick St, ph 778-468. • Richmond Oamaru Don Scott, Hilderthorpe-899. Terminus Timaru Reg McGarry, King St, ph 89-716. Woodbourne Blenheim, ph 28-007. Bellblock New Plymouth, ph 70-558. Golden Central Alexandra Union St, ph 84-048. Rutherford Nelson, ph 82-299. Rutland Wanganui 52 Victoria Ave, ph 54-587. Ngamotu New Plymouth ph 511-626. Waikiwi Invercargill, ph 59-080. Other Pubs:

Hillcrest, Metropole, Hamilton Hotel (Hamilton); Gluepot, Windsor. Globe, Milford Marina, Mon Desir, Esplanade Auckland); Terminus, Taita, Cricketers Arms, Clyde Quays (Wellington); Gladstone,- Star and Garter,' Hillsborough Christchurch); Empire (Dunedin); Golden Eagle (Greymouth); Albert (Palmerston North); Cabana (Napier); Greerton (Tauranga); River Bar (Gisborne); Onerahi (Northland).' Other Venues: Auckland's Mainstreet, Wellington’s Sheaf and Christchurch's Zanzibar all, to varying degrees, cater for touring bands. Press Contacts: Auckland Star, Wendyl Nissen; Christchurch Star, Rob White; Christchurch Press, David Swift; Marlborough Express, Box 242, Blenheim. Paul Ellis; Otago Daily Times, Nicola Robinson: Timaru Herald, Andrew Fyfe.