How can musicians build resilience for touring?

If it's your first tour, I recommend starting with something local, like visiting nearby cities or a major city in your country. This will help you get accustomed to the process of organizing a tour and minimize the risk of significant mistakes. Maintain a spreadsheet for expenses and carefully plan your days off. These rest days will be crucial for conserving energy and ensuring that you're at your best for each show, preventing unnecessary exhaustion.

Even a simple workout, be it running or a yoga for 15-30 minutes can really help mentally as well as physically. Having an easy, short routine can be implemented into a busy day.

It took me over a decade to truly slow down and savor the experiences that touring offered. In the early years, my focus was so fixed on the performances that I often overlooked the present moment. For instance, despite visiting Paris over 30 times, I never took the time to see the Mona Lisa, a symbol of the rich culture and history surrounding me. It was only when I began to embrace balance – working hard, but also allowing myself time to play and rest – that I started to appreciate the beauty and excitement of touring. Learning to be present in each moment, to appreciate where I was and what I was doing, transformed my touring experience from a whirlwind of gigs into a journey filled with memorable and enriching experiences.

Building resilience for touring is less about specific strategies and more about adopting consistent habits during the off season. Touring demands physical and mental stamina, often under challenging conditions. To withstand this, resilience needs to be woven into your daily life. This means consistently taking care of your physical health through proper nutrition and exercise, and equally nurturing your mental well-being. It's about creating a strong foundation of habits that keep you grounded and prepared for the unpredictability of life on the road. By making resilience a core part of your lifestyle, you equip yourself to handle the rigors of touring, not just as a temporary phase, but as a sustainable way of living and performing.