It just occurred to me when I saw a band on tour go from Connecticut on the 20th to South Carolina today the 29th while playing at various venues between the two states.
Like logistically it’s insane to me plus how are the singers voices not burnt?
12 hours later: Thanks everyone! Absolutely fascinating for sure, especially the Wendover YouTube links. Didn’t know that channel existed.
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To add to this, while Metallica, Muse, and T-Swift have a huge retinue that travels with their shows — a lot of medium sized bands will rent the audio and musical equipment from local shops and travel only with their absolutely unique tools: guitars, pedal boards, and maybe an effects rack. They will rent the amps, drums and hardware, and use the house light, microphone, and PA systems and soundboard/desk.
There’s different kinds of tours (van tours, bus tours, and flying tours) but the majority of US tours for large-ish musicians is bus tour. The crew sets everything up and has an amazing system like commenters say above. The band sleeps in the bus overnight while it’s driving to the next destination – so they’ll often leave the venue at midnight-2am and then arrive at some point early the next day. They have bunks that, apparently, are very cozy. Some tours will have 2 drivers that rotate shifts if there are longer stretches, but otherwise they will keep the same driver for the leg.
It’s a ton of coordination on the TMs part, because every venue is different (some have showers, some don’t lol), but they save money on hotels this way and keep it efficient.
Singers get tired, but its possible to sing 5-7 nights a week depending on how rough you are on your vocal chords.
Some people exercise 7 days a week. Not much different.
As long as the artist knows their limitations and stays within them, it’s not that bad. I used to sing casually at open mics and private events for friends, and there were a few songs I’ll sing that push my vocal range. If I’m not careful I’ll often find myself discomforted after. I’ll often save them for the end of a set because of that. If I were performing regularly, I’d cut those songs or sing them in a different key.
The really big acts have two or three stage sets that are leap-froggin’ over each other from location to location.
While one stage is running a show the other is on the road or already building up the next venue.
Plus very skilled and hardworking crews who have the building up and tearing down of those huge meccano sets perfected as an art.
I’m a professional road who has toured the world with many household names. Prep, man management, logistics and sweat are the pillars of it really.
Production managers get paid well for their work.
Huge teams of people, lots of trucks, and occasionally multiple sets of stuff.
If we’re talking about something like an arena tour, where the stage travels with the band, then the stage and sound equipment are designed in a way where they can be taken down in a matter of hours. Things quickly unbolt and fold up so they fit on carts and can be rolled right into a truck. A combination of travelling workers and local hired stagehands who are experienced with the equipment already know where everything needs to go before they even start unloading.
While the unloading and show are going on, the truck drivers rest, so they can leave as soon as they’re packed up. Then they drive all night, arrive at the next venue early in the morning, and another team is already waiting to unpack.
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