By Mitch Rice
Touring sounds like a dream to any musician, especially first-timers. But here’s something about touring that is rarely talked about: it’s a logistical grind. Sure, it’s an uber-fun, adrenaline-fueled grind, but a grind nonetheless. One that can not only be tiring but also risky; after all, you’re transporting expensive gear while working with tight timelines and traversing unfamiliar environments, often running on a couple of hours of sleep and gas station food.
All that makes you vulnerable: on the road, in hotel lots, backstage, and even between sets. Gear can get stolen and accidents can happen even in the best of conditions, let alone when touring. This is all to say, if you’re not actively thinking about safety (yours, your team’s, and your equipment’s), you’re gambling with everything you’ve worked for.
We’re not saying you should wrap yourself in bubble wrap (that wouldn’t be very rock and roll of us). We’re saying it pays to get smarter about what can go wrong and have systems in place before it does.
Start With a Transport Checklist
You probably already do a quick gear check before hitting the road, and this is not much different. Start with the basics: vehicle registration, insurance (check the expiration dates, you’d be surprised!), driver’s licenses, and tour permits. Then look at your rig: brakes, lights, tires, spare tire, coolant, wiper fluid, jumper cables, all of it. Don’t rely on the venue to have a ramp or dolly; pack your own. And run a full test of your trailer hitch and tie-downs if you’ve got one (even if it worked fine yesterday).
Add a section for emergency gear: first-aid kits, roadside triangles, flashlights, an actual paper map (because cell service is never a given), and backup batteries or power banks just in case.
Know Who’s Driving and When
Rotating drivers without tracking fatigue levels is a great way to end up in a ditch or worse. So, create a schedule in advance that accounts for mandatory rest breaks.
For the love of everything holy, don’t rely on the adrenaline of post-show buzz to get you through a night drive. Why? Because common sense. If that’s not enough, here’s what the National Safety Council has to say about this: driving after 20+ hours awake is as dangerous as driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%. So yeah, it really is that important to rotate drivers.
Handling Vehicle Accidents on Tour
If a crash happens (and statistically, it might), try to keep your head straight. Make sure everyone’s okay, call emergency services, document the scene thoroughly, and contact your insurance provider immediately. And don’t try to navigate local legalities on your own. If you’re anywhere near central Missouri, reaching out to Columbia, MO car crash lawyers is your best course of action. Touring out-of-state introduces legal complications most people don’t think about until it’s too late, especially if there are injuries or insurance disputes involved.
Keep Legal Documents Digitally and Physically Accessible
Whether you’re stopped at the border or pulled over mid-tour, you need fast access to contracts, insurance documents, ID copies, and medical information. You want to store these securely in the cloud and carry hard copies in a waterproof folder.
Tour managers, assign someone as the “doc master” if you haven’t already.
Security at the Venue and Hotel
Tour thefts are more common than you think. In fact, according to one survey, one in four UK musicians has experienced gear theft. So, don’t leave anything in a vehicle overnight, especially in unlit or isolated parking areas. Also, always lock gear in your hotel room, use security cables when possible, and treat every venue like it’s a potential risk (because sometimes it is). You might also want to look into GPS trackers.
If you’re not traveling with your own crew, ask who has access to backstage areas, and then verify.
Travel Insurance
If your gear is worth more than your van, why isn’t it insured? Look into travel-specific policies that cover gear, medical costs, trip cancellations, and personal liability. It’s surprisingly affordable, and the peace of mind is huge.
If you’re using rental gear or vehicles, double-check coverage terms because rental insurance often excludes high-risk usage like late-night touring.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.