How to tour like a Pro.
August 28, 2007 @ 1:04 PM
How to go on tour like the pros
(or perhaps ‘how to go on tour like regular folk’)
1. make a plan, draw a map to the spots, take a few days off work/ college and hit the road. A good idea would be to print out some paper stickers or make a stencil – this can add a lot of legitimacy to a tour, make it more professional perhaps.
2. Beg, borrow steal some transport. A basic Transit van can hold up to 15 skaters and the bones of a DIY skate park or a barbeque. Use what resources you have and get those skaters on the highway to hell. Said van should have at least 2 compilation tapes or mixed rock n roll or whatever beats you roll to and a mandatory Black Sabbath album.
3. Inform the homeboys. Let the people know by email, fax, by shouting across the street or on old telephone wire – this thing is happening and we need you onboard, on your board. The only acceptable excuses are in the form of death or near death situations.
4. choose your travelling companions wisely – leave behind the fancy Zoo York zip-ups and don the boilersuits. This ain’t no scenester trip, so keep close those who are prepared to work as team players. Bring along those who say ‘Yes’ more than ‘no’. all hail the YESMEN.
5. Befriend the locals. Be it a street spot or skatepark, be sure to get chatting to the local cats, buy them a beer or simply give them a whoop in the deep end. Civility costs nothing and you may find you’ve hooked up a valuable resource for new skate spot and potentially a floor to sleep on/ skater’s sister to sleep with.
6. Work hard. This may be a good opportunity to bag a few tricks or push yourself a bit harder than you normally do. Big sessions create a lot of energy and maybe you’ll even surprise yourself if you take the plunge and get gnarly. Chances are there’s a camera close by or a few beers in the system – either way, it’s a good time to unleash the skate-beast within.
7. Play hard. Don’t get caught up in all this professionalism and serious side to skateboarding – these are your salad days – ones you’ll recall and lie about in 30 years time. Kick back and enjoy the freedom of youth/ pre middle age.
8. Break and enter. On the road you may notice a potential skate spot from time to time. This may present a legal dilemma, depending on how private the grounds are. If in doubt just go ahead and get criminal. You might get away undetected and skate a rare gem of a skate spot, failing that having a skateboard in your possession may alert the cops/ security that your not really a burglar and simply seek skateboarding. Failing that….? You’re on your own son!
9. Find suitable accommodation. After a day behind the wheel of your wagon and your skateboard you’ll need somewhere to lay the head. Hostels are plentiful and cheap, tents cheaper still. Skater accommodation can range from a single bunk bed, to a sleeping bag in the ditch – both with their own merits. Choose which level of luxury your body requires and get the head down.
10. Keep a diary. Be it written, photographic or even as a wee video. If it’s a good tour you’ll want to relive that shit again and again. Take 5 minutes perhaps in the morning and write a few lines about the previous night or take a few pics of the heads together. These are the days kids, one day you’ll wake up with a mortgage and 6 hungry mouths to feed, so live for now and get your kicks as and when you can.
I doubt this is how the professional tours really go, I’ve clearly ommited the Travel Taverns, the autograph signings, the free booze and those dodgy 90% male ‘club nights’ which are laid on at skate events, but this is how the average punter can taste a slice of the tour bus life. You could plan and organise, and make checklists til you’re blue in the face but all it really takes is a single first step to get you out the front door. Now away with ye……..
