Welcome to RoadMusician.com

What is a road musician exactly? Well, they come in many different flavors.

1. The road warriors: Usually consists of three to seven musicians and a sound man, packed in some combination of van/truck and trailer. A lucky few in this pack will score an old school bus, or, in extreme cases, an aging Silver Eagle tour bus. The Eagle doesn’t run too well, but at least it’s expensive to maintain. Distinguishing characteristics: Road warriors can sleep sitting up, while Godsmack is playing at 140db.
2. Pampered but poor: These guys ride an actual tour bus. These buses are loaded with amenities. They have kitchens, bathrooms and bunks. You can watch satellite TV while surfing the internet while rolling down the highway. It’s like a luxury mobile home without the rednecks…most of the time  Three meals are catered every day, plus you get per diem (expense money), in case you don’t like what the caterers are serving up. These players are mostly hired guns, employed by a recording artist. Distinguishing characteristics: If a cop asks to see their id, they’ll show their laminates  a.k.a. “all-access” passes.
3. The Elites: These are rare. As they eat their lunch, a tech is setting up their gear. As they pack their bag, a tech is soundchecking. As they exit the Lear jet, a tech is tuning their instrument. They play a show…done. As they climb into their own bed and lay their head on their big, fluffy pillow, a tech is packing their gear. Nice! Distinguishing characteristics: They stare at their iPhones to avoid eye contact with the opening acts.

Even if you don’t fit neatly into one of these categories, if you’ve ever Christmas shopped in a truck stop, you’re probably one of us.

Ok, back to the point

Most of the content I’ll be creating for this site will be built upon my own experience as a working musician. To be more precise, a working, country musician based out of Nashville, TN. I have been a member of two out of three of the categories above for 23 years and currently live comfortably among the “Pampered but poor”. The articles will vary greatly in tone and topic, but will,  hopefully, entertain and educate those brave enough to follow this career path. It ain’t for everybody. Maybe we’ll help you figure out if it’s for you.