So, it’s your band’s first time going out on tour and you’re giddy with anticipation. Behind the giddiness, though, anxiety exists, because you’ve never done this before and you don’t know what to expect. Beyond the obvious things like travel, sleeping and eating arrangements, plenty of other chores, choices and potential trouble lurks. Head off any trouble by being prepared before hitting the road. Here’s your guide on what to expect and how to survive your first tour.

Transportation

Have a dependable vehicle and join the American Automobile Association. It’s not a matter of if your van breaks down — if you stay on the road long enough, it’s a matter of when. A flat tire may be an easy fix, but a busted water pump isn’t. Have a certified mechanic give the vehicle a tune up and check everything out before embarking, and call AAA when something goes wrong. They’ll even provide locksmith service if you lose your keys or lock yourself out. Make sure you have a spare tire, lug wrench and jack, along with an emergency roadside kit that includes a flashlight and extra batteries.

Money

If you’re not adept at managing finances for a group of people before the tour, you will be afterwards. It’s best to act like most professional acts and give each band member a per diem — that’s a certain amount of money that can be spent each day. If a member goes over their per diem, they are own their own and the “organization” won’t provide any more cash. The per diem should be enough to eat, and for doing things like laundry, but gas and lodging shouldn’t be included. That’s a separate expenditure. Bring a ledger along to help keep track of the money. It may sound nerdy, but it’ll help make things run much more smoothly. Also, keep an emergency fund handy, so you’re not stuck hundreds of miles from home with no money in case the tour, or certain dates, must be cancelled.

Bring a little black book with all your contacts. It’s best to have your contacts — especially club managers and booking agents — written down on paper as well as in your phone, in case you phone gets lost.

Speaking of phones, get apps to help manage finances, find cheap gas, lodging and for mapping out the best routes. Check out GasBuddy and BandLoot, for starters.

Gear

Never let your gear out of your sight. Bring your most expensive instruments and equipment into the hotel room with you at night, and always stay in motor court-type motels, where you can park your van or trailer right in front of your room. When loading in and out of the gig, have someone stay with the vehicle at all times. Many a tour has been ruined by stolen equipment.

Snacks & water

Bring along plenty of healthy snacks and bottled water. Eating healthy can be difficult on the road, plus it will help save money and tide you over if you break down in the middle of nowhere.

Give each band member a role beyond musician. One person should be in charge of finances, another in charge of booking, another in charge of lodging, another in charge of press/promo, etc., and the entire process should be transparent to each band member.

Finally, stay clean and give each other space. A van and a hotel room are close quarters. Respect each others personal space and privacy needs, and make sure to use your per diem to do some laundry every once in a while.