1) Never let your passport out of your sight. 

Your passport is your I.D. to the world. Your passport allows you to exchange money, advance on a credit card and validate your existence in a foreign country. You can’t get home with out it. If something goes wrong your passport is your ticket out of confusion and back to your country of residence, “Home”. 

2) Always put your mouthpieces, reeds and a neck strap in your carry-on. 

Unless you are the worlds only fulltime curved sopranino player your sax will not fit in your carry-on. This means that you have at least two carry-ons and always run the risk of some over zealous airline employee taking your carry-on sax case away from you when you reach the gate. Your second carry-on should always be something small, it should fit under the seat in front of you. Small regional jets and prop planes don’t have the overhead space to accommodate anything larger than a soprano sax case; most standard carry-ons are to large. If you have your essential items in your small carry-on you can play a borrowed or rental horn in a pinch and still do a good job for your employer. 

3) Never leave home broke.

Always be prepared to take care of yourself, don’t rely on other people to make sure that you can eat, pay your hotel bill or get home. Every now and then things don’t work out the way everyone planned and you don’t want to be the one that can’t take care of their own business. 

4) Check your horns when ever possible.

Play the odds! The chances of the airlines loosing your luggage is far less than the chances some gate attendant will take your horn away and put it under the plane when it’s not in a flight case. Any saxophone in a soft case runs a high risk of being destroyed under the plane. If you’re going to try and carry your horn onto a commercial airplane always put it in a Walt Johnson or other hard case. I suggest getting a flight case for your soft case. The flight case protects your horn on the flight and gets left in your hotel room when you reach your destination. Remember; checked baggage must weigh less than 50 lbs or you will face overweight charges from most airlines. 

5) Always pack extra things in your carry-on.

Your carry-on is your safety net. The airlines can’t loose it, damage it or take it away from you (if it’s small enough). Your carry-on should house your bare minimum essentials; clean underwear, socks, deodorant, tooth brush, mouthpieces, reeds, neck strap, passport, cash / credit cards / emergency fund, cell phone and charger. No matter what happens the contents of your carry-on should get you fed, get you through the gig or get you home! 

6) Carry your own microphone.

This one depends on your musical situation. If you are a soloist and your sound is important then don’t leave the mic choice to some guy that doesn’t know what you like or how you sound. Control as much of your sound and equipment as you can, don’t leave this to chance. Backline companies are notorious for showing up to the gig with the wrong equipment and throwing up their hands when you ask for what’s on the equipment rider. You never know who is going to be in the audience and you should always be at your best. Any gig could lead to a record deal in a foreign land, you could come back as the artist instead of the sideman. 

7) Know where you are and where you’re going.

This sounds easy but you’d be surprised at how easy it is to get lost after two weeks of a new town every other night. If your going to a country where they don’t speak your native language then take a few minutes on the internet and find out how to say a few basic phrases. You should know how to find a bathroom, food and your hotel. When you arrive at your hotel remember to put the hotels business card in your pocket so you can always get back to your hotel. Know some of the language, the time zone and currency exchange rate. These things will help you feel more comfortable and take care of yourself. 

8 ) Always bring extra reeds.

They don’t have Hemke’s everywhere, or LaVoz or Rico Royals and even if they do you might arrive when everything is closed! Always bring extra reeds with you on tour, you never know if you’ll find what you like on the road. 

9) Be seen and not heard.

This is another tough one. Learn how to hang. A large part of touring is getting along with your fellow musicians. A great player that’s a problem will loose his job every time to a mediocre player that doesn’t cause problems on the road. Remember; the gig is only 2 hours a day, the other 22 hours are even more important! 

10) Have fun.

Nobody likes to hang out with or play music with someone that’s always upset, depressed or causing trouble. Enjoy life, think about how lucky you are to make money doing something you enjoy. Most people would love to be in your shoes!