Who siad touring would be easy?
December 07 2009
This time next week, the Pianobabbler returns to Asia.
Asia. The, perhaps post-colonialist, name groups diverse countries and cultures. For the Pianobabbler next week, Asia will mean Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Romantic.
Exciting.
How you envy the touring musician.
The Pianobabbler has this to tell you: Romantic- nah. Exciting- well... Envy- check it at the airport gate.
Touring takes a toll of toil on musicians. Pack, move, settle down, play, pack, move...
Hotels, planes, time zones, climate variations...
Dubious food, family absence, jet lag, no practise piano.
The list continues.
Not that musicians lack gratitude for landing a tour. We benefit from cultural cross-pollination. We thrive on change. We need the audiences.
The Pianobabbler wants only to point out that touring does not match up with the travel idyll many in the public believe is the case.
The Pianobabbler has written before on romanticized notions of the music biz amongst the public. Not a problem. We serve to entertain. Fantasy plays a role in our work. Make what castles in the air you will from our tour.
But for you of a realistic bent, this time next week, when the Pianobabbler returns to Asia, have a thought for the laborious lot of the touring musician.
The Pianobabbler has babbled.
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A brilliant adventure. On his latest recording, My Mother's Father's Song, Ron Davis embraces both his family's rich cultural heritage, and boldly re-engages with the jazz standard.
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