The Pros and Cons of tour

Many of you ask these questions...and they usually are popular interview questions too.

"What's your favorite thing about being on the road?"
"What are your "go to" items on tour?"
"What can't you live without on tour?"
"What's the best thing about tour, and the worst?"
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.

Well... there are many pros and cons to tour.

There are the obvious Pros:
Traveling

And more traveling

Seeing the world
Meeting many different people from all across the country
Trying out new restaurants and eating delicious foods from across the country

Making friends (hopefully) with the bands you're on tour with
Playing music! (Duh!)

Obvious cons:
Showers aren't always as plentiful as you would like.  Laundry machines as well.
Hardly any privacy AT ALL.
Sometimes bands you tour with are complete tools...and yup, you've gotta be around them for 30 plus days.  (That doesn't apply for this awesome Blake Shelton tour!)
Peoples' sleep schedules are different.  You may be trying to sleep while the person next to you is watching TV, the person in front of you is watching a Back to the Future marathon (*cough* Nick!) and the people sleeping under your bunk are snoring.
Missing your friends and family back home
Long distance relationships...well, they suck.

However...below is the biggest con of them all!

And just because I love dogs...here are some more photos.  I was walking in NY when I walked by a bunch of adorable puppies in the window!  I wish so badly that I could get a dog, but I don't think it's fair to keep one cooped up on a bus most of the day, and where would he pee anyway?  And who would watch it when I have to leave unexpectedly.  Oh wonderful dogs, ruler of cats and all other creatures, I hope I can get one of you soon so I can cuddle you all day!

This one's face below just breaks my heart. I wish I could have taken him with me!

Cons of tour

It's really difficult to keep in contact with the outside world on tour.  The person I usually miss the most on tour, although I miss all my family and friends, is my mom.  When I'm home I love to watch movies with my mom and cook and try to learn some more Korean.  (Yes, I am half Korean. My mom's from Seoul).  Also, I have 4 younger sisters, and sometimes when I come home after 3-4 months of tour, I feel like I've missed some quality time with them in their youth.  It's almost as if every time I see them they've grown and inch, or have suddenly developed boobs, or their hairs down to their butts.  I missed being at my little sister's very first dance.  I would have helped her pick out a dress, do her make up, curl her hair...tell her to behave herself, dangit!  I would have yelled at my other little sister's basketball coach when he screamed out to her, in front of everyone during a game, "You suck! Get on the bench!"  (Yeah, rude right? I mean, I understand constructive criticism, but not in that way and especially not for a younger child).  I never miss one of their basketball games when I'm home, and if I would have been there during that.... oh mama.  That coach wouldn't think I'm so shy after all......  My head gets hot just thinking about it!

Dating on the road is really tough.  You're busy all day, and you don't want to talk too much either.  I've had times in my past when I've talked on the phone to a loved one after a show, and then the next morning have lost my voice.  

But sometimes being on the road can be lonely.  This Valentine's day, you better be my Valentine so I don't feel so lame.  I'll be yours too!  It can be a  mutual agreement.  Single for V day is just rubbing salt in the wound people!

Random tips for tour:

"I'll be 5 minutes" means I'll be a half hour, so grab a book.

For girls: You can never have enough tampons

Even though it's been only 1 day, your socks AREN'T CLEAN!  Change that pair of feety gloves dudes! Please!!!!

If you take longer than 15 minutes in the shower, you might for some odd reason become the least popular on the bus.

For girls: Even though the crowd is often somewhat far away, shave your legs!  The audience can smell the fear in your tiny hair particles....

Yoga mats are handy, plus they make you look cool.

They're called headphones people.  You may want to blast ______ band in the bus for 3 hours, but who wants to have that in the background while they're trying to read.

Keep away from your guitar player if he's had over 4 drinks.  Being thrown up upon 3 times in my life is quite enough to last me for a bit.

Keep a journal

Make an effort to call your friends often

Once one person gets sick in the bus...just sit and accept defeat and wait for the cold and flu to nestle in on you.

But all in all, at the end of the day, with both the pros and cons of tour, I'd much rather be on tour.  You see, I feel like half of my heart belongs to the road anyway.  And I am loving playing music for ya'll!  I would never want to give up this for anything:

Thanks for coming out to see us on the road!

XOXO

Dia 

P.S. If you are in Nashville, come see us tonight at Exit Inn!  And if you are awake early tomorrow in Nashville, tune into FOX News Tennessee Mornings!

And thank you Music Choice for having me for some lovely interviews!