Now as I am about to start my tour through Europe and want to document my trip for you. Hopefully I can give you an idea what it’s like to be on the road as an artist and shine some light on what is involved. I will travel by myself without my band. All the festivals that I will be playing provide a house band, which have been sent my music in advance.

I am writing this segment in a plane from Charlotte, NC to Chicago, and on the airport in Newark waiting to board a plane. But let’s take a few steps back.

My European tour is starting in London. I was lucky enough to also get booked at the Mallorca Jazz Festival later that same month. So I made some calls and was able to book a few extra dates in between. I managed to get myself a gig in Berlin and I got an offer to come to Amsterdam. On off days I could visit my parents in Munich. I also was to perform at the Waterfront Jazz festival in Mooresville, NC, before I left for London, and I agreed to play with Danny Kusz at his CD release party in LA. I produced his CD and I always try to support my clients. So here is what my calendar looks like:

• April 8th CD release concert Spaghettini with Dan Kusz
• April 9th travel to North Carolina
• April 10th performance in Mooresville, North Carolina
• April 11th travel to New York
• April 12th flight from Newark to London arrive April 13th
• April 14 –17 shows at the Pizza Express in London
• April 18th flight to Berlin
• April 19th off day in Berlin
• April 20th performance at the Ellington Hotel in Berlin
• April 21st train ride to Amsterdam
• April 22nd performance in Amsterdam
• April 23rd flight to Munich
• April 24/25 off days in Munich hanging with family
• April 26th flight to Mallorca
• April 27- May 1st Mallorca Jazz Festival

So far so good. I started to book flights and hotels. I spent quite some time researching the internet for the best deals. I prefer to fly with Southwest in the US (they never hassle me taking my guitar onboard) and Virgin or Lufthansa to cross the Atlantic.  Quickly I realized, that all airlines have different luggage restrictions, so I had to pack light.

I would need to bring enough merchandise for the tour and I needed my equipment for the show: Laptop with MIDI and audio interface, wireless, guitar effects. Another google search revealed that all the electronics had to be compatible with 3 different voltages and plug types.

So here is how I packed:

• Guitar in gigbag. I never check it in, I always insist on taking it onboard and you are supposed to be able to. I packed cables and a few small stomp boxes into the gig bag pocket.
• 1 big suitcase with stage clothes, 50 CDs, audio interface, wireless, A bag with electrical adapters, clothes, wahsbag, shoes. it was close to 60 lbs as I found out later
• 1 small carry-on roller suitcase. I usually would bring just a computer bag when I carry on my guitar, but I needed to push the limits. Inside another 50 CDs, Laptop, iPad, headphones, iphone/ipad/ computer chargers Another footswitch for my audio system, batteries for the stomp boxes and for the wireless.

I packed Thursday April 7th, because Friday I had rehearsal in Seal Beach and the Show with Danny. The gig went great. Danny’s new album is really hot, and the show was well received by the audience.

We played until 10 pm, I was gone by 10:30 and got home just before midnight. I loaded up my car and went to bed around 1am. At 4:45 my alarm went off to go to the airport……. To be continued.

read part 2