Gaf Tape, Poo and Potential Friends: RTOC Tour Observations and Such

Gaf tapes solves most of life’s problems. Duct tape’s pricier, prettier (neon colors galore) and more pliable cousin is a coveted item on tour because it can be used for SO MANY THINGS! It’s a sidekick cover, it’s a cord handler, it allows for extreme organization of bus drawers by being the perfect label. It keeps doors open. It’s a canvas for your next masterpiece. It keeps plastic lizards in check. The possibilities are endless.

I hope you’re not squeamish about the discussion of bowel movements, because as the “no paper / no poop” rules remains firm on all buses, the when/where of such functions is often brought up in conversation. Whether you like it or not, you may know quite a lot about the status of your bus mates digestion.

Rock stars need health insurance. Seriously, someone is always sick or congested or allergy-ish. Check out Rock For Health and see how you can contribute and spread awareness.

I think the biggest issue for me on this tour was making emotional connections. What can be done in 5 days? I’m not terribly outgoing (or even mildly outgoing), but it’s in my nature to activate the buddy system as quickly as possible in a foreign situation. This involves a lot of listening, a lot of absorption of the surrounding social situation. Evaluating. Watching body language. I can’t say it really resulted in anything this time around, but that never stops me from shifting into that mode, anyway.

Four Year Strong is a phenomenal band because 1. They kinda remind me of New Found Glory 2. They’re just, well… genuine. And so is their crew. They’re friends. They go way back. Their bus is not bumper cars for egos. No, I can’t say omg, we are BFFL now! but I feel like I got a good sense of who they were because they weren’t trying to be anything. N’ah mean?

In certain situations I feel like so much energy goes toward projecting personas. And that can get exhausting.

If we had the opportunity to take the maniacal bus driver out of the equation completely (I couldn’t sleep at night. I thought we were going to die), I would even say I had a good experience.

The day after we fired the idiot bus driver, got a new one and changed buses, Josh woke up bright-eyed and exclaimed, “What a difference getting a good sleep makes! I don’t feel like I want to die today!”

Word. Too bad that was my last day of tour.