Previously published in SLUBS magazine, Brisbane Australia in 2012. 

This is an excerpt from a conversation I had with Alex Zhang Hungtai from Dirty Beaches. It is a rich insight for young touring artists and one-man-bands on the road. Note: This email was in response to me, a then 15 year old high schooler asking Alex for guidance.

Dirty Beaches: I recommend finishing high school first, but there are people out there like the dudes from black lips who never finished high school and just went on touring forever.  And its amazing.  After meeting them I realized it was only made possible because their like a band of brothers that supported eachother through out the thick and thin.  You wouldn't have your brothers there to back you up if your alone.

There are a lot of one man bands I've met over the years like US GIRLS from philly, John Maus, and countless other experimental one man acts, but touring by yourself is hard man.  Every person I've met said the same thing.  I wouldn't recommend it.  You have to give in consideration about the logistics too.  Do you own a vehicle? do you have a drivers license? can you fix a car if it dies on the road? are you willing to drive 10+ hrs at a time just to get to the next show? not only its dangerous, but extremely tiresome.  Thats why you hear stories of musicians taking speed to drive late nights on tour, cuz it helps you get to where you need to go on time.  

I'd recommend finishing high school first.  Then try and team up with other one man bands, or your friends bands, and tour together and share the bill together.  Not only will it help you cover costs and expenses, gas, food, lodging, but also protection against shitty people that you run into occasionally on the road.  I'm not sure if you read black flag's "get in the van" tour book, we are already really lucky in comparison to their generation.  no cell phones, no gps, no internet, which makes things extremely hard.   But still, it provides a realistic view in life on the road.  

most famous bands you see and hear have tour managers, nannies that take care of them when they are on the road, which is what I'm trying to get on my tours, to have someone help you drive, stick up for you if you run into racists, or shitty promoters that try to rip you off with show money.  if you tour alone, you would have to endure all that.  And if you get sick, your fucked dude.  Theres no one to help you.  And you have a fever, and your voice is shot, and you gotta load in all the gear and drive 10 hours to the next town with no where to sleep other than your car on a fucking cold night.

I'm saying this not to discourage you, because I went through this on my own, and if anyone can prevent that kind of experience, I'd recommend avoiding it.  Its not worth it.  And it didn't make me a better person either.  It just made me more sympathetic when I see bands touring that way and if I can help them in any way I can, I try to do so.  On the last tour I ran into some friends of mine from the band Tonstartssbandht and RunDMT, they were train hopping illegally from baltimore to chicago but was caught half way, they had no money and hitch hiked their way and eventually made it to chicago in one piece.  But when I saw them they were extremely fatigued and hadn't showered in weeks.  I gave them a ride because I was heading east and dropped them off in Baltimore.  I know that when I was in their situation I wished someone would help me, and I met a lot of people who did feed me and gave me $5, or 20$ to get more gas, etc but a lot of the time your on your own when you tour alone.  

I think your very talented Ethan, and your only 15! there will be lots more great things coming your way, and a lot of great music you will make.  Keep writing those jams man.  Finish high school first and then you can do whatever you want.  

I hope this email finds you in good health, and good spirit.

God Speed

Alex