Best care package ever?
June 28, 2010 11:16 AM   Subscribe

Help me build an awesome care package for a band on tour.

Let's say you're part of a band that's been on tour for about a month, and has at least another few weeks to go before heading home. Let's say there are a bunch of you, both dudes and ladies. What would go in your ideal care package?

I definitely want to include edibles (and drinkables), but it doesn't all have to be booze and snacks. Anything that would be fun or delicious or entertaining or useful on tour, really. Bonus points if it has something to do with NYC in general or Brooklyn in particular (like a bottle of Absolut Brooklyn). This package will be delivered locally, so it doesn't have to be light or easily shipped. Hit me with your best ideas!
posted by miskatonic to Grab Bag (20 answers total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
Socks. Underwear.
posted by Brainy at 11:17 AM on June 28, 2010


Scrabble travel edition.
posted by Think_Long at 11:18 AM on June 28, 2010


Best answer: ear plugs
duct tape
soldering iron & solder
sharpies
blank legal paper
more duct tape
zip ties (re-usable best)
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:28 AM on June 28, 2010


Best answer: Hand wipes
Alcohol wipes
M&Ms
Towels and Washcloths
iPod
Neck pillow
Garment bag
blindfold (for sleeping)
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:47 AM on June 28, 2010


Best answer: Gaffer tape... Devil's duct tape suggestion reminded me of gaffer tape.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:48 AM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]


Oh and are they on a tour bus?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:48 AM on June 28, 2010


Touring sucks. Go practical. Socks, Sharpies, and hand sanitizer would all be amazing gifts if I still chose to put myself through that torture.
posted by mykescipark at 11:50 AM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]


Lighters.
quarters for vending machines
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:51 AM on June 28, 2010


Brainy nailed it. They probably do NOT need any more booze or snacks.

If you want to make it fun, screen the undies with "(band name) 2010 Tour" or similar.
posted by quarterframer at 12:05 PM on June 28, 2010


Best answer: Are you a friend or family? If you could collect notes of encouragement from loved ones I think that'd be a nice addition.

Paperbacks
Card games (Uno and Phase 10 are easy and fun)
Baby wipes (millions of uses)
Local Postcards and stamps
Fresh Fruit
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:06 PM on June 28, 2010


Condoms, dental dams, more condoms and a list of free clinic addresses.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 12:07 PM on June 28, 2010


Best answer: See Also.
posted by nestor_makhno at 12:16 PM on June 28, 2010


If they're traveling in a van they're probably tired of each others' music by now; a few (new or mix) CDs might be welcome.
posted by scatter gather at 12:24 PM on June 28, 2010


Response by poster: They are on a tour bus, yes. And I'll point out that when I mentioned a possible care package, they replied that they always need more booze and snacks!
posted by miskatonic at 12:24 PM on June 28, 2010


I don't know if this is possible, but paying for a room for them to spend one night in would be absolute gold...they'd probably appreciate that more than anything else. This is assuming that they spend their nights on the bus or on the floors of friends' houses. I have some friends who tour often (about 10 of 'em, both dudes and ladies) and their favorite thing while they are on tour is to sleep in a bed and be able to take a hot shower.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 2:35 PM on June 28, 2010


Best answer: Ooh, knew I was forgetting a few:

extension cords
plug bars
flashlights

(I don't care how many they have -- it's not enough)
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:26 PM on June 28, 2010


I was going to suggest various safe sex packs, as well as feminine hygiene products (goodness knows you need them while on tour), but I'm not sure if that borders on the "inappropriate" or not.

Protein-based snacks would be cool, it helps with energy.
Some silly puzzles or brainteasers just to keep your mind active.
Something to cuddle.

One time I made an activity book for some folks at a TV station with made-up word games & puzzles, trivia, stories, and all sorts of random. they quite liked it.
posted by divabat at 3:58 PM on June 28, 2010


Oh, PENS AND PAPER. And a USB stick or two, maybe some SD cards. Surprising how often you need those and yet can never find them!
posted by divabat at 3:59 PM on June 28, 2010


Best answer: First aid kit
lip gloss
lotion
comic books
rocket balloons (super fun on the bus but make sure the driver is okay with it)
eye drops
jolly ranchers candy
posted by victoriab at 4:17 PM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]


Best answer: A small screwdriver set (something always breaks.)

A crapload of guitar strings and drumsticks (It's a serious pain to run around a strange city in a bus looking for a Guitar Center at 8 pm.)

Gift Certificates for highway food places (Depending on how broke they are. Per diems can only get you so much Burger King.)

Envelopes (Good for merch cash deposits.)

Rubberbands (For rolling up t-shirts.)

Starbucks Double Shots and Red Bulls (Not too many, because you don't want them to have to cart a crate of them around, and you can buy them at gas stations. But it would be nice to have a little community stock of them in the fridge.)

Hm! I'll think of more later, probably... but hope this helps! Good luck to your friends, and I feel their pain.
posted by functionequalsform at 9:40 AM on June 29, 2010


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