A Surprise for the Band
August 23, 2013 7:48 AM Subscribe
How do I surprise my friend who's a touring musician -- long distance?
My friend/new squeeze is going on a cross-country tour for several months. He's writing me a letter every few stops, and I'd like to do something nice for him in return (and his bandmates -- we all know each other quite well). There are at least two stops where I'll know people in the audience and could have someone give them something for me. What would a couple of late 20-something dudes living out of a van really like? They get more than enough beer along the way.
My friend/new squeeze is going on a cross-country tour for several months. He's writing me a letter every few stops, and I'd like to do something nice for him in return (and his bandmates -- we all know each other quite well). There are at least two stops where I'll know people in the audience and could have someone give them something for me. What would a couple of late 20-something dudes living out of a van really like? They get more than enough beer along the way.
Response by poster: To clarify: I won't be at any of the stops. A home cooked meal would be great, though.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 8:00 AM on August 23, 2013
posted by Miss T.Horn at 8:00 AM on August 23, 2013
Are they staying at any hotels along the way?
When my sister was out of town on a location movie shoot, I sent her a shoebox of Easter candy. She sat down in the lobby and cried.
If you could get your buds in those audiences to get them some healthy grub, either from awesome takeout or their own homes, that would be the best gift.
Life on the road is hard, and it's hardest when you're trying to not make too many meals the type that are eaten off of paper.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:43 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
When my sister was out of town on a location movie shoot, I sent her a shoebox of Easter candy. She sat down in the lobby and cried.
If you could get your buds in those audiences to get them some healthy grub, either from awesome takeout or their own homes, that would be the best gift.
Life on the road is hard, and it's hardest when you're trying to not make too many meals the type that are eaten off of paper.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:43 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Are they literally living out of the van? As in no hotels? If so, a room at a really good hotel with room service sent up to them might be awesome.
posted by Vaike at 9:33 AM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Vaike at 9:33 AM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sending them a care-package would be fun. He's sending you letters (even though you're presumably using lots of digital communications), so you can reciprocate, sending stuff either in care of your friends or the venues he's playing at. Postcards, letters, photos of t hings at home, assortment of candy/snacks, batch of homemade brownies or some other mailable treat, little gifts... A piece of manly jewelry might be fun, or something fashiony he can wear on stage and think of you. I-care-about-your-wellbeing gifts, like a bottle of vitamins, a new/better travel pillow, a packet of new clean socks/underwear (if that's the sort of thing he would think is funny and/or awesome enough not to be mortifying). Piece-of-home gifts like his favorite brand of tea/coffee, or something bought at his favorite local hangout (pint glass, cookie, t-shirt).
posted by aimedwander at 9:46 AM on August 23, 2013
posted by aimedwander at 9:46 AM on August 23, 2013
Best answer: Clean socks, shirts, and underwear.
Or seconding the idea of getting them rooms at a hotel if they're doing the sleep-in-the-van-or-looking-for-a-friendly-floor thing.
Crucial performance supplies like guitar strings or picks or drumsticks or batteries. Note: make sure to find out the style/brand/gauge/size they actually use. Or a gift card to Guitar Center, the national chain of music instrument stores, so they can buy their own.
Backup iPod/phone chargers, especially the kind that work off the "cigarette lighter" power outlets in the van.
New music - by the time you've been on the road a while you're damn sick and tired of every bit of music on everyone's iPod. Most venues these days have WiFi or a hardwired internet connection reserved for the bands & staff, so even an iTunes/Amazon Music/whatever gift card would allow them to get some fresh tunes to listen to while driving. Or mail a flash drive to your mutual friends or the venue.
Generally, think "useful", "small", "disposable". Things that remind him of you or home seems like a sweet idea, but the van tends to accumulate plenty of clutter as a matter of course, and it's real real real easy for stuff to get lost or broken. Nobody wants to discover that pint glass by stepping on it.
posted by soundguy99 at 10:21 AM on August 23, 2013
Or seconding the idea of getting them rooms at a hotel if they're doing the sleep-in-the-van-or-looking-for-a-friendly-floor thing.
Crucial performance supplies like guitar strings or picks or drumsticks or batteries. Note: make sure to find out the style/brand/gauge/size they actually use. Or a gift card to Guitar Center, the national chain of music instrument stores, so they can buy their own.
Backup iPod/phone chargers, especially the kind that work off the "cigarette lighter" power outlets in the van.
New music - by the time you've been on the road a while you're damn sick and tired of every bit of music on everyone's iPod. Most venues these days have WiFi or a hardwired internet connection reserved for the bands & staff, so even an iTunes/Amazon Music/whatever gift card would allow them to get some fresh tunes to listen to while driving. Or mail a flash drive to your mutual friends or the venue.
Generally, think "useful", "small", "disposable". Things that remind him of you or home seems like a sweet idea, but the van tends to accumulate plenty of clutter as a matter of course, and it's real real real easy for stuff to get lost or broken. Nobody wants to discover that pint glass by stepping on it.
posted by soundguy99 at 10:21 AM on August 23, 2013
Best answer: Aw, you're so sweet! All of my boyfriends except one have been touring musicians, and these are some things they enjoyed getting on tour.
A box of SporTea, Emergen-C, and B12 to stave off hangovers. Also ibuprofen, Pepto-Bismol, Listerine, hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, Band-Aids, Kleenex, and Tums.
Gift cards: hotels, Subway, Taco Bell, grocery stores (should be easy to figure out what the big-name chains are).
Band stuff: Duct tape, electrical tape, flashlight, a multitool, Sharpie markers, earplugs, 9-volt and button batteries (for tuners and such), spare cables, strings, and picks -- make sure to ask which brand they use!
Practical stuff: AAA membership so they're taken care of in the event of a breakdown. Clean socks. Inflatable neck support pillow. A small cooler full of food for the drive.
Have your friends take the band out to a restaurant they would consider their town's best kept secret, and PayPal them to cover the bill. If possible, have your friends offer up a guest room with beds/air mattresses. Alternating between sleeping on the floor and sleeping in the van gets really old really fast.
If you can arrange it, get into his apartment right before he comes home and make it shine. Stock the fridge with his favorite foods and a nice bottle of champagne for the two of you to kick back and split. It's so nice to come back from a long tour to groceries, clean laundry, and a freshly-made bed.
posted by divined by radio at 10:23 AM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
A box of SporTea, Emergen-C, and B12 to stave off hangovers. Also ibuprofen, Pepto-Bismol, Listerine, hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, Band-Aids, Kleenex, and Tums.
Gift cards: hotels, Subway, Taco Bell, grocery stores (should be easy to figure out what the big-name chains are).
Band stuff: Duct tape, electrical tape, flashlight, a multitool, Sharpie markers, earplugs, 9-volt and button batteries (for tuners and such), spare cables, strings, and picks -- make sure to ask which brand they use!
Practical stuff: AAA membership so they're taken care of in the event of a breakdown. Clean socks. Inflatable neck support pillow. A small cooler full of food for the drive.
Have your friends take the band out to a restaurant they would consider their town's best kept secret, and PayPal them to cover the bill. If possible, have your friends offer up a guest room with beds/air mattresses. Alternating between sleeping on the floor and sleeping in the van gets really old really fast.
If you can arrange it, get into his apartment right before he comes home and make it shine. Stock the fridge with his favorite foods and a nice bottle of champagne for the two of you to kick back and split. It's so nice to come back from a long tour to groceries, clean laundry, and a freshly-made bed.
posted by divined by radio at 10:23 AM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Gift cards for gas and food are great and so very appreciated!
posted by platinum at 10:26 PM on August 28, 2013
posted by platinum at 10:26 PM on August 28, 2013
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posted by blob at 7:58 AM on August 23, 2013