Tell us about your tour vehicle.
We used to drive around in a 2002 GMC Savana conversion van, but we’ve long outgrown it. Now we exclusively rent our touring vehicles, usually from our friends at Green Vans. We own a trailer, which makes touring with 5+ people much more comfortable.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
We never eat fast food and we try our best to be healthy on the road. Our touring party also includes a vegetarian, so we typically try to find restaurants or markets where everyone in our party can find a good bite to eat. Doing that on the cheap is often the difficult part, but it’s worth paying a little extra for nutritious food.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I usually don’t break strings. I should be replacing them every three or four shows, but I don’t. I tend to go through about 6 sets in a month, and thanks to the good folks at Stringjoy I get a little artist discount. They make hand-wound strings and I think they’re the best in the business.
Where do you rehearse?
We rehearse right at our house in Mid-Coast Maine. We tend to set up right in the living room because we have a nice little view and there’s more space than in the additional rooms. We tend to rehearse all day and then have some fun in the evening. Usually that includes a little local beer, maybe a jay or two, who knows!
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
The first song I ever wrote was called “Float Away†and it was epically emo.
Describe your first gig.
My first gig was a talent show at my high school in Hampden, Maine. It didn’t go very well and I’m not sure what gave me the idea that I should continue to do it.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
I was a social media marketing manager for Wayfair until I was laid off, which happened to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
Our income has increased fairly steadily over the past 5-10 years, but so have our expenses. We hire more people now, travel with a larger crew, and generally spend more money making our records. Depending on how the world deals with this virus, things may need to change in a big way for musicians to be able to continue to do what we do.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
You don’t always need to say “yes” to every show or every opportunity that comes along. Learn the power of saying “no.”