My plan for the next solo tour-- ideas?
 

In the past few years, my dream of following Stevie on tour has slowly grown accessible; recently, I've started to believe that this dream is actually possible. I've toyed with the idea since middle school, but obviously I couldn't do anything about it then.

After seeing Stevie on Wednesday, I realized that I've been making excuses against doing something that drastic for a long time now-- financial barriers, school commitments, etc. However, she is 62 now and I know that if I don't jump on this opportunity soon, I may never have another chance. I keep telling myself that the present is "the wrong time" and yet I don't think there really is a "right time" to ditch your life and bop around the country with a rock star. However, I feel a strong sense of conviction with this-- I know that I need to do it, and I know that I need to do it soon.

I am planning on attending as many dates as possible on Stevie's next solo tour. I have contacted my college and discussed my options; it should be fairly easy to skip a quarter considering my academic standing at Seattle U. I still have a long way to go financially, because obviously show tickets are only a small fraction of the total costs I'm looking at. I think I'll have somewhere to stay in a handful of cities between loving Ledgies and family friends, so I shouldn't be paying too much for lodging. It's just a matter of how I get from show to show.

That's not the important thing for the time being-- assuming Stevie's album comes out in late 2010 or early 2011, I still have months to save and plan. However, I have some questions for you guys:

1) When do you think Stevie's album will come out and according to that release, when should we expect her to start her tour?
2) Has anyone ever done this before (DavidMn, I'm talking to you)? What did you think of the experience in general?
3) What advice would you guys give me on how to go forward with this?

I'm going to sit down and talk to my parents about this within the next few days. I know I'm going to do it-- I feel drawn towards this in a way I can't explain. It would not only be a huge, adrenaline-filled adventure, but I'd also get the chance to meet many of you while also enjoying Stevie to the absolute fullest! :)

Well, back when I had a reliable car it was much easier. Last year for Fleetwood Mac I was forced into taking the greyhound bus to almost all of the shows I went to. This did have its benefits believe it or not. For example, I was able to overnight on the bus from city to city at times saving the cost of a motel room. I certainly wouldnt reccomend this to everyone, as I distinctly remember puking in a toilet at the Port Authority Bus terminal in Manhattan, but it is something to consider if cost is an issue. People have asked me what my favorite road trip I've been on over the years has been and it would probably be the one I went on in the summer of 2005 for Stevie which included the following shows:

7-4, Milwaukee
7-6, Minneapolis
7-13, Tampa
7-14, Fort Lauderdale
7-16, Houston
7-17, Dallas
7-20, Denver(Red Rocks)
7-23, San Diego
7-24, Anaheim
7-26, Los Angeles


I put about 10,500 miles on my car in those 2 weeks between Tampa and L.A and I loved every second of it! Dani, the only thing I can say is I wouldnt trade my experiences for every penny on this earth. ALl the memories I have from touring over the last 15 years will be with me until I die. Go for it!



BTW Dani, thank you for mentioning me, I'm honored! :)

My only advice is that you keep a journal! ;)



ETA: As for scheduling. As strange as this might sound, you might want to tell Dave Stewart your dilemma! Based on Stevie's interviews in which her manager says all she needs to do is tour one month this summer and it's like she toured the whole year, my guess is that the new album and the tour promoting it will NOT be in 2010. Your fall semester will be safe. Maybe you'll get to do it during the Summer.

Wow, and what a place to puke too. Were you bus-sick? Ew, that place is just wretched, I use to live a few blocks away and I hated walking past it.

I don't know your overall situation and health, but if you are strong and want a really new and wild challenge, consider being a roadie for the tour.

I have a friend who does this for every Blondie tour. She flies from Germany to whichever country Blondie are in and takes the train around (or flights if it's the US) and I know for a fact it's something she has never tired of. She is always front centre and Debbie recognises her. The sound guys and the drum tech know her by name too :lol: After each one she gets really emotional because of what a good time she's had. I'd say go for it. It's something I'd do so much to be able to do. :thumbsup:

I'm still guessing Stevie's album won't be released until the Spring of next year, even though she says she has 14 tracks and the album is mostly done. Stevie pretty much exclusively tours solo in the summer these days, too. So I think you have some time to set the wheels in motion if this is something you really want to do.

You also know you're more than welcome to stay with me when Stevie comes to TX, though she never comes to Austin. Dallas and Houston are about 3 hours away though, and I'm sure you know folks in those cities as well.

I wish I could do what you wanna do :) But there's not way that my parents would let me do that! Your so lucky! But I do catch Stevie, and fleetwood mac on every tour, and sometimes twice. I think i rmemeber Dave Stewart saying soomthing about it coming out around xmass. But i could be wrong. Either way, not to much longer!!!! :thumbsup:

It would be an amazing thing to do, I'm sure, and if you have the means and drive then there's no reason why you shouldn't do it, if you consider it achievable :)
You'll always regret the things you didn't do in life, rather the things you did.
Go for it!

If the tour was set-in-stone for the Summer of 2011, I'd say go for it, because it would be the best summer of your life!

If the tour is set to take off either in the fall, winter or early spring, during school, I would recommend against it. As much as I would love to do that, it is not a wise thing to do to miss out on school to follow Stevie on tour, no matter how well you are doing scholastically. Even if you have a 4.0, missing almost half a semester to follow Stevie on tour is not a smart move. People miss that much school for health reasons and extenuating circumstances, and I think to drop everything, including your life in general, to follow Stevie on tour during a vital time in your life is ill-advised. But that's just my two cents on it.

I love Stevie, but I can't imagine following a tour that has the same setlist from night to night. When Tori Amos comes around, I tend to go to as many east coast shows as possible, since she plays different songs every night.

But the same setlist over and over and over again? Like I said, I'm a big fan of Stevie, but I don't think that would be all that exciting.

Agreed, it'd bore me to tears to hear the exact same stuff night in and night out. Hell, I haven't seen Stevie in 5 years now because she STILL essentially performs the same stuff, and I'm bored from THAT! :laugh:

And like RockALittle250 said, it's a huge risk to start out your first year of college on this note. The majority of those who drop out do so during/following their freshman year. It's a far, far easier thing to do than you can imagine, too. As driven and scholastically focused as I was, I let my grades slip, and nearly got the boot myself. Your years in college will be the best years of your life, I can guarantee it. Much like myself, I know you like to just absorb information and learning like a sponge. I say if you aren't taking summer classes and Stevie is touring then, go follow her around some. But to miss out on your freshmen year of college, that's something I can't discourage strongly enough. Stevie will keep touring for a while, mark my word. :wavey:

Go For It!!!!
 

I say Go For It Girl!!!! :thumbsup:

I'm from Ireland and me and my brother are travelling half way across the world to see Stevie in Atlantic City on 27th August :D

We've been saving for months!

This is my once in a life time trip and it is soooo worth it !!! I know if we didn't go now I'd regret it forever! I may never get the chance to see Stevie again!

It's all an adventure so Enjoy!!! :thumbsup:

:] :] :] :] :] :]

Your best bet is already in your favor if you are still in California. Its easy in that respect to go to multiple shows, then carefully choose what other areas to go to. Venues and additional site-seeing kind of places.
I was fortunate to see her so many times because I'd go to just about every Southern Cali show, then back hom in Northern Cali, then Vegas (that's still close) or Reno...anything Nevada, and I can bet you she'll go back to one of those 2. Prolly not Tahoe again. If she does RR...that's a MUST....and right there I bet you can see 4-7 shows, and you really haven't strayed far.
Cost and "life" well, do it if you can. Like so many others, I couldn't go when Iwas younger. Forever I'll have the advertisement for the Wild Heart tour, and remember begging my parents on a daily basis to let me go. I was 12 or something. (please don't do the math :lol:) I did as much as I could/can now simply because like you I thought I'm only going to be able to do this as long as Stevie and/or the Mac decide to do this.
I'm despaired by ticket prices over the years, but like David.....I wouldn't trade my experiences for every ticket cost refund EVER! I've seen Stevie w/ and w/out the Mac just over the 100 mark, and not seeing her these last 2 shows was hard to deal with these last few days. You can best bet you'll have me to contend with (seating wise) when she comes back around. lol. I kid, but seeing her live is just something that I seriously live for. Not the only thing by a long shot, but something very special, and something a very big part of me. I say again...DO IT!

Hmmmm.. Riannonites? Masses of Stevie fans wandering the country from concert to concert. Hanging out in the parking lots twirling in shawls and getting toasted. :lol:

Different songs every night? What a concept..

I would SO do this but I have no idea how to go about it.

I agree with both of you. I don't think seeing Stevie would be special anymore if I went to that many shows, but I'm sure it's different for everyone. I also don't think taking time off of school is a good idea either. I think if you were ever able to talk to Stevie and ask her, she would tell you to go to school and listen to her while you study. Then there is the financial side to seeing multiple shows, not only the tickets, but the travel and hotel expenses? Why not plan on going to opening night, and closing night? I think that would be pretty cool to be there at the beginning of a tour and then at the end, and enough time would pass in between for it to be fresh (well, as fresh as possible for Stevie). You can put the money you save aside for school, for unforeseen expenses or even donate it to your favorite charity, or perhaps one of Stevie's in her name?

Well you'll just have to go to the Dallas and Houston shows with me! You'd know I'd prefer to hang out with you than anyone else-- you're my partner in crime :)

I think timing wise, there's a big chance she'll start the tour in summer anyway.

Go for it! I hope it happens for you. :)

As others have mentioned, she'll likely be touring in the summer, and then it won't interfere with your studies. The most shows I've ever seen on a tour is four, and I would have loved to done more. I'm still waiting for my handshake....I'm determined to get it, too! :laugh:

Of course, if Stevie is anywhere nearby, you're welcome to crash here. :)

About the school thing, I'm already lined up to graduate early at this point. I have so many AP credits knocked out of the way that I'm taking half the number of classes as my fellow Seattle students next year simply because most required courses aren't an issue for me at this point. I really would want to see her during the beginning of the tour but we'll see how it goes. Let's say that the tour starts in spring. I'd be back in Seattle by mid-June for the summer quarter. If the tour starts in fall (of my sophomore year), I could take summer quarter BEFORE. I'm going to make sure that I have all of my ducks lined up academically before I go run around the country. I just know I have to do this.

Would you want to follow a Fleetwood Mac tour also or just Stevie? Just wondering incase FM tour in 2011 and not Stevie.
OK here is my advice. Whoever said to do the first show and last show had a good idea. You have to do the first show without any doubt. If your schedule allows you can take Fridays off and have an extra long weekend for travels. Getting from coast to coast can be fun but expensive. For the SYW tour I spent 3 weekends in a row on the west coast. Monday through Thursday I worked and Friday I headed on a plane out west.

One weekend in Las Vegas, the next in Los Angeles and finally the AHI show in Phoenix.
All while flying back home to RI on that Sunday. I have done a few east coast back to
back shows and while fun I found myself very tired. I'm old however.
My point is that if you do a bunch of shows one right after another you might get burnt out. It might be better to do the first and last and your local show and a few in between. This way you will see Stevie and stay in school. Just make sure you take a laptop with you so you can do your school work. ;)

I tend to agree with all of that. I saw Fleetwood Mac 3 times on the Say You Will tour when I was in college. Each show was about 6 months apart. I can report that each show was a little less exciting. My critiques grew stronger after each performance. Come the end of the tour, Stevie was obviously bored and sick of being on the road. Would I change going to that amount of shows on one tour? Never. I learned my lesson about overdosing on my Nicks fix, though.

Like Pattie said, your studies and going to see Stevie can certainly coexist. College is all about learning to budget your time, juggling priorities, self discovery, and the like. I went to see Stevie and Fleetwood Mac quite a few times in college, and haven't really had a chance since. The reality of life hits your pretty deftly following graduation. If you can go see Stevie now and you think it won't impact your life negatively, go do it. Because before you know it, life will have other plans and priorities for ya!

Sounds like a beautiful thing :nod:

Danielle reminds me of me freshman year when I saw the 'Mirage' tour- I made it through the rest of the year, but next year, when it was Stevie solo at the US Festival ( I want to say the date was late May)- I know my finals that 2nd year suffered greatly, as my focus was getting a map and finding where the hell out in the desert it was, getting transportation, and trying to get up close- which I pretty much did, for how huge a crowd it was. Don't quote me, but I seem to recall 'first come first served for first rows' so I wanted to be there for the crack of dawn!
Well worth it. Going on tour for the whole tour when Stevie goes on tour? Up to Danielle.
Assuming Danielle may be 19 next year, this takes me back so much to my first years at university, it's eery.
But back when I was 19, what 63 old year female singer could I have followed or thought of following on tour? Eydie Gorme? Peggy Lee or Lena Horne? Wouldn't have happened! It's very special that Stevie can still have this effect on a teenager.
Stevie Nicks may well be the first multi-multi generational female singer to appeal to teens to sixty-somethings and perhaps beyond, remembering the pipe-smoking Towncar driving 'I have always been a storm' old, old man! (from the Vh1 'Fan Club)-- Wonder if he's still alive? At the time, I also wondered if he was a 'plant' to make Stevie's fans feel stupid.

PALESHADOW wrote: \ Then there is the financial side to seeing multiple shows, not only the tickets, but the travel and hotel expenses? Why not plan on going to opening night, and closing night? I think that would be pretty cool to be there at the beginning of a tour and then at the end, and enough time would pass in between for it to be fresh (well, as fresh as possible for Stevie). You can put the money you save aside for school, for unforeseen expenses or even donate it to your favorite charity, or perhaps one of Stevie's in her name?[/QUOTE]


That's all practical, good advice, but not much fun for a teen! She's excited about her experience she just had. At age 18, were any of us putting money aside for unforseen expenses or for a donation to a favorite charity? Don't get me wrong, you made great points!
I keep in mind this is an enthusiastic, young person. Personally, Danielle, I think the likelihood that Stevie would stick to the same set night after night might get you down or see that there is a 'business' behind touring that can be disillusioning - it was for me on the first leg of the 'Say You Will' tour! A year later, there were a couple minor changes, but when you're close enough to see teleprompters and know it's all going to be the same show, why see it 30 times? A few times might do it, for ya. Or, see them all. Up to you, of course!
At 18, or 19 next year, you might find it unforgiveable, or boring, to see the same show every night!
Still in my 30s when I saw Mac 2 nights in a row, in Worcester, Mass, and LB uttered the same (somewhat patronizing) sermon-esque patter between songs verbatim both nights, and the band didn't change one thing from the previous night- they had to know some fans bought tix for both shows-- I was like 'Wow. Rock and Roll ain't what it used to be!"

I like to see multiple shows and my only regrets have come when I didn't see enough of them. To this day I'm sorry that I did not see more of the Dance shows (only 6) and that I missed the last shows of the SYW and Unleashed tours, even if I saw more than 30 shows on those two tours, all together.

Yes, it's the same setlists and often the same speeches and gestures, but that only makes me revel in the slightest variation and strain to find meaning in them. I like to watch the evolution of the show, to see the interactions smooth themselves out and transitions that were once awkward become effortless. I like to watch the impromptu moments become part of the script or disappear from it. It's the things, both miniscule and inane, that I like the most. I focus on those to the exclusion of most all else. I would barely recognize a "good" Rhiannon if I heard it. I just don't care too much about that. No, instead I'm trying to see whose looking at whom.

As psychotic as it was for Lindsey to swing his guitar cord at Stevie when the SYW tour started, I'm glad he did, so that I could watch him discard that part of the Tusk "fight" as the tour progressed.

I start to have this illusion that I'm seeing the show on 2 levels, as both an entertainment spectacle and as the routine or job it must be for the performers. I feel more inside of it all. And even if I start to take parts of the show for granted while I'm living them, in retrospect I cherish it all.

Once you have time to reflect back and you're removed from the hustle of finding tickets, hotel rooms, traveling, then all of the pleasant parts rise to the surface and those are the ones that reside in memory. The petty annoyances fade away in time.

So, I'm not a proponent of the theory that you can overdose by seeing too many shows.

When I was in graduate school, I traveled around the country to see the Jacksons' Victory tour 11 times. I didn't take any time off from my classes to do it and my grades didn't suffer at all, but my pocketbook sure did. I used money my dad sent me for tuition doing that. He never found out -- during his lifetime, anyway. He may know about it now and I'm sure he's not happy:lol:.

Michele!

This makes me happy. That's exactly how I'd expect I would feel if I saw a serious string of shows. And honestly, if this tour lines up with summertime... all the better. But I think it would bother me for the rest of my life if I didn't have an experience like yours, Michele. I love Stevie and FM way too much to ever "get sick" of seeing them live-- I think I'd dance just as much and probably cry just as much (ugh embarrassing) from one show to the next.

I would do this if I could. It is seriously killing me that I cannot make any of the Not a Tour Tour shows right now.

But for my first ever Stevie show, I flew all the way from Pittsburgh to Anaheim, just for one night - and dragged one of my graphics girls from my old job with me from Colorado. And for my second Stevie show, I flew my sister from Seattle to Pittsburgh, and then we all drove across PA to get to Reading. It was expensive, but I could afford to do it at the time, and I wouldn't trade those experiences for the world.

So if you can do it without seriously screwing yourself up educationally or financially, do it. I so would if I could.

PS re: Tori - I've seen Tori at least once on every tour since the Plugged tour back in the 90s (except for ADP tour, damn my eyes), and I agree - she changes the setlist every night, and she never does a song the same way twice, to boot. So while I would totally follow Stevie around if I could, doing it for Miss T would be such a different experience.

Oh you could say that. I wazs leaving Mohegan SUn after the Mac show there on my way to Rochester for the next one and I ahd to go thru NYC to get there. This drunk old man somehow got on the bus without being kicked o0ff. I had gone to the back 3 seats in hope of getting some sleep. Instead I was treated to this guy throwing up in the bathroom of the bus so once I got to the port authority, I had to throw up right away.:distress:

I would do this if she toured Europe. As it is there's no way I can afford it across the US. I'll definitely be going to one of her solo shows on her next tour though. I have an income now and will use it!

I can't decide if it would be significantly cheaper to drive... I'm only really going on the difference between driving and flying from SF to LA (since that's really the only far city I've both flown and driven to) and the price ends up being pretty much the same, give or take $5-10. Plus it would just save a ridiculous amount of time...

I have no idea. Anyone have experience with this? Any other tips in general? I need to really think this through.

If I had endless means and unlimited time, sure I would. The difference between you and I is that I don't have either. I'm kind of torn girl - part of me wants you to live out your dream and why not? You're not hurting anybody or yourself and it doesn't sound like you have to much to lose and plenty to gain. But, when is too much too much? I'm the first one to spend every last dime I have on seeing Stevie live and no, I would never bore of the show or same set list but there's something to be said for not over-doing it. Everything in moderation. I saw SYW 7 times but that was over 2 years. I'll be seeing this not a tour, tour twice which I think is still within reason. You know what, who cares what anyone thinks? If we were talking about the Dead this would never even be a discussion as it's been going on for 30 years so my conclusion - hit the road Lily because nothing ever changes and if anyone falls for a nightbird they'd better stand back because you've got a long way to go to see your gypsy fall from grace and there's always going to be trouble in shangri-la but if you can ride high atop your pony to see the seven wonders you will realize what love is and not have to worry if everybody finds out and I can't wait to see my little sister honey rock a little in the still of the night on the edge of seventeen with no questions asked. Just blame it on your wild heart. ;)

Have you decided which areas of the country to visit for the anticipated tour? I know for then unleashed tour last year since I took the bus I did research on which cities that had their greyhound station in close proximity with the venue.

One way to save some money on lodging is to try couchsurfing. You can check it out at www.couchsurfing.org
Basically it's a huge network of people who put people up in their house/apartment and who also are put up when they travel. I've had great experiences meeting tons of nice couchsurfers from Asia, Europe, and South America, and when I went to Brazil this summer I surfed with 3 different people. If you want more information, let me know. But it might be a way to stay out of hotels and have some fun. The only thing is that you would be getting to people's houses late, after a concert, so it might be hard to find people who are willing to host you, but maybe you could find places for at least a few nights:)

Just an idea.

Kevin

p.s. I also think that hearing the same set, night after night, is not much fun. I did that on the Dance tour and was actually kind of bored the 2nd night.

Well I'll definitely go to my local shows (so Seattle/Tacoma and any shows in the bay area) and then the Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada shows. Basically the West coast will be easy to do. In terms of the East coast, I'm only dead set on going to North Carolina for Miss Jannie (:wavey:) and New York City. I MIGHT want to go to a Southern Florida show depending on whether or not my good friend is still living down there.

Recommend away, David! Driving or Greyhound? What are your favorite stops?

I've heard about couch surfing! I met a cute Australian guy last weekend who couch surfs around the US, actually :)

Well, I'll give you 5 shows from the Unleashed tour that in each one the Bus station was within less than a miles walk from the Venue:


Tulsa
St Louis
Omaha
Kansas City
Denver


Are you referring to my favorite cities Ive seen shows in?