"T" is for Tour

“I said the ‘T’ word at dinner,” Michelle spoke quietly as we warmed up before rehearsal.

I glanced at her with sympathy and understanding. She looked back at me, then back at her Eb clarinet, fiddling with the reed.

“Lisa sent out the Tour picks, so it seemed like a good time.” She sighed.

Tour rumblings started several weeks ago with the departure of the Tour Advance personnel. It is to be our first 31-day Tour, so interest and curiosity is somewhat heightened this year. A tentative itinerary and a small map pinpointing concert locations materialized on the bulletin board outside the Public Affairs offices around the same time. Last week a series of e-mails appeared in the Inbox, requesting “Tour picks” from each of the sections, announcing Tour soloists, and a notice that the Tour roster and roommate sign-up sheets would be posted in the near future.

Although the Summer Concert Season has barely started, that small compartment in our brains labeled “Tour” has quietly opened, tucking away the details as they arrive, allowing our subconscious to process and prepare.

While sometimes it seems we are either 1) On Tour, 2) Recovering From Tour, or 3) Preparing For Tour, the topic of Tour can be very delicate on the home front, especially for those that tour often. Mention it too soon and anxiety and friction can be created needlessly, more so with younger children.

On the bright side, what was once a 52-day Tour is now a mere 32 days. Before the creation of Stand-down, Tour was seven and a half weeks of concerts with three maintenance days. The fourth week was the half-way point, and the remaining weeks seemed to stretch endlessly before you. But now, week four will be the final week, the week of “lasts” that tick away so quickly. It almost boggles the mind.

There are plenty of things to do before active planning and preparation, though. The Summer Concert Season is just getting under way, Parade Season is in full swing, the Birthday Concert with John Williams is right around the corner; who knows what else summer will bring?