travelling/touring fun & nightmares

Travelling with kids is always a bit full-on, but add a rock’n'roll tour on top of that and your stress levels are immediately turned up up to 210 %. So what did we learn from our debut interstate Electric Lunchbox tour ?
1. choose an airline that’s not about to strike ; 2. choose an airline that doesn’t have a limit to your baggage ; 3. where possible, don’t fly.
Hmmm… that’s three things, and are they realistic? Probably not! But after bumping in, bumping out, 3 shows in 2 days, being a parent, and being away from home, the last thing you feel like after a successful and exciting tour is to be stuck in transit with five carry-on suitcases, guitars, prams, costumes, and a serious headache. Our girls silently pulled their suitcases at top speed through the airport (our gate was the furthest away… of course), while I carried our 18kg sleeping 2-yr-old and Steve carried the rest. We managed to keep relatively calm after being told our flight was cancelled and we had to pay $200 for extra baggage (a fee which was averted when I almost cried and Steve had a “polite” word to the manager in private… hmmm, wonder what he said ?), our pram was taken away, Steve was taken aside and searched by security who kept calling him “Bro” and made him unlock all his bags (at the exact time he was literally carrying ALL the bags), and we had to sit on the dirty airport floor in a cue, but the limit was actually getting on the flight (last of course) and then realising that the “lovely” lady at the desk had sat us ALL separately – even the 2-yr-old! This was when the tears dramatically rolled down my face, causing the girls to cry and everyone on the plane to pity us, and with an outburst of “I can’t let my baby sit by himself”, some very lovely people moved and let us sit together. The hostess took our names and requested a formal complaint, but writing this seems a better form of therapy! As we flew into Sydney, the relief was palpable (although Steve’s prostrating himself and kissing the tarmac did seem slightly excessive). And if we were to thank anyone for their help over our big Melbourne tour, it would have to be our children, who could have been excused for making it… well … hell, but they didn’t, they were wonderful. Somehow they seem to understand that “the show must go on”, but to see them roll up their sleeves and get stuck in without a single complaint was impressive and heartwarming. One for the time-capsule, gang.

So we are back, rested, and ready to rock. Newtown Festival is on Sunday November 13 and we will be there at 10.55am on the kids stage. Our new song “Spy” has been going down a treat and we’re looking forward to playing some more newbies at our upcoming gigs. We’ll keep you posted.