A day in Plymouth

Can't remember when the bus got in. 5? 6? Don't matter. Slept till 7 plus.

 Them bunks are tiny. For a large person that is. 2-3 inch " above" you is the headboard. Someone's feet is on the other side of it. Or their head depending which way they lie. If you really stretch out, your feet touches the other end of the bunk. Small, but comfy. Warm too. Each bunk has a ventalation system. Or fan. You chose. Each bunk has draw curtains for that few hours of privacy. This is the only area on the bus that is off limits to all but yourself. Written or unwritten rule, no one has the right to that space once you draw the curtain.

 On a tour bus, you do not have number twos. Only number ones. Number twos are a no no. We don't want the system stuck with shit do we?

 You have your shit at the venue before you get on the bus for that nights journey. You bath, shower, shit, piss, wash, clean your mouth, do your hair all before you get on the tour bus.

 Ok.. So woke up at Plymouth. Load in starts at 8am. You get outa bus, still sleepy or hung over and groggy, feeling a bit lost wondering wad the hell city you are in today. And you find the stage door. Hopefully the truck(s) are parked up against the dock doors. No point being there if the truck is stuck somewhere on the M2 near Huddersfield.

 Local crew, touring crew, show call crew. All there ready for the in. Normal set up. System up. All depts up. Everyone up and running by dinner time (lunch). Hmmmmm. Guess its off to the pub hey. The Bank it's called. Just off to the side of the stage door. Nice meal of sausages and mash maybe with extra chips. No bloody mushy peas!

 Band call at 1pm. Done by half one. Some movement of the mons. Some movement of the keyboards. Next, the dancers. They got 30 mins. Than the full run, total 30 mins. All in all, one and a half hours.

Doors open at 730pm. Oh dear, wad to do for 4-5 hours.

Explore the city/town.
Go back to sleep on the bus.
Chit chat with the band and cast in their rooms.
Go watch a movie in the bus.
Can't go to the pub to haves beers.
Go have a long "dinner" , tea in some fancy eatery.
Go do your shopping for your stuff for the bus.

Since its Plymouth in summer, almost everyone ended on the Hoe. Nice view of the harbour. Nice sun out. Hopefully see some hot Plymouth chick jogging along the roads.

 Last min checks. Ppl in. Curtain up. Show starts on time. Maybe 3-4 mins late. No longer, unlike some countries.

Show over in one and a half.

 Load out starts. Truck doors closed by 1030pm. Than it's time for the ppl on the bus to wash up. Up the bus we go. Head count. And away we go, to the next city or town,could be far, could be near.

 Anyways, this is the fun time. The bus has, the main sitting area. DVD, play station, videos, tv, radio. Sofas nice and large. Forward of the bus,top floor, is another sitting area with 4 large chairs. You can spend your time here working. This is the quite area. Or you can stare out the front of the bus if you want. The lower deck, the kitchen. Large table for 8. This is an important area. It's where you keep your beers cold.
Some drink.
Some sleep.
Some work.
Some watch tv.
Some read.
 All types. As the bus is your home for however long the tour is, you must and will respect other people's doings.
Every one goes home after work. On that bus, it needs to be that. Home.

Well, that was our day in Plymouth.
On that tour, we did 16 cities. I think. Can't recall.

Longest ride was Newcastle to Cardiff. Beer well drank I'd say.

Cheers.