I’m sure most have had those fantasies of being a rock star and being on stage in front of an adoring and ecstatic crowd. That is hardly the reality for most. Many touring musicians hit the road in less than ideal circumstances.

You’ve imagined fancy restaurants and fancy private planes. Instead it’s stale chips and fighting over the last can of diet coke. Instead of a private seating at a steakhouse you have to make do at 7-eleven when you stop for gas out in the middle of nowhere.

You will get very little sleep. This is true even for the more successful musicians. You are traveling and usually in a hurry to make good time to the next show. You have none of the comforts of home, maybe not even a bed and you are working at all hours.

Even under ideal circumstances you will likely end up irritated by the people you are around. Spending 7 days a week and most of those hours together, on top of being tired, will make a saint irritating in no time. Plenty of bands break up for this very reason.

Artists endure it all for the thrill of playing their music in front of and appreciative crowd. They derive tremendous joy from having others participate and enjoy what they have spent time and resources to bring them. It is a great privilege for any artist to have fans.

Living out the dream of being a musician is what keeps them on the road. Creating music and sharing it with others is the goal of every artist. The vast majority will never make much money and only love for music will keep a musician going.