Unless you've experienced it yourself, it's difficult to fully explain what performing abroad means and why a music tour feels so special.
Arriving at an unfamiliar venue in a town you've never visited before can be a daunting experience. There's a sense of vulnerability and nerves creep in: Will anyone come? Will they enjoy our music? Are we good enough?
As the audience gradually takes their seats, those uncertainties begin to fade. In many parts of Europe, audiences often continue arriving after the advertised start time, filling the room with a growing sense of anticipation. Once the performance is underway you can start to enjoy it and it feels special. You are no longer playing to family, friends, or people who feel obliged to attend. Instead, you are playing for complete strangers who have chosen to spend their time attending your concert and there is something incredibly rewarding about playing for people who have come simply because they want to be there.
It is also no secret that audiences across continental Europe are often particularly warm and enthusiastic. Noted by a young people on their first music tour, "at home people sit and listen quietly and politely clap at the end but on tour it was different". Their appreciation is expressed openly, whether through sustained applause, standing ovations, or requests for encores. Their response creates an energy that performers carry with them long after the final note has been played.
After the concert audience members and concert hosts are often eager to meet the performers, talk about the music, and congratulate musicians on the concert. There is a genuine curiosity about who you are, whether you are enjoying your stay in their country, and what has brought you to their community. They want to express their appreciation for your visit.
These moments of connection, both on and off the stage, are what make performing abroad such a rewarding experience. Beyond the music, it is an opportunity to build relationships, experience new cultures, and be reminded of the universal language that music provides.
We love to hear your stories and those of the concert hosts, so please share with us your tour experiences from this summer.