Brett Eldredge Knows Touring Should Feel Like Play, Not Work
Brett Eldredge has scored some of the most coveted opening spots on tours, with artists such as Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and even Taylor Swift. Although the "The Long Way" singer has also headlined his own shows -- in fact, his The Long Way Tour launches Thursday (April 5) -- he says he is happy to continue touring with more established artists, if only so he can continue to hone his own craft.
"You learn so many things," Eldredge tells The Boot. "I’ve never learned the same thing from every artist, and I’ve toured for a variety of different artists. I think what I learned the most is ... how I set the environment to just make it a fun experience in life for not only me as an artist but for everyone around me, including the crowd, including my crew, including the people that open for me, the people that I tour with ...
"Everybody, they just treated me so well," Eldredge adds, "and I want to give that opportunity to other artists that are coming up, and treat them well, and have them feel like this isn’t a job."
That's something Eldredge himself has learned during his time on the road.
"This is play," Eldredge asserts. "This is playing music. This is having fun. This is what you live for. Sometimes, you get caught up in traveling to some places. But when I get on the stage and I feel that crowd ... and I get to see the fans that are excited to see something they’ve never seen, or they come back because they loved that feeling the first time they got it and they’ve got to get it again ..."
What Else Have Artists Learned Opening for Other Acts?