There’s always that same comment I hear from touring bands whenever they come visit my country, the beautiful and humid Philippines. It’s always about how excited they are to play and how they thought that no one would actually be there to see them at their show. But they are always proven wrong when they are greeted at the venue packed with Filipinos who are extremely excited to see them play live.
But aside from all that, these people (usually) from the first world are shocked at how horrendous the traffic is here in Manila. They say “oh, we have horrible traffic back home too” but the Manila traffic is on a whole 'nother level. So for all the bands who plan on doing a show here in the Philippines, here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Prepare yourself mentally AND physically for the horrible traffic.
We Filipinos are incredibly resilient. When it comes to traffic, you will always hear a Filipino complain about it. They probably got stuck in traffic going to your show and you most probably will too! We had a couple of Singaporean friends play a few shows last year and it’s funny to hear them complain about the traffic. I’ve been there this year and I could see why they found the Manila traffic so bad! So when your plane lands, remember that you’ll need lots of patience in Manila.
2. The Filipino hospitality is incomparable.
I’ve always seen band members have a great time even before and after the show. Our collective allows the crowd to just casually say hi to the band after the show and they have always been incredibly respectful which we appreciate.And if you got extra time to rest, we’ll make sure that you’ll be boarding that plane with a belly full of Filipino food. So if you need something, don’t be afraid to speak up because we want you to have the best experience during your short stay!
3. Be prepared to sweat. A lot!
I’ve lived in the Philippines my whole life and all I can say about the weather is that it is H.U.M.I.D. The 99% humidity paired with a 40°c temperature in the summer (that’s 104°F for all you Americans) will leave you wishing you never left your air conditioned hotel room. So if you’re planning to visit the country, the sweet spot is some time between September to February when it’s nice and relatively cool. But if you must visit the country in the middle of April, then be prepared to sweat your balls off.
4. Bring lots of merch.
As a touring manager, I luckily get a lot of freebies. I had shirts, caps and a hoodie from some of the bands I’ve taken care of #humblebrag. But some of the bands that have been here end up with zero merch when they get here because they’ve already run out! So be sure to bring lots of merch with you because people are definitely going to buy it at your show. And if you run out of merch, make sure to contact the promoter at your next stop so they’ll be able to produce something locally and you’ll still have stuff to sell! And don’t forget to hand me a shirt or something.
5. Have lots of fun!
Have fun! I know it’s hard to be so far away from home but I can guarantee that you’ll enjoy playing for the Filipinos. Have a bottle of Red Horse or two and leave everything to the promoters.