What’s It Like Touring with Brad Paisley? Amazing!
We started out the tour with Brad Paisley in Denver which is a beautiful city and the arena is HUGE, so needless to say I was a little nervous or overwhelmed more than anything. I remember the lights going out right before I went out on stage and everyone screaming. But with so many people around me, I found myself backstage in the dark by myself just smiling. I finally had that sense that I was really doing this. I was living out what I had always dreamed about.
I will be starting my fourth week with Brad coming up. Now that I have a sense of how things work, I pretty much do the same thing every day. I wake up to Brad’s face on the side of trucks everywhere, do an interview or two over the phone, or sometimes a local news crew will come to the bus, which is always fun. We’ll have lunch (the catering is amazing) and then I always love to walk around the arena just to take it all in. I love to watch how all the crew guys and girls set up the stage everyday. It’s a lot work but somehow they get it done in just a few hours. Nuts. Kudos to them though! Then we usually have sound check around 5:00 or 5:30 and then the fun begins.
Sound checks in arenas are a blast. The sound just fills the empty arena and you feel and hear everything. It’s amazing. Then I grab a quick bite, have a meet-and-greet every day at 6:50 with radio and contest winners, and go on stage every night at 7:30. My band and I wait backstage, get all our guitars tuned up, say a little chant, wait for the light to go out and then we rock the house! Ha ha. I have to say YOU guys have been amazing! You’re on your feet. You love country music and it shows, so THANK YOU! You make it that much more fun for me and my band.
As soon as I get off stage I have the biggest adrenaline rush and it usually takes me all night to wind down. I’ll go to the bus, change clothes and then I usually watch Brad’s show, which I recommend to anyone. Right around 10:45, I change clothes again and get ready for the meet-and-greet, which I do every single night as soon as Brad gets off stage. Why? Because I love meeting every single one of you. And you guys are blowing me away with how amazing you are. I always get real nervous right before going up to the meet-and-greet line because I always have this weird feeling that no one will show, but you guys rock. So thank you for staying with me after to hang out.
When the day finally comes to an end, I am actually still winding down after meeting all of you, and finally crash around 3 a.m. I then get up and do it all over again and LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Make sure to check out my next blog. I wanted to fill you in on what I do generally on the tour this time. Now stay tuned for all the stories that no one ever gets to hear. You know, the good stuff! Ha ha.
Your friend,
Chuck Wicks
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Ashlee says:
Hey Chuck,
It sounds as though you are having a BLAST touring with Brad Paisley! It was very interesting learning what it is like on tour. I absolutely LOVE your music and think you are a great artist. (And very handsome, if I might add) Anyway, I enjoy listening to your music and wish you all were coming down here to South Louisiana.
Have a Happy Valentin’e Day!
Ashlee
Lee says:
Great blog Chuck! Keep them coming and keep rockin’ my friend!! See you in Nashville once again Friday night!! Thanks for taking time for us! You’re awesome!
Lee
Carolyn F. Selway says:
Hi Chuck,
Last night was first night I even heard of you but my father-n-law (Phillip Selway)..my husbands dad…. your relative….which makes you my relative too! I don’t know what but we are connected somehow!! You were on a country show (which showed here in Delaware) and we were told to watch. My husband is a big fan of country (honestly I am not…but listening to you was wonderful) so we listened to you talk. It was a woman and man hosting it..and you sang the cinderella song. Anyhow wonderful to meet you (sort of) and happy that you are part of my family! We live in Middletown, De.
Doug and Carolyn Selway
Brigitte says:
ok so i met you tonight..and all i can say is…wow!!!
Niki says:
ahh chuck i met you tonight at the nashville concert & you were so nice & amazing! i love you now & your performance was so good!!!! i can not wait to see you again!!!!
Jessica says:
Hey Chuck, I was at the concert in Nashville and all I can say is you were “amazing.” I love your music and the three of you are so talented, it was definately the best concert ever. And one more thing, you are so HOT!!!
Cassidy says:
Hey chuck I have seen many concerts but I have to say the show Brad, Rodney And you put on last night was the BEST I Ever Seen. You are headed right for the top you are going to be HUGE very soon I seen Brad when he was in Green Bay with Brooks And Dunn. And some day I will see you back in Green bay HEADLINING SO SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY SEE YOU BACK IN GREEN BAY SOON
Joel says:
I must say im a huge fan of your music when i heard that the guy that sang stealing cinderalla was going to be at the concert with brad paisley i was excited and downloaded your cd from ruckus right away, it took my like one listen through to fall in love. I have to say Love a little harder is my favortie song and it should be your next single. You put on an amazing show In green Bay last night your going to be big i can’t wait for your future music, also you should consider playing man of the house once and while i love that song to
Brooke says:
Your concert in Green Bay Thurs. was the BEST concert I have ever been to!! It was just plain amazing! I drove 5 hours there just to see you and it was soo worth it!! It was great to meet and thanks for the hug!! I love your music!! one of my favorite songs is What If You Stay!! and i really like Man of the House too!! Great Job can’t wait till you’re one of the entertainers in country music!!
Taylor says:
i saw you perform last night in iowa and it was amazing! you put on such a great show. then afterwards i got to meet which i would have to say was my favorite part of the night! hehe…and thanks for re-taking that picture when my camera didn’t work!! i was so sad when it didn’t work. You are a great guy and not to bad looking either:D..hehe!
thanks again
taylor
linda says:
I heard your song “Stealing Cinderella” for the first time @ the Long Branch in Raleigh Nc and it brought tears to my eyes just thinking of my own daughter, who is very much my own Cinderella, and the thought of having to let go one-day
It is a beautiful song that touches the hearts of all parents out there and I know it will take you far.
You are such a sweet person and it was a pleasure to meet with you and thank-you again for personalizing your pic for my daughters birthday , she loved it.
God bless !
Good luck with the CMT awards! :) I just voted for you
Katie says:
Hey Chuck,
My sister and I were in the front row in Des Moines and loved your performance! Also, you seriously are so hot!! We will for sure be at another one of your concerts someday soon.
Betty Staton says:
My daughter(works for SonyBMG in Nashville) sent me the article about the prank that Brad pulled on you. CUTE! From there I went to your blog about being on the road with Brad. Loved it. Happy to see someone from my state living his dream. (I live down the road in Seaford, De.) I know that my daughter started living hers when she went to Belmont University 10 1/2 years ago to study the business end of music. There is no doubt that you will go far!!
Tonya says:
Chuck,
Congratulations on the success you have had so far this early in long-to-be career. The video for “Stealing Cinderella” is the most Sophisticated,Romantic,Heartfelt video that can be enjoyed by everyone and may the rest of your songs and dreams come easy to you. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in concert someday. I hope you make whatever may come your way as fun and stress-free as possible. Always be yourself and always remember that “Laughter” is the best medicine that you could ever have.
Keep Smiling,
Tonya
JDPsmiley says:
Hey Chuck-
Do y’all need an extra Roadie? I need to run away from home for a few months. The reasons are that my current job cutting hair for a barber shop will soon be without any customers(as our Snowbird friends are flying back home soon for the summer, some have already left. The plan is most will be gone by Easter weekend.). I need a Summer Job!
The other reason is my mother is going back on another restricted eating plan, or “lack of eating” plan for the next 3 months, and she will be VERY cranky for awhile. I guess you get that way when you are not allowed to eat normal food. AARRRRGGGH!
I would like to work with some artists and think it would be quite the adventure! ‘
I think a gofer job would be OK, hunting down supplies(i.e. groceries and such) or perhaps finding cheap gas and hotels.
Just a thought.
PS> I tried to send you that photo we took at Cypress Gardens on New Years in M&G line. I am the girl who was wearing the deep-aqua tshirt and jeans with brunette hair and glasses. The girl who took the pic sent it as Download file and I’ve had trouble sending it in that format. I have no email address to send it to, yet. Maybe I could use it as an Avatar on your site, but need instructions on how to upload it. I have a profile there now. Help!
JDPsmiley says:
If someone could teach me for a couple days or so on how to hookup all that fancy stage equipment without electricuting myself, ha ha, I could do that too.
But like I said, it’s just a thought for now. Can be discussed in near future…..A girl HAS to ask! ;)
Phyllis Harrison says:
Chuck, I saw you for the first time at the Brad Paisley concert in Greenville, SC at the BiLo Center on Feb 15th. I was BLOWN AWAY. What a valentines gift to hear your fantastic voice. I knew I had to see and hear you again. I met you in Greenville again at the New Faces Showcase on March 12th. I took your waterbottle fromthe stage. Yeah, remember me? You are an awsome performer and I know you will go far. I am telling everyone I know about your music. Good Luck. As they say, “See you in the movies”. Hope you win the Video award. Your biggest fan. Phyllis Harrison
Lisa says:
I seen Brad at the Woodlands, Texas and I just fell in love with all you guys- you are amazing and so lucky to get to do every day. When he did “When I get where I’m going” with all the video sequences of people that have gotten where they were going, I openly cried on so many of them - I think that at that point I realized that we all share the same losses and I realized that you guys are regular people - you just know how to play and sing. I see how Brad treats his wife and I would love to have a conversation with him just to let him know that we female fans love him so much for being ‘that kind of guy’. Thanks to all of you - God Bless You All Every Day - keep coming back - we LOVE you in Houston!!!!!!!!!!!
Torre says:
Chuck, I saw you with Brad in Salt Lake City and I was amazed. After I heard your song “What if you Stay” I had to have your CD. I love every song on it. Then you came back to us at Club Teazers in Ogden, UT last night. It was amazing. I think you have amazing talent and I can’t wait till you come back again. I appreciate the meet and greets you do after the concert too. I was so excited to meet you. Your pictures are great, but in person there are just no words!!
Thanks,
Torre
Sissy says:
Hey Chuck, Congrats on hooking up with Julianne Hough. Does this make you #4 or #5? Everyone thought you had a longtime girl. (But, so did Helio.) Oh well, I guess blondes do have more fun. Enjoy it while it lasts. Good luck with your career.