Travis Denning Finds Motivation in Headlining Tour Slots
Olivia Ladd
Olivia Ladd Published: August 1, 2019
Travis Denning has found himself on several big tours over the past few years: The "After a Few" singer has opened for everyone from Alan Jackson to Cole Swindell to Lanco. Then, in February and March, he struck out on the Heartbeat of a Small Town Tour -- his first round as a headliner.
The singer-songwriter has picked up touring tips and tricks along the way, and he's well aware of the difference between being an opener and being the star of the show.
"I think it's more stress when it's your own [tour]," Denning told The Boot on the blue carpet at the 2019 CMT Music Awards in June. "Obviously, if everybody shows up, they know your songs and that's awesome, but really you've gotta be the reason that they say that was worth it."
While the pressure is on during headlining slots, it hasn't made Denning buckle. He makes it seem effortless onstage when fans are singing along to his debut single "David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs," but he's also right at home with the audiences on whom he has to make an impression. Because he has both experiences to compare, he knows every show is a chance to play to his fullest ability for the crowd and make a mark on their memories.
"If you go open for somebody and you rock it, they say, 'That was awesome,' but the headliner's probably still gonna beat you. They remember you, but they still went to go see that person," Denning says. "It puts kind of a bigger motivation of giving the fans the best kind of show you can get them."
Denning is currently gearing up to head back out on the road as part of the Get That Man a Beer Tour, which he'll be opening for Riley Green. That trek kicks off on Sept. 5 and runs through mid-December.
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Source: Travis Denning Finds Motivation in Headlining Tour Slots
Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Travis Denning
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