Saying goodbye takes on a whole new meaning when you head out on tour. You forfeit the comfort of a normal life and create a new home every 6-12 weeks. As a result, you'll find yourself saying 'au revoir' far more often than most, so here are seven unique ways to bid farewell:
GOODBYE
A classic way to express good wishes when parting. Starting a new chapter in life often means leaving behind the comforts of home—saying goodbye to the friends who were always there for you, the apartment that provided solace during difficult times, and the city that shaped your life in just a few short years. A formal goodbye may be required, as you don’t know when you’re going to see them again.
TALK TO YOU LATER
In normal life, saying “talk to you later” usually means, speaking with one at a later date. In touring life, saying “talk to you later” means talking to them in…possibly 15 minutes. Now, your co-workers are also your roommates, and your only option for friends. You wake up, see them on the shuttle, share a morning (or possibly afternoon) coffee, work an 8+ hour shift, eat dinner with them, and then a simple “talk to you later” means, see you at the 54 party and then possibly at the hotel. Wake up, repeat.
I’M OUT
An alternative to the standard 'talk to you later,' but with the subtle message of 'please don’t talk to me, I’ll see you tomorrow and I’m not interested in conversing until then.' Sometimes, you just need space, but be cautious—this could easily be misinterpreted, so tread lightly.
CHEERS
A fun sign-off on the radio, especially when thanking a fellow colleague for unclogging a frozen toilet and you know good and well he’s covered in shit right now and this is quite often our reality when working at a circus tent and is not often posted on Instagram.
BYE
Connotation is everything with this one, often carrying a frustrated undertone when speaking to those back home. When starting life on tour, it’s common to believe you'll maintain your relationships at home, thinking they’ll remain the same while you're away. But 100% of the time, they won’t—no matter how many desperate attempts you make from thousands of miles away. Once you realize that those who were once yours are no longer yours—thanks to your own decisions, btw—a curt 'bye' becomes the norm for ending these types of conversations.
SAFE TRAVELS
This phrase is typically accompanied by hugs and comes before long departures, when you won’t see your colleagues for several weeks. It’s completely normal to feel conflicted—especially if you’re beyond frustrated with coworkers you’ve seen every day for months. Maybe they’ve driven you up the wall with music that makes your ears bleed or constant debates over whether non-rechargeable batteries can be charged. Suddenly, you’re having mixed feelings about not seeing them for an extended period of time. For better or for worse, they are a part of you now, so this is okay.
SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD
By far the most emotionally damaging of all the goodbyes. Not everyone you part ways with will have a concrete date for when you’ll see them again. Some will move on to new tours, others will chase new opportunities or return to their old jobs. Some may relocate to Montreal, Orlando, or Las Vegas. And some, you may never see again. These are the people with whom you’ve developed deep connections—souls who truly understood and accepted you, flaws and all. They guided you professionally, offered advice when you needed it, and traveled to the ends of the earth with you. They did stupid photo shoots, did trivia every weekend, shared inside jokes, lived with you in Los Angeles high rises, laughed with you, cried with you, and laughed until they cried with you. You have zero idea when you’ll see them again, so you say 'see you down the road'—because your already fragile psyche has left you crying in a Residence Inn stairwell so you certainly can’t say goodbye now. Yet, the circus has a funny way of bringing lost souls back together, sometimes once, sometimes many times over the years. Until then, hold onto every goodbye, and every hello, that comes your way.