CHALLENGES of Touring with STEVE VAI

[@allanmakela3011]

not all peaches,and creem,but seeing new things,and talking to Steve,memories forever

[@julieahipene3199]

Hi Dante I saw you with Steve in Auckland NZ wow! My 5th time to see Steve ! I love him and his music you are so lucky to be the guitar tech! Great hearing what it like!💜🎸🎼🎵

[@grandadmiralmanatee]

I was there too! Good show

[@DanteFrisiello]

Thank you! I am having a blast

[@christesta-oneill4840]

It was sad to see David announce that he is stepping back this week and look forward to what comes next for him. But wanted to take a moment to congratulate you on becoming Vai's next guitarist. You are currently getting your best lesson on composition and writing music, Best of luck! Pass on my regards to Carlos and the crew and see you all in Seattle and Portland

[@leandrogil82]

DANTEEEEEEEE!!! is always a pleasure to watch your videos!! You´re so funny man!! but the best is your personality! I can´t stop telling you how humble, grateful and talented you are bro.. thanks for being like that! Thanks for sharing your experience touring with Steve and that bunch of talented and good people!! YOU DESERVE EVERY SINGLE MOMENT YOU´RE LIVING MAN!! Hope to see you in Spain next year! 😏🎸

[@leandrogil82]

I don´t know if you realize, but another thing about your touring is that on the other side there are people (like me) who gets so inspired in many ways (not just musical) for people like you!! and that´s amazing! WISH YOU THE BEST BRO!

[@Davidckennedymusic]

Man, thank you for sharing your adventures!!

[@DanteFrisiello]

My pleasure! Thanks for the support

[@ashleyjackson8538]

Amazing adventure .

[@DanteFrisiello]

I wake up grateful most days, and if I'm ever feeling negative, I just stop and refocus on the positive side. Oh and a shot of espresso and good work out usually helps too :)

[@ashleyjackson8538]

@@DanteFrisiello amazing effort and result . I look forward to getting too listen to one of the gigs .

[@kayhowell8263]

Dante this is SO interesting! Thanks for sharing! I love watching your adventures.

[@NeilTurnbull007]

Great video again , ( I missed the tour this year, but hope to see him again next time ! ). It must be such a great job to be involved with a tour & especially with Steve Vai .

[@allengarrow6295]

Steve is an incredible mentor you will learn more with him than you could have ever had hoped for.

[@DanteFrisiello]

He really is, I’ve already learned more in just a few weeks of playing than I normally do in a year

[@sylviakeyes518]

The magical beauty of it all 👍🙏🏼

[@DanteFrisiello]

Indeed!

[@JenMajuraOfficial]

You’re cute 😊 challenges on tour you ask? Well after a solid 15+ years of touring, here are my top 3 challenges of touring: 1) Taking a shower after the show while the bus engine is already running, realizing you have to shower with cold water together with dirty dishes and cockroaches! 2) Being yelled at by your tour manager at 3 AM in the morning while you just snoozed off: grab your bag - get out of the bus - we can’t park here - check into the hotel! 3) Dealing with a whole bunch of bruises on your legs due to the traveling and trying to not look as if somebody beat the shit out of you 🤣

[@DantePaez]

Congrats for the new Job!

[@lollofunky]

Yes in Europe is mandatory for Bus Drivers to take breaks after a certain amount of hours. I took ferry many times we always slept on the "deck" or couches/sofas on the Ferry.

[@Pat54guitares_Uku]

Thanks you for explaining and sharing all your tour experiences with Steve Vai's band ! ! 😊 You speak very fast ! 😄

[@DanteFrisiello]

Haha no problem! I try and make it always concise!

[@LeeCarlsonguitar]

Thanks for such a cool video!

[@Toledo394]

Thanks for sharing, friend. 🙂 I´ve got a question: how do you deal with ear protection, hearing loss, a tinnitus? (I suffer from those, I´m 52, and I have been playing and listening to music since teenager years)

[@DanteFrisiello]

I always use hearing protection. Custom molded ear plugs, in ear monitors, or foam ones if I’m empty handed. In loud bars Ill put bar napkins in my ears

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

So interesting I'm sure touring after being a lawyer.. I don't know what type of lawyer you were, but I bet the differences are unique.. Very very cool, and I"m sure working for Steve is a great experience. Your hard work has paid off sir.. Are you of Portuguese descent may I ask?

[@DanteFrisiello]

Thanks! Italian and German actually. I worked in mostly Antitrust law in DC, and also did a little litigation. Too many differences to keep track of! Thank you for the support

[@cycomiles4225]

Of course you have a youtube channell, I cant imagine how it was brfore internet, my favourie artists at the click of a button, incredible. Dude, you rock. Saw you in Croatia with Steve that Abasi suits you.. Vai is Vai, nothing short of incredible,, but his band is aldo on fire.

[@DanteFrisiello]

Of course! I enjoy making content and love to connect with people through it. It’s fun! Thank you so much! Appreciate the kind words :) I do really adore that guitar so much. It’s the best guitar I’ve ever played!

[@cycomiles4225]

@@DanteFrisiello Thank you. I havent been on a live concert since covid lockdowns. And for this to be my first one, Im the one who should be thanking you. You guys rattled my heart and made me feel more than alive. Thank you.

[@DanteFrisiello]

Then it’s mission accomplished!!

[@_rafael_b]

Hello Dante. I found this video of you and really enjoyed it. I recognized you from the tour and recently read that you would be taking over from Dave in Steve's band. Congratulations man! It looks like a sweet gig. I've never met him, but Steve seems like as cool a guy to work for as you could possibly ask. I saw the Atlanta show and think that it was the best show I've seen in years. Cheers and congrats again. I have to ask... How long does it take to restring and setup the hydra?

[@DanteFrisiello]

Thank you! Really appreciate it. I'm super excited, it's an incredible opportunity and it'll be so much fun. So glad you made it to a show! I couldn't tell you, Doug MacArthur is Steve's tech and handles all of Steve's stuff... But I think he told me once to do every string would take him about 45 minutes :D

[@AbhishekBindal144]

Can you talk about how much money you can make while touring? (in various capacities as a band member / guitar tech etc)

[@DanteFrisiello]

It completely depends on the circumstances of a tour. It’s run like any business, and employees are hopefully well paid, but of course it can vary depending on the size of an operation

[@zerosiii]

Did you talk in any video how you actually got picked to replace Dave as a band guitarist?

[@DanteFrisiello]

Long story short, I got to know Dave over the years as a student, then coworker. I took a few Skype lessons from him when I was in college, then in law school I lived in DC - three hours drive away from Philly. During my second year of law school he started a guitar club called Philly Guitar Club that was just an open jam with him and his fusion band. I started going to it every month, I would rent a car, because I wanted to learn how to get better at guitar and have the opportunity to jam and play with him. I wanted to be a pro musician but I didn't know anyone, I only knew lawyers LOL. So I just sought him out for education and inspiration and learning. I also loved this music and as you know, Dave is an extremely accomplished player, and I'd consider a master improviser. So much to learn from him. I did that for many years, and over time he started giving me opportunities to work with him more, which ultimately led to getting a chance to tech for him at the Ibanez Pia release show at NAMM 2020, then he offered me to tech for him on this tour. Covid happened so it took a while but eventually it did and I quit my job as a lawyer. Then when he announced to Steve he was leaving the band, he recommended me to Steve to fill the spot, and Steve moved me up after a bunch of soundcheck auditions on the road last year. I made a couple vids of this on my Tik Tok - I haven't made a big KZbin video about it yet because I want to make a really nice comprehensive video about the journey to the gig one day, and I'm still living a lot of this stuff and just trying to be in the moment and be good at my job :)

[@zerosiii]

@@DanteFrisiello This is awesome, you actively went and created the opportunity for yourself, and it turned out in the best way possible. Really inspirational story, I wish you the greatest of luck in your continued journey!

[@mazzetti8667]

Complain much?? BORING....

[@DanteFrisiello]

BORING!!!!