In February 2015, in Pflugerville, Texas, a suburb of Austin, I was working full-time as an elementary teacher, while my husband balanced his days as an engineer and his nights as a musician. Every day, he’d wake up at 5 am to practice, leave for work by 6 am, work until 5 pm, and if he didn’t have a gig, he’d practice until 1 am, only to do it all over again the next day.

One evening, after a long day, I was sitting on the couch when my husband came to me and said, "I think I want to do music full-time." Without hesitation, I said, "Ok, do it." He quit his job in March 2015, left for New York on April 1st, and returned on June 5th, just after I’d finished the school year. Our lives changed dramatically after that. He practiced all day and played shows at night, and I went to most of them, witnessing a completely different person on stage. He was so happy, and his passion inspired me to quit my job and become a full-time business owner two years later.

That same year, he went on his first longer tour, which lasted about two months. I was thrilled for him, but I also felt a deep sadness because he was away from me and our dogs, Yoshi (RIP) and Koopa. Although I had friends, no one truly understood what it was like to have a partner who traveled so much for work. I longed for a community of women who, like me, wanted to support their partners but also needed friendship. In 2017, I started a small group, but it didn’t gain traction, and we only met once. The need just wasn’t there, so I let it go.

Fast forward to 2019, we moved to LA, and my husband was away from home five days a week. It was tough being in a new city and dealing with loneliness. My primary interactions with others were at his shows and through my job. Then, Covid hit, and he was home again, allowing us to reconnect. But in 2022, the real challenge began—he was away for four months, the longest I’d ever been alone. I still longed for a community of friends who understood the bittersweet experience of supporting their partner's dreams while wishing they were home more often. I immersed myself in work and other projects to fill the void.

In 2023, he was gone even longer, from February to December, which was a lot for me to handle. However, during this time, I built stronger friendships. One thing my husband does well is invite me into his workspace, introducing me to the band, crew, managers, and artists, making me feel like part of the team—a gesture I’m incredibly grateful for. While our lives don’t necessarily revolve around him, they do revolve around his schedule. It wasn’t what I expected, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. However, I still longed for a sense of community.

By 2024, I was fully immersed in running my homeschool agency, while he embarked on another tour from February to July. During this time, I reconnected with a friend who shared how her husband’s touring was affecting her mental health. We talked more, and the idea of a support group came back to me. This time, the need was different. I knew many more people with partners who traveled for months at a time. This friend, Laura, became my co-founder of Side Stage Tour.

This journey isn’t about our partners; it’s about us. We’re so excited to connect with you. Let’s talk more!