Never Eat in the Hotel

Mar 14, 2008 1:48 PM, By Andy Bassford

           
 

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SAVING YOUR MONEY AND YOUR SANITY WHILE TOURING

In Your Wallet

If you're lucky enough to be on a tour in which you're actually pocketing some good money, it's wise to take some precautions so you don't spend or lose it.

Stick to a budget. It's really easy to spend money when your pockets are full. Avoid spending your entire salary on day-to-day stuff; set a daily budget and stick to it. If you force yourself to live off a fixed amount each day, you'll be more likely to save money to send home. (See next tip.)

Bring it on home. What's the best way to send money home? You could use a wire service such as Western Union, but it's expensive. Regular banks usually won't send money for you at all unless you have an account with them. My method of choice is to buy postal money orders (which can be replaced if lost or stolen) and mail them in an ordinary envelope. Believe it or not, I've never had a problem with this system in all the years I've been touring. If using regular mail makes you nervous, send your money orders by certified mail or Federal Express. Make sure you wrap them so nobody can tell what they are through the envelope.

Don't ever change (too much). On overseas tours, have as much of your salary as possible wired to your bank account in advance (you can generally arrange this through the tour's promoter). Convert as few U.S. dollars as possible into the local currency (multiply your daily budget amount by the number of days you'll be there to come up with a figure). When traveling to different countries on the same tour, convert whatever money you have from the previous country to the new currency instead of changing any more dollars.

You can send money home from overseas through an exchange bureau or (sometimes) a bank, but it can be painfully pricey. It can also take several days to find a town with a suitable bank or currency service, so try to plan ahead. In my experience, the Thomas Cook exchange bureau is a good choice when it's necessary to send money commercially.

Keep good records. It's important to keep track of your earnings so you can deal with the tax implications at year's end. If it looks like you will be doing a significant amount of road work, find an accountant who has experience with entertainers, and keep all your receipts.

On the Bus

You'll probably spend the biggest portion of your time on the road in a moving vehicle. There's no way to glamorize this; it can be dull, exhausting, and intolerable on a good day, and absolute torture on days when the tour isn't going well. But you can make it easier on yourself — and others.

Don't be a jerk. Show consideration to everybody in the vehicle. Respect people's physical space, psychological quirks, and personal belongings. Keep yourself and your area clean. Empty the trash at every stop; you'll be surprised how fast it accumulates. If you smoke, keep it away from those who don't. Try to agree on how warm to keep the vehicle and how much fresh air to let inside.

Take turns. Rotate shifts behind the wheel and in the least comfortable seats. There aren't many distractions while you're driving, and if anyone feels uncomfortable or put upon, they have plenty of time to notice it and complain.

Work on your chops. You can spend driving time productively, running through vocal harmonies, memorizing chords or scales, and even practicing your instrument (if space allows). Develop your ear by listening to unfamiliar songs on the radio and calling out the changes. One of the best bands I played in had a rule that we had to listen to and critique a board tape of the previous night's show as soon as we started driving. It was a painful but effective process.

Keep yourself in shape. Although a cramped van or tour bus isn't normally thought of as a good place for exercising, consider doing isometrics (which require no external movement) or perhaps some finger exercises to stay limber and develop your muscles during long drives.

Try the cheap-shoe trick. If you are traveling in a vehicle with bunks, buy a pair of really cheap slippers (I use kung fu shoes) and keep them on the bus. Rather than struggling in your bunk with shoes and socks every time you stop, slip these on. It's much easier and quicker. I keep another pair in my suitcase for hotel use.

Into the Sunset

A little thought and planning can go a long way toward smoothing your path and saving stress and money on the road. I hope you find some of these tips helpful and I look forward to meeting you all out there — in truck stops, laundromats, hotel lobbies, or on the bill with me. So what time is sound check again?

Bronx resident Andy Bassford has written instructional material on reggae guitar, available from http://truefire.com/music_instruction/author/281, and tours with various acts, most notably reggae legends Toots and the Maytals. He also leads his own band, the Blue People (http://tourdates.launch.com/tdc/act/141349). E-mail Andy at abassford@yai.org.