What I’ve Learned On Tour…
LIFE-LESSONS FROM THE ROAD: A 21-STEP-PRIMER, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
1) Pack light… or as lightly as you can… you WILL accumulate stuff, and since you will be the one dragging it all over the country, be mindful that every week you’ll be having your bags weighed, and baggage charges are the work of the devil.
2) Shopping is NOT a form of entertainment. Resist! Resist! Resist!! Besides weighing down your luggage (see #1), once you’ve seen one Massive Mall of Galleria Proportions, you’ve seen them all. You didn’t take this road gig so you could live out of suitcases and miss your loved ones JUST so you could get another pair of strappy sandals. There’s plenty of other stuff to do, which brings me to:
3) Try to really see the city you’re in! Even the littlest, dingiest towns have one or two hotspots… or even just places of interest. It’ll help you remember your trip if every week doesn’t just look like the inside of a hotel room or restaurant… and you’ll be able to tell your friends that you visited the Houdini Museum in Appleton, Wisconsin or spent a night in a log cabin in the woods in Breckenridge, Colorado. Think outside the box, too. Not just Museums, but historic places, nifty architecture, boat rides, etc. Some people “collect” certain activities, like visiting Presidential Libraries or Frank Lloyd Wright houses. Look in the local guide books or “Where” magazine in your hotel room. Even if you spend $15 to get in, you’ll have a day’s worth of entertainment, and you’ll have spent less money than you would have at the Mall…
4) Save your money… it’s going to be a long trip, and you will be reminded over and over that this is not a Vacation, it’s Work. If you have something to show for it when it’s over, it’ll be worth the months and sometimes years away from your home and friends. Here are some good tricks:
– – – – – – – a) Pick a couple of nights per week to stay in and catch up on Letterman … those hotel bars are expensive, and even just a couple of drinks every night will really add up.
– – – – – – – b) PUT MONEY INTO YOUR 401K!! It’s pre-tax, and your take-home pay will not be significantly diminished, even if you put in a good chunk every week. You’ll thank me when you’re 65.
– – – – – – – c) Share a room whenever possible, and bank the rest of your per diem.
– – – – – – – d) A Fridge and Microwave in your room will help you save leftovers (pizza for breakfast… yummm) and help you skip expensive breakfasts. Every CVS or local Drug store carries peanut butter, cereal and milk these days… take advantage.
– – – – – – – e) When picking hotels, the ones with kitchens are often preferable… but keep in mind the ones with complimentary breakfast as well…
– – – – – – – f) Assess your hotel’s amenities. The allure of the fancy chain hotel is great, but you’ll often get more “freebies” at the lower end ones – Free internet, Free Phone, Free Breakfast, Free Happy Hour, bigger rooms, if you can believe!
– – – – – – – g) Set a Savings Goal every week and stick to it. Even if it’s just a little bit at first, like $100. per week if you can spare it; you can raise the amount later. Set up a separate Tour Savings account. Join the Actors’ Federal Credit Union: Very low minimum balances, great perks like free online billpay, good rates on Mortgages and CD’s. I like the eMax account, which gives you a higher interest rate just for using the other AFCU services. When you watch the balance go up, it will inspire you to keep saving!
– – – – – – – h) Pay Off Your Debt: Make a schedule of payments, and set a date for when you will be finished. When that goal’s been met, then raise the amount you put into your separate Tour Savings account… I like to put my paycheck into my regular Savings account, not Checking… just the exercise of having to transfer money into my checking makes me more conscious of my spending.
5) Keep it together… Remember, this is a job. It is your Job. IT IS YOUR JOB! And every hour of every day, you are, in some way, at work, not just at rehearsal or on stage. Someone is always looking over your shoulder… especially on Travel Day: at the airport, checking into the hotel, at the airport cocktail lounge… Try not to have a tantrum, even if your luggage was lost, you missed your connecting flight or you are seated on a plane next to the stinkiest family with the screaming triplets. You may not always succeed -we all have bad days- but try to comport yourself with decorum. Everyone in the company is in the same boat, and your problems probably aren’t more important than theirs… and remember, we’re all going to the same place, so being pushy with your fellow company members doesn’t win you friends, either.
6) Know what your Travel Day needs are: If you’re prone to motion sickness, get down to the bus early enough to get a front seat. If you get cranky when you haven’t had enough to eat, then pack a lunch or a PowerBar for the trip. (I always travel with dried fruit and nuts) Pack an empty bottle to fill after you’ve gone through security. Bring a sweater for the plane, and wear layers so you can remove clothing without being indecent… anything to keep you from Breaking Down… Have a good book or DVD on hand – anything to keep you distracted when things aren’t running smoothly. Remember, most of what happens on Travel Day is out of your hands…the only thing you have control over is yourself, so try to stay calm and happy. (btw, there are airports with little Massage Chairs… those go a long way toward travel sanity!!)
7) Just because you were getting sloppy with the Stage Manager last night… doesn’t mean that he / she isn’t your Boss!! Even when you’re on your “own time” there are eyes on you 24 hours a day — even in the ‘privacy’ of your hotel room. Walls are thin, and people love to talk…There’s nothing better than a scandal… I’m begging you… at least try to keep your private life private. PS- there are NO SECRETS on tour – somebody knows… ’nuff said.
8) Stay In Shape! It’s really easy to let yourself get soft, what with the late-night snacking, and those tempting Cinnabons at every rest stop. And step away from that stash of chocolates in the SL prop box!! I get it… you work late and you’re really hungry after the show. I once got a great piece of advice: Eat your snack at intermission. You’ll burn it off in the 2nd Act and you won’t feel ravenous at 11pm. You also won’t feel so bloated before bed and you’ll cut down on the acid in your stomach. Nowadays, there’s usually a great gym available in almost every city, so try to take advantage of that. If treadmills aren’t your cup of tea, then walk as much as possible… find a pool… put on those trainers and run…! Try to stay in shape, ‘cuz you’ll have to audition when the tour’s over. Even if you have understudy rehearsal every week, you still have enough free time to devote to your health…probably more free time than you do at home. It’s usually nearby – sometimes right in the hotel – and it’s usually cheap. I forgot to follow my own advice on this tour, and I’m paying for it now… regrettable, but certainly a life-lesson for the future.
9) Know the Contract you’re working on… it’ll help you when you need to address issues and questions. There are copies of almost every Equity contract online these days, so you can download and keep it on your computer if something comes up and you need answers in the middle of the night. Don’t be afraid to ask your Deputy – better yet, volunteer to be the Deputy… it’s a much easier job these days… (anyone remember those time sheets and weekly reports? Arrgh…!) and you’ll be amazed how much you’ll learn. ***DEPUTIES!! Do Not Approach Management!! That is not your responsibility. You’re the facilitator, not the Sheriff. Read the rule book and call Equity… Your Union will handle it… Your Rep is much more experienced at protecting people’s privacy (a HUGE issue) and dealing with the bigger picture and more delicate issues.
10) Stay in touch with Real People. Call people in the cities you’re visiting… even if you haven’t seen them since High School. Facebook is an amazing thing – post your itinerary and old friends will pop out of the woodwork! You’ll get to spend quality time with people you haven’t seen in ages! Use the travel as an opportunity to connect with extended family and long lost friends… At first, it might feel a little weird, but you’ll get some real-life perspective and probably see parts of the city you would have otherwise missed.
11) Be nice to the Hotel people, especially the Housekeepers… They’re probably being paid less than minimum wage, and in some instances, won’t get paid if they don’t clean your room. (seriously… they can be ‘docked’ a half hour’s pay for each room they don’t clean!) Don’t forget to tip… usually at LEAST $2.00 per day. It’s deductible.
12) Be kind to your Company Managers. They are working their collective tushies off to find you good hotels, restaurants, flights… Like you, they have to deal with every airport delay, every bad hotel room, every border crossing, every late bus and late payroll/mail envelope… most of which are out of their control, too – and they have to deal with it for up to 100 people at a time. I don’t know how they do it… Buy them drinks and gifts whenever you can… they deserve it.
13) Keep track of your receipts and expenses as you go along… don’t wait until the following April 15th to dig them up… there’ll be many tears… Get a good Theatre Accountant, or better still, use VITA at Equity. They’re theatre professionals, just like you, and they understand exactly what your tour-life is all about. Just a reminder, they’re volunteering their time for you, so be good to them as well… And if you volunteer at VITA, they’ll teach you everything you need to know to about doing taxes… The gift that keeps on giving!!
14) Lock up your valuables…seriously… at the Theatre AND at the Hotel… or better still, don’t bring them with you on the road… If you can’t live without it, then keep it with you as often as possible. And be prepared for the Airlines to lose your luggage… your personal/carry-on is for the stuff that you can’t risk losing, even for one day. (computer, jewelry et al…)
15) Just because you’re on the road, doesn’t mean that your Real Life disappears… With Facebook and other electronic calendars it’s easier than ever to remember Birthdays, Anniversaries and other special occasions that you will probably have to miss because you’re in Spokane or Calgary… Send cards, call often, just writing on someone’s Wall makes a difference… Staying in touch is easier than ever, so don’t get so wrapped up in the tour that you forget what came before. Your people miss you…
16) And speaking of calling… Skype is fantastic when the Internet is strong at the hotel. I’m a big fan of Skype, iMessage and screen sharing. I wouldn’t have survived this tour with a new husband at home if I couldn’t see his sweet face and hear his voice a zillion-skillion times a day! But don’t use up all of your cell phone daytime minutes if you don’t have to… Overages are another tool of the devil.
17) If one doesn’t already exist, start a Company Lending Library… be nice to one of your Crew people… they’ll usually travel it for you. You’ll spend far less on books, and you won’t have to lug them with you all year. You’ll also have a chance to get recommendations and discuss the latest publications. We even started a book club at my latest job and it’s been a great way to get to know people outside of work.
18) For other thoughts about Comportment, I highly recommend Michael Wex’s How to Be a Mentsh, (& Not A Schmuck). It’s a terrific treatise on morality, wrapped up in a wicked sense of humor… You’ll laugh your arse off and maybe even get inspired!
19) BE ON TIME for Travel Days!! EVERYBODY had to wake up at the crack of dawn, not just you – so nobody’s cutting you any slack. Get a hotel wake-up call, set your phone to chime, get a reliable alarm clock. When you’re late, you’re holding up the whole group. Also, be on time for your entrances, sound checks and rehearsals… (Professional theatre Do’s & Don’ts is another list, but it bears repeating…)
20) Keep Breathing … Pick your Battles…. and whenever possible, sleep on whatever’s driving you mad. This too shall pass…
21) Find a way to stay grateful… you’ve got a good job while many of your friends are still auditioning. It’s sometimes tough, but there are so many things to enjoy! Have a great time!! Tours are an amazing opportunity to see the country, make some money, make new friends, spend some quality time with old friends and get to know yourself.
Have a great trip!!!