Glaringly obvious: The economy is in a tailspin right now. And, like Wotan at the end of Die Walküre, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Though many singers are already good at keeping a budget, the purse strings now have to be kept especially tight.
Living off $50 a week may seem a Herculean task. Yet with a bit of clever thinking and extra research, you’d be surprised at how richly you can live. Even with travel—one of the costliest components for every singer—there are deals to be had.
Fare Game
If you become meticulous about anything, make it your transportation costs—be they gas rates from Los Angeles to San Francisco or airfare from Chicago to Vienna. Do your research on which mode of transportation will be most cost effective. While you may not be able to keep this component of travel under $50 a week, you can still trim off a hefty amount of budgetary fat.
The good news for classical singers is that, while performance dates are unyielding, Europe’s low season stretches from October to April. So while a con of being a traveling singer is that your engagement dates are set in stone, the pro is that you can look for off-season discounts while staying within the performance schedules for most companies.
The Extra Mile
As Robyn Moreno writes in Practically Posh, “I recommend you be a mileage whore, and sign up for a program with every airline you fly.” If you are in the market for a new credit card, check out the Delta SkyMiles AmEx or the Virgin America Visa. Not only will you begin racking up miles when you book with those airlines, but for every purchase you make on the card (from sheet music to shoelaces), you’ll earn additional points.
Also, don’t automatically rule out flights that don’t reach your exact destination—a hefty discount on a round trip to Orlando and then a rental car or train or even bus to Miami may end up costing you less than the direct trip to MIA. Bookmark websites such as EuroCheapo.com, Yapta.com, or Kayak.com, which take care of the heavy research and offer up price comparisons with one quick click.
Plane, Train, or Automobile
When traveling within one continent, there are a myriad of choices beyond Continental versus JetBlue. As cost efficient as train or auto travel may seem in comparison to flying from Milan to Paris, keep in mind that Europe plays host to several budget airlines (including SkyEurope and easyJet) that offer fares as low as €1. Even after taxes and fees, you’re still only paying about €20-30 for a one-way flight. Ryanair is even working to offer flights from several major U.S. hubs to the U.K. and Ireland with coach seats as cheap as €10.
Always analyze the costs of train vs. auto vs. plane. Rail passes can seem daunting, but if you make full use of them for the allotted rides and within the specified time frame, you could end up paying around $40 per ride (rather than $120 per ride) with Amtrak, Eurail, or Japan Railways.
Craigslist is also a great resource for those in need of a lift. Its “rideshare” section allows drivers to post planned trips—and potential riders to post needed trips. If you’re willing to chip in a few bucks for gas or share the driving responsibilities, you can go from New York to Toronto, San Francisco to Seattle, or Los Angeles to Houston.
Hostel Territory
Contrary to horror flicks and teen travel comedies, hostels are actually clean, safe, and even luxe. Single and double rooms are available in many hostels across the globe, with prices from a half to a third that of their hotel counterparts.
Even cheaper is the option of couch surfing or house swapping (à la Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz in the flick The Holiday). Websites like Facebook and Craigslist offer groups and sections for one-time swaps. If you’re frequently on the road, the $100 fee for joining HomeExchange.com may be easily made up in a few months. ApartmentExchange.com and SabbaticalHomes.com offer similar services.
Thanks to the Internet, couch surfing has made a comeback in CouchSurfing.com where you’ll find a network of sofas, daybeds, and even guest rooms available for free. For those traveling with partners, it may not be ideal—but for solo singers, it’s a budget dream.
Eat, Drink, and Be Frugal
Another benefit to staying at a hostel or someone else’s house is the kitchen that comes with the territory. Not only do you save big on eating out, you can also soak up some local cuisine and culture in the grocery store. Make sure to also stock up on bottled water here, which (especially outside of the U.S.) can be marked up as high as 1,000 percent in restaurants and mini-bars.
If you’re staying in a hotel or facility without a kitchen, you can still be like artist Pablo Solomon: “We have found that even in the most expensive cities in the world that there are always delicatessens and bakeries in easy walking distance of most hotels. We love to get cheeses, olives, dolmas, etc., at the deli. Then get a fresh bread and a bottle of wine and eat in a park or some other spot with a great view and great people watching.”
When going out, check for bars that offer aperitifs or tapas gratis with the purchase of a drink. In some cities, this may be simple, greasy food—but in others, like Genoa, you’ll find a huge spread of local favorites for the price of a glass of wine. Another option is to pick up a local alt-weekly or do some advance research online to find gallery openings. You’ll get to embrace another art form (always good for a singer) and enjoy some free drinks and possibly some appetizers.
Max Out Your Carry-On, Not Your Credit Card
Those bottles of Tylenol, shampoo, and Pepto-Bismol in your medicine cabinet at home can go into small baggies, bottles, and pill cases. As long as you follow TSA requirements for your liquids, you can save tons of cash on toiletries and pharmaceuticals (especially if you’ve ever bought any of the above in an airport shop).
Overseas, invest in a mobile phone (or, if you have a quad-band U.S. cell phone, bring that along) and then purchase SIM cards (for about $10) in each country you visit. You’ll be able to talk without incurring astronomical roaming charges. Alternately, if you travel with a laptop, download Skype to make free calls from user-to-user or relatively inexpensive calls to landlines. Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato even uses the program with her webcam to take voice lessons while on the road.
Remember that you can receive a refund for most VAT (Value Added Tax) you pay overseas. While taxes in America are tacked on state-by-state, European taxes are included in the price you pay. However, if you are a non-EU citizen, you do not have to pay this tax. Some stores will automatically refund you the price on-site; otherwise, they will give you the necessary receipts and forms. For more information on VAT, go to GlobalRefund.com.
Finally, stay on top of your bank or credit card company. If, as with Bank of America, you are charged an additional 3 percent for every transaction made overseas (and more for ATM withdrawals), try taking out enough cash beforehand to last you through your entire trip in one go. A money-belt can keep your goods safe, and having all of your budget in hand will also help you to rationalize each purchase.
