The Good Musician

10 essentials for a successful concert tour abroad

by csnowden on June 22nd, 2008

Photo by The Good Musician

The Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble (AVAE) recently completed a ten day concert tour of Central Europe. Under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Sheppard, twenty some-odd singers and various kids, moms, and significant others flew from Houston to Budapest, Hungary, with a short layover in London Heathrow Airport. Destinations included Szent Endre, Hungary; Bratislava, Republic of Slovenia; Prague, Czech Republic; Meissen, Dresden, Leipzig, and Frankfurt, Germany. We’ll examine each destination in a series of posts.

What does the Good Musician take along for a whirlwind experience of a lifetime? Well, the packing process begins well before departure, taking care of obligations and making preparations. Here are ten essentials for a successful singing trip abroad.

Week prior to departure:

1. You did make sure your passport was up to date, didn’t you? If not, you are SOL.
2. Pay bills due while you’re gone–don’t want to come home to an oven-hot house and dead plants or pets.
3. Arrange for pet/house/plant sitters, hold mail or have someone pick up.
4. Contact your bank, credit card companies to let them know to expect charges from overseas.
5. Currency–traveler’s cheques are not widely accepted in Central Europe. ATM cards are the most convenient way to get coin of the realm in any country. Euros are fine in Germany and the Czech Republic, iffy in Hungary and Slovenia (converting to euros in January, 2009). Most exchange places charge tax and/or a commission. BUYER BEWARE! Be sure you know what you’re getting before signing off–even the police can’t help you if you find an error after you’ve agreed to the exchange. We’ll look more closely at currency in a future post.
6. Review the airport security regulations re: liquids, what you are and aren’t allowed to carry on the plane. Can’t take your bottle of water, but you can take an empty bottle and fill up at a water fountain after you’ve cleared security!
7. Research your destinations and respect local customs. Good Musicians are musical ambassadors at all times, in every situation.
8. MAKE A LIST of items you absolutely must take, including official papers, guides, clothing, medications, toiletries, shoes, incidentals, music/folder, concert wear, luggage (including a small, soft pouch or bag to keep your passport, money, and other small valuables on your person). Then stick to your list!
9. Copy your itinerary, passport number, important phone numbers, emergency contact, and other personal information, and leave with a trusted relative or friend.
10. Pack lightly–you will have to schlep your own luggage, and it invariably gets heavier as you go along.

Next: The Good Musician packs for the trip.

POSTED IN: Baroque, Choral, Classical, Romantic, music history, musicology