Everyone
should carry his/her own stuff. If you can’t
carry it for a five mile trek, then don't take it.
Everyone should pay for himself/herself at all times.
It's too confusing to figure out whose turn it is to
buy, so don’t. Split the costs of all food,
housing, travel, beer, etc. right down to the cost of
tolls and the shared newspaper. Elect someone as
treasurer who'll keep a running tally on expenses,
and who hopefully has a good grasp of long-division.
Having an "up-front" conversation about
finances always improves your chances of having a
successful tour. Don’t leave anything out.
Everyone should be able to speak openly about their
concerns regarding finances or any other matter.
Share responsibilities such a map reading, making
reservations, changing money, getting train tickets,
getting your local "busking" pass, etc.
Some of us are naturally more eager to take charge
while others may be inclined to follow the desires of
the group. It's true that while you’ll see many
different and cool cities, these places can be a bit
intimidating if you don’t know the language
and/or have no experienced guide with you who can
show you around. And every city is, indeed, different
- complete with its own systems and customs. However,
we have found that much of the real experience and
fun of travelling abroad comes by fully participating
in those routines of daily life i.e. changing money,
getting a room for the night, ordering tickets,
figuring out what bus or train to take, and general
city orientation, etc. The more you do it, the better
you’ll get at it. So don’t shy away from
taking your part in tour responsibilities. You’ll
be surprised just how "less foreign" and
intimidated you’ll feel once you’ve played
a few gigs in two or three towns.
While most Europeans have a decent grasp of English,
as a performer, you don’t want to come across as
an arrogant prat who expects everyone else to bow to
his perceived ignorance of languages. Any polite
attempt at speaking a few local phrases will go a
long, long way towards warming up the crowd to you
and your music as well as adding a few Euros to your
hat. By the way, speaking English loudly does NOT
constitute the speaking of a foreign language.
If anyone is separated from the group for less than a
day, then return to the hotel/hostel to re-group. If
one is separated for more than one day, then be sure
to have a mutual contact phone number/person in your
home country who can serve to shuttle messages
between you.
Each of you will have different interests, energy,
appetites, etc., so it’s usually a good thing to
allow for the splitting up of the group for an
afternoon every few days. You don’t want to be
at each other’s throats as to what to do or
where to play or eat. Most importantly, don’t
take too personally anything that may be uttered when
scaling the steps of your nineteenth museum or
castle.
Make a real effort to practice your music or craft
for at least two hours each morning (but don’t
wake up the neighbours!). You'll be tempted to go,
go, go all day to see as many museums, galleries,
churches, parks, and villages that you can. This
tendency will unfortunately have a bearing on your
energy level when it comes time to perform. So, if
you’re going to Europe to sightsee, then do
that. But if you’re going to Europe to perform,
then it's imperative that you save time each day to
practice and to be energized to perform. You’re
body and your audience will appreciate your
dedication.
Eat as healthfully as you can (i.e. try not to
over-indulge on French Roast coffee, Swiss
Chocolates, German Beer, or Italian Pasta). Your
stomach and friends will thank you for it. Try to eat
a decent amount of veggies and fruits. These help to
maintain your digestive equilibrium.
When
abroad, most travellers commonly complain of
digestive problems, even when eating fairly decent
foods. You can eat healthfully without going broke by
shopping at the markets where the locals shop and by
buying fruits and veggies, meats and other items that
can be beneficial to maintaining your stamina and
overall happiness.
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