- Field Day |
- Buildings Alive |
- Visions |
- CLGBT |
- Green Community |
- Fun & Free S#!T |
- Crossword |
- CL Space |
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Traveling to see music without losing your money (or your mind)
Posted by Leilani Polk on Wed, May 20, 2009 at 5:35 PM
For more Summer Guide stories about how to spend your summer vacation (or to read about the memorable summer-related experiences of other CL staffers, freelancers and interns), click here; picture below of me by Phil Bardi, taken at Langerado 2008.
Problem was, the three who joined me -- two of my girlfriends and a hottie musician I was unsuccessfully courting -- were unemployed, so the jaunt ended up being a 100-percent Leilani-sponsored affair. Worst of all, my crush turned out to be prudish, petulant and overall, a royal pain in the ass who, in less than 24 hours, had not only managed to alienate me, but made me lose interest in even continuing our friendship because I could no longer stand the sound of his voice.
Luckily, my feelings about music-motivated traveling weren’t affected since both the music and vacation parts were fabulous. But I learned much from the experience and the numerous experiences that followed. Here’s some wisdom I’ve gained over the years.
Favorite band not coming near you? Go to them.
Atlanta is an easy 8-hour drive, Athens a tedious 9, Asheville a scenic 11, New Orleans a long 12 to 13, but all four cities are road trip-worthy and are habitual stops for tours that don’t reach Florida. If the band you love isn’t playing in a theater anywhere near you, check their weekend dates and decide whether they occur in any cities that appeal to you. Then, check flights and keep a close eye on the cheap ones -- if the date is more than two months away, the cost could drop even more. If you happen to find seats priced so low they seem too good to be true, and you know for sure you want to go, get off your thumb and buy! And don’t disregard flights leaving St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and even Orlando. The extra driving may save you money in the end.
Never underestimate the power of preparation.
If you aren’t familiar with the city you’re visiting, do your research. Without it, you could end up at a hotel that’s in a nasty neighborhood or far away from everything, or you could rent a car and then leave it parked in a garage the entire time ‘cause you’re taking the train or walking everywhere, or you could pack for a balmy weekend only to find your destination in a late-season cold front. We have the internet, so for Pete’s sake, people, use it! Also, don’t scoff at checklists -- they are surprisingly helpful -- and always bring earplugs and/or headphones and a music listening device; you never know when you’re gonna need them.
Don’t do it alone.
As Phish likes to say, “It’s not an experience unless you bring someone along,” and it’s true. Music excursions are best when shared with friends.
But make sure to choose your travel companions wisely.
Don’t travel with anyone you don’t know very well, or someone you’re crushing on -- chances are, they’ll annoy you and/or disappoint you (see story above). If you invite friends and share expenses and possibly a room, make sure they are financially reliable, and that you can trust them alone with your stuff -- that’s a biggie.
If the show’s sold out, avoid scalpers at all costs.
Beware of the lure of festivals.
Don’t hit a festival because one or two bands appeal to you -- you’ll likely be let down as fest sets tend to be shorter, less inspired, and far less intimate than a show pretty much anywhere else. But fests can be a blast if you know what you’re getting into. Just make sure to find out: how many bands are scheduled to play on how many stages over how many days? How many of those bands do you really want to see? How long are the sets? How many people will be between you and the stage at any given moment? How much are tickets and does the price include camping? If not, how much out-of-pocket will it you cost to stay nearby? What other friends are of yours are going?
Hotels aren’t always the answer.
Most cities have short-term vacation rentals, condos or houses that are rented out for spans ranging from a night to a month. Vacation rentals are convenient if you’re traveling with a party of more than four, since they’re often the same price or cheaper than a hotel room, provide more space, and allow you to cook up family-style meals so you don’t waste money eating out every night. I suggest checking vacationrentals.com or vrbo.com for listings. Hotwire is a great resource for cheap, quality hotels if you don’t mind not knowing where you’re staying. And don’t disregard the ultimate money-saver: a campground.
Just because you have plans to see music doesn’t mean you can’t make plans to do other things, too.
You are on vacation, after all.
Comments (37)
Showing 1-37 of 37
Dont, forget having friends in other big cities is an advantage and a concert is a great excuse to go visit. I just recently went from tampa to NYC for about $200 round trip to to see fischerspooner and anal cunt( different nights of course). New York City is great if you have a free/cheap place to stay and plane tickets are relatively cheap. Not to mention that just about every artist makes a stop there.
like
dislikeYou are dead on. Staying with friends is the ultimate money saver (if they're the sort who like visitors).
Another way to see shows is to work for an airline and fly for free. I did that for a Phish show in London.
yeah couch surfing is fun i always like to visit relatives and sleep on their couch. i used to go to memphis all the time to see concerts back when memphis in may was actually good
you can enjoy the sports in winter with the north face coats you can enjoy the sports in winter with the north face jackets hwe
Thanks for the post! Sounds like fun, I'm glad you had a good time even though the company wasn't great.
so kind of to share this with us.It's a little pity that i am not the first to post a commnet here.But I am honor to join you guys to talk about this theme,share is very useful and helpful to the social development,am i right?
The columbia clothing are made of the best material. the cheapest columbia jackets on sale on our website.
DllErrorsFix.com offers DllErrorsFix Shareware. We currently provide software product, solutions, consulting services and technical support to individuals, businesses and non-profits so they can enjoy a better pc experience and protect sensitive information.DllErrorsFix is your complete one-stop resource for dll error fix and solutions.
EXErrorsFix is your complete one-stop resource for EXE error related information and solutions.Unwanted or problematic applications which cause program freezes, system lock-ups, slow performance.Fix exe error & boost speed by up to 200%, safely clean, repair and optimized your computer.
If you’re hoping to work out a traditional fairytale wedding ,your heart will probably be set alight by a new formal ball gown wedding dress style. The assured woman who loves to show off her stunning sense of fashion will love the trumpet /mermaid gowns
If you are a bride who has strong willing to show your personal sense of style, especially for your big day, you should be crazy of finding a unique bridal dress for the wedding. If you are a bride who is bored by searching and trying Cheap 2011 bridal gown with almost same color(white or ivory), same style(formal or informal), and even same choice, you need a unique wedding gown as surprise. Or if you as bride-to-be, together with your fiance, are planning on a celebration with unique wedding theme. Then should be probably prefer a unique bridal gown (LikeNew Design White Halter Ball Gown Wedding Dress)to make the event to be perfect!
Welcome to browse our website, welcome to use our product, please click on my user name.
I tried to think so, but i found it was not as the same in the actual process. As you mentioned, I still have doubts, but really thank you for sharing!
RUIZHI PACKING MACHINERY FACTORY offers bag making machine slitting machine, Packing Machine Manufacturer, Convex Composite Color Press Machine, Common Film Slitting Machine, Paper Machine Manufacturer, etc.
RUIZHI PACKING MACHINERY FACTORY offers slitting machine slitting machine, Packing Machine Manufacturer, Convex Composite Color Press Machine, Common Film Slitting Machine, Paper Machine Manufacturer, etc.
Fujinlong Machinery CO.,LTD. is a special thermoforming machines manufacturer located in Rui'an of China. Our company has professional technicians and the ability of designing & developing new products by ourselves. Presently, our main products include vacuum forming machine,sheet extrusion line, cup making machine and eps machinery.
Fujinlong Machinery CO.,LTD. is a special thermoforming machines manufacturer located in Rui'an of China. Our company has professional technicians and the ability of designing & developing new products by ourselves. Presently, our main products include vacuum forming machine, sheet extrusion line, cup making machine and eps machinery.
Cixi Jinchi Plastic & Rubber Electric Appliances Factory is specializing in the production of pdu socket, floor socket and mobile power outlet.
Yuyao Huaneng sanitary ware factory is specialized in production of plumbing fittings. 'Aige' sanitary ware series are well received not only by supporting factories but also customers both at home and abroad. The products are well sold at home and exported to the world as well.
Haisen Motor Tool Factory electric winch with high efficiency, low amp draw, sealed motors keep you off the road, our electric winch products are popular all over the world with high quality, competitive price, fast delivery and efficient service.
I found your blog via ws sign Google and I just wanted to say that I believe your writing is just stunning! Thanks again with regard to providing this content for free.
Hi, just required you to know I have added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your extraordinary blog layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I’ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.
Thing was, the sex wasn't mere fan-service. They really served the plot. As you pointed out, the relationship between Corky and Violet was a then-new (and still quite rare) twist on the typical femme fatale role. The sexuality wasn't there for show; it was clear that the characters were getting off for themselves, instead of the audience. And I gotta say, the buildup to the actual sex was just as intense as the scene itself. It displayed the different between a truly "adult" film and porn. It is kinda sad, and a bit ironic
ILoveOnSale offers various kinds of wedding dresses, such as Tee-length Wedding Dress,A-line Wedding Dresses,Ball Gown Wedding Dresses,Empire Waist Wedding Dresses,etc. And it also offers special occasion dress through B2C platform. Customers can visit our website and purchase at any time from any places.A-line Wedding Dresses,cosplay customs
Tree of life, open a flower, blossom in your arms, repressed in my heart.Air Jordan 2 Air Jordan 3
Author Archives
-
New Music Tuesday! (January 17) 1
Guided by Voices, Steve Aoki, The Duke Spirit & more (w/audio & video)
-
Local Spotlight/Record Review: Palantine, Bruise Your Illusion
- More »
