TRAVEL POINTERS FOR THE YOUNG ARTIST

Often when an opportunity to travel arises for a young artist there is excitement.  Excitement to be travelling and performing at a new or unfamiliar stage and audience; excitement that one's work is finally being recognised.  It may be local, regional or international.

Having travelled and met with a plethora of mishaps, it is important that young artists take notes from their colleagues in the industry.  Asking around doesn't usually yield truthful results, some people are not willing to share bad experiences.

Travel can be tough for artists who do not have managers or agents or tour managers. Negotiating issues such as accommodation, air and ground transportation, visas, performance fees, per diems can be very tricky issues to those starting out. There is an excitement that comes with touring or performing at big stages that artists may overlook some of these important admin aspects. Seeing social media posts about connecting flights and exotic places visited by other artists may give the illusion that all is rosy.

It is important to ask the following questions:

• Is the host whether festival, organisation be paying for board, travel and local transport when artist arrives in the host country or town?
• For transport does the artist have a standard like fly only or they can travel by road.  Will there be someone to pick the artist up from the airport?  It is important to have contacts of the person responsible for transport for whatever event the artist will be attending.  Ensure that if the host is responsible for your transport that you have return tickets way in advance before you travel.

• For accommodation, does the artist have a standard, three star or four star hotel?  Here the artist must insist on knowing where they are booked before they travel.  Is it full board, bed and breakfast or just bed.  When travelling with a team/band always make sure that you provide gender breakdown to event organisers so that accommodation bookings are done accordingly. 

• Performance Fees, does the artist have a standard or it is negotiable with the host?
• Itinerary.  Is the artist expected to do more than just perform or exhibit?  Talks, workshops, press interviews?  It is important to have this information before hand so you can fully prepare yourself.
• How long is the set for performance?
• Ask what kind of  a venue you will be performing in then send technical rider  to host in time so that the necessary provisions are made to make sure the host is prepared for all technical requirements of the artist's performance.

Courtesy of

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• Per diems, being daily allowances paid to the artists for food and local transport.
• Publicity.  Who is responsible for publicity?  As an artist always have a press kit ready with press photos, short bio and recorded works or a portfolio of your work.

It is important to ask questions and get answers and proof of e.g accommodation bookings or flight bookings in time before your travel.  Sort out issues of visas should you require one for the country to be visited.

It is also important to know the basic information of area to be visited.  What is the weather like, language, basic greetings perhaps.  Research on the event so you are aware of what you are getting yourself into.  Is it an event you would like to be associated with?

In the beginning it is always to hard for many to negotiate terms.  Always have everything reduced to a contract signed by both parties.  It is professional so do not be afraid to have a standard contract just in case your host does not have one.

While the questions above are not exhaustive, I hope they may be a guide and assist those young artists who find themselves travelling for the first time and have no idea what to expect.