A young friend of mine, weary from several weeks of YAP audition travel and suffering from tendinitis (having hauled around two overstuffed suitcases), moaned, “How do you seasoned travelers do it?” Even as my mind shifted into professorial mode, it flashed back to my own early career and the number of times I actually sent bursting-at-the-seams suitcases home via UPS. It took a while to master the art of traveling light, and even now I can’t say I always manage to do it. But we singers need every ounce of energy and every extra penny, especially these days. With airlines charging for checked luggage, it’s in our best interest to save our money (and our backs!) wherever we can. Forthwith: Erda’s Guide to Traveling Light.
Getting Organized
The more often you travel, the more tiresome packing becomes. You can minimize the effort by spending a little time organizing at home. I have spreadsheets for both short and longer trips, with lists of the different standard items that must be packed in checked luggage, the carry-on I don’t plan to access during the flight, and the carry-on I do plan to access (rolling briefcase). I make up little packets of disposable toiletries for short trips. I have a duplicate set of rollers, a travel-size hair dryer, and a mini-umbrella. During the busiest season, I just keep a carry-on semi-packed with these items so all I have to do is add the appropriate clothing.
Pack It In
For a short trip, I typically pack the following in the (non-briefcase) carry-on:
My audition dress, which is stretch knit and doesn’t wrinkle much if it’s folded well.
My audition heels in a bag, stuffed with pantyhose, socks, and underwear.
A pair of very thin nylon capris and a thin long-sleeved t-shirt which serve as loungewear/PJs.
Three non-fussy tops.
My travel-size curlers.
Assorted toiletries in mini bottles or sample sizes (each bottle must be 3 oz. or less and all must fit in one quart-size Ziploc bag to comply with current TSA guidelines—see next month’s “Traveling Right” column for more details), including a sample-size bottle of fabric refresher.
A warm hat.
A compact makeup palette—Sephora has a number of them for sale around Christmas. Last year I got one from Tarte that is about the size of a deck of cards, and contains two palettes of eye, cheek, and lip looks as well as mascara and brushes. This year I got a bigger one, but I prefer the deck-of-cards size.
A tiny umbrella.
In my briefcase, I bring my computer, PDA, digital recorder, phone, and appropriate cords—as well as music, snacks, and “toys” to keep me entertained on the plane. For short trips, don’t waste suitcase space and weight on hair dryers and travel irons. Hotels will have them in the room or available for check-out at the front desk. A guy obviously doesn’t need all the makeup and toiletries, so he might get away with a garment bag with his suit, and a small carry-on for shoes, toiletries, and clothing.
A word about toiletries: Unless you absolutely, positively must have your special facial cleanser or shampoo, don’t bother taking up space with these items. They’re a hassle at security, they take up space and add weight and, frankly, you can live without them for a couple of days. Hotels offer all kinds of sample-size amenities, including toothpaste and toothbrush, shaving cream, razors, and shoeshine kits. You may have to ask for these items at the front desk. Of course, in the room you can expect to find soap, shampoo, and hand lotions.
You can also pick up different free samples at places like Sephora and Whole Foods, and sometimes even department stores. I stock up on samples whenever I come upon them—and then if I’m traveling somewhere I don’t expect to have amenities, I take those, use them up, and throw out the remains before packing for home. I make up little travel packets in advance, so all I have to do is toss one in the suitcase.
If you’ll be on the road for a while, take one or two small “comfort” items to make you feel at home. I always bring a photo of my husband and dogs, as well as a few scarves that can be worn or used to brighten up a dull living space. Bring some spices you like to cook with in Ziploc bags, and get extras of your prescriptions or bring copies so you can easily get them refilled on the road. Wait until you get to your destination to buy anything that you will use up and not have to take home, but bring things that can be a hassle to track down, like stamps and quarters for the laundry. And you can buy toiletries when you arrive, so just pack the minimum you need for comfort (in samples or travel sizes) should you be delayed in acquiring them.
Don’t bring full scores unless you need them. For your arias, make photocopies and keep them in a binder. And be sure to bring a few “party pieces” as well—you never know when you will need to whip one of those out! Also make sure you always have extra copies of headshots, résumés, and bios on hand. I keep a keychain hard drive with these items so that I can have them printed anywhere. In a pinch I can direct someone to my website where they can download them, but I also take a few hard copies just in case.
What to Wear
For short trips, you can get away with very little. For travel, I wear jeans and whichever top is the bulkiest, as well as a pashmina for warmth on those chilly planes. Layers are always a good idea, since you can remove or add them as needed. In the winter, you can carry your coat on the plane—it doesn’t count as luggage.
Unless you’re headed for subzero temperatures, you don’t need a bunch of bulky sweaters in the winter. Bring one warm cardigan and several thinner layers to go under, and wear the cardigan on the plane. If I feel I really need a second pair of pants, I usually bring a pair of black knit slacks that don’t take much room. If it’s cold out, I wear tights underneath. It’s easier in warm weather when you can pack lighter-weight clothes. But one of the tricks of the seasoned traveler is to learn to improvise and adapt, and layers will help you do this.
At the end of each day, I spray down my jeans and underpinnings with a fabric refresher and hang them up to air out. This works fine for a couple of days. Keep the color palette all in the same family so your outfits are all mix-and-match. Rinse stuff out in the sink as needed.
For a weekend trip, a good rule of thumb is a pair of everyday jeans, a nicer pair of jeans or slacks, three shirts that can be dressed up or down with accessories, and perhaps one skirt or dress for women or a dressier shirt and tie for men. Take one pair of good walking shoes and one pair of dressier shoes. Importantly, travel-friendly fabrics that don’t need ironing or special care will make your trip much more enjoyable and hassle free.
For a longer trip, here is my best piece of advice: pack more underwear than you think you need, and fewer outfits. You can make do with a lot less than you think, and when you’re hauling your stuff through the airport making connections, you’ll be really glad you did.
While you need to look glam from time to time at a singing gig, on a day-to-day basis you will do just fine with jeans or slacks. Use the same principles as you would for a short trip: Build around a neutral color palette with a few pops of coordinating color and choose easy-care basics that can be accessorized. A woman should be able to manage with two pairs of jeans, a pair of slacks, a skirt or two, and a dress or two, as well as a blouse or sweater for every day of the week. Men can get away with two pairs of jeans, a pair of slacks, seven everyday shirts, one or two dress shirts and ties, and one nice jacket.
As for glam clothes, here’s the secret. Unless you are doing a YAP or gig where you’ll need concert attire, you will do well with two nice outfits. You need one for interviews and other non-formal publicity events such as lunch with the board or a daytime singing gig. Think “sharp” rather than dressy. A great sweater and slacks, or classy jeans with a snappy shirt for guys; a pretty dress, skirt/blouse combo, or pants outfit for women. Choose wisely and this outfit can also be a party-goer for the less fancy affairs. You also need one cocktail outfit for the parties. I use my audition dress, which can be dressed up or down a little with accessories. And if I have the opportunity to do an audition while I’m on the gig, I’m set.
As with anything, traveling expertise develops with experience. You’ll discover what you must have and what you can live without. But it’s better to have a little too much than not quite enough, and you can always ship stuff home if you find you’ve seriously over packed. Inform yourself about your living situation, climate, and activities for your trip. Organize as much as you can ahead of time. Lay out everything you want to take, and then edit.
You’ll get the hang of it (eventually). Happy trails!
