No one's very surprised when they tap on my Instagram story and I'm posting a Boomerang of a band on stage. People are even less surprised when the location I'm tagging isn't even the city I live in, but rather somewhere hours away. What people are surprised about it how I manage to finance all this adventure despite my constant grumblings that "I'm broke".
My friends are constantly asking me how I manage. The truth is that it's not easy. Money has always been a point of constant anxiety for me. I didn't grow up with a cushy lifestyle and I never could have imagine I'd get to live the life I do. When I first started going to shows like this, it was only small local ones and if they were bigger, we'd scrap together money for Groupon seats.
If you know me now, though, I'm front row and living my best life... or even better you can sometimes catch me backstage.
Here's how I do it:
1. WORK
Things have never just came to me, I've had work for them. Honestly, I currently have multiple part time jobs and do anything I can to make ends meet. I rarely have my parents pay for my concerts and traveling because I'd be too ashamed to ask. As an adult in college, it's not their job to pay for this sort of thing... it's mine.
So, I work as many hours as possible and don't stop. In fact, I even have a side hustle working with a hair care business.
2. Make that work remote!
Part of being able to afford these shows is being able to hold down a job. The problem is if you go to as many shows as I do, you tend not to have time to show up to work. When you're always on a train or plane, how are you supposed to be standing at a retail job?
What I've learned is to make as many aspects of your life remote. In 2019 you need to take advantage of the online world we're living in. Most of the jobs I work are online with flexible or at least semi-flexible hours. Luckily for me, the nature of these jobs makes that possible.
I can post on social media for one of my jobs from anywhere with reception or WiFi.
So, that's what led me to decide it was time to join this hair care thing. I run my own business and decide where/when I do it. I'm guilty of working during a show (between acts of course!) and when we're in our hotel room trying to hang out. But that's what makes me able to live this life. (FYI- If you want to take back your life and join me, feel free to DM me!).
3. stop going out lol
The same people that are envious of the way I live are the ones who get mad when I decline a night out. Instead of wasting my money on a nice dinner, I choose to travel. Right now is the best time for me to be experiencing the world because as much as I don't have the time to, I have more of it now than I ever will.
So, every time I decline your invite out, it's nothing personal. It's just that I measure my spending in concert tickets. One night out can be $50 to $100 depending on our game plan. If I play my cards right, that's two or three shows right there.
Even midday shopping adventures are not for me. As much as I love wandering SoHo, I mostly just enjoy the photoshoots. The last thing I want to do is blow my budget on a new bag or shoes. I don't even have room in my dorm to store these and the money could be four or five tickets.
4. go with friends.
Making any trip cheap means splitting it. Anything from gas to hotel rooms can be divided among your friends. Suddenly a $100 hotel room is only $25 each if you throw four of you in there.
Rather than taking a plane, a road trip where you split the gas is often just so much cheaper and only gives you more time for memories. If you want something like this, you can make it possible, it just takes a little finessing.
This being said, make sure you can trust whoever you're going with. Wherever this much money is involved, you'll need to be ready to Venmo each other the correct amount. Everyone in your party needs to be able to pay-up when their time comes and you have to be open enough with them to tell them that.
5. prioritize
I want to throw this in here for a minute. At the end of the day, your money can't go 100% to the next gig. Save a bit of it for future: college, your apartment, or really anything. What I've really learned lately is that while I love what I do, I'm so thankful that I have some sort of self control.
Prioritize your money. The more you invest into yourself now, the more you'll be able to do in the future. You can't blow all your savings on one summer, you'll never be able to make it to the next. Be smart.
Also, trust me, I get not being able to go to something because you can't afford it. That's how I was for most of my life. It sucks, but let that drive you to work hard-- that's what I did. I moved to New York City and haven't looked back. I'm in the heart of the excitement and I love that. I'm so glad I saved up while in high school because now that I'm an adult I have the ability to do so many amazing things.
6. play the promo code game
My best friend and I are guilty of sending each other links back and forth. You know the ones: "sign up and get $20 off your first purchase!" and then the person who sent it to you also gets $20. Well, we use those all the time.
Since we travel together frequently, it all really works out, too. When I book something, she gets a voucher for the next thing, which we'll use eventually. We hoard them in our arsenal for whenever hotel prices are over inflated or we just can't manage to book the right bus trip.
Beyond that, though, write down every promo code you run across. Some Youtuber promoting a new brand you've never heard of it? Write it down. You never know when you'll need a new concert 'fit or when an extra $5 for an Uber will make or break you.
Also, if you somehow haven't, download Honey as a Google Chrome extension. Click here to get set up! This extension automatically applies promo codes and checks for the best one. If it can't find one, it'll often give you a little cash back anyway. Quite the lifesaver, especially when travelling.
7. make it professional
The main way I've personally been able to do what I do is that I have a vision. I want to go into journalism and so this has become my career. As dumb as it sounds, making this such a big part of my life is what has given me the drive to stay on track and keep on top of my finances.
These tips aren't foolproof. It's not a perfect formula. Realistically, you'll need to learn to tell yourself 'no' more often than not. The experiences you'll have, though, are worth it. I'm so grateful that I can live my life like this. Every show is truly quite an experience and I'd never trade it for the world.
If you ever want tips or want help making some money, you know where to find me.
Yours,
Alex
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