| That cost problem sounds very familiar - even to those of us already in Europe.
I was on tour with a youth group over the summer and the parents were having to pay about £500 ($900 US, approximately) per student - that is combined with the fund raising that the band do.
We took the band over to the US in 2000 (Florida) and every student had to find just over £1000! For one family (three kids in the band) this was a serious financial struggle.
If you don't know about the area you are goiong (and especially if you are goiong to a country where you are not conversant in the language) a tour rep/guide is essential. If something goes wrong, they will deal with it (if they are any good). They can also (if persuaded nicely) act as a translator for any announcements during concerts.
The international air travel issue is certainly a new factor to be taken into account. The Arts organisation I do most of my work for is currently having a "crisis" meeting about what to do about tours - the combination of the air problems and the bad press that some tours (not ours) have received recently is making the powers that be contemplate whether we will be in a position to contijnue our tour schedule. I would be very upset if we were to lose it, they can be a great education for the students. |