[[rock]] [[ewt]] [[hard place]]

[ewt]

I need to borrow your brains, people.

My parents want me to visit Canada in the summer. Specifically, there is a Pippin family reunion thing that I should go to, so postponing until sometime in autumn isn't going to be an effective solution.

Mostly, this is okay - I haven't seen my dad in ages, I haven't seen my brother in even longer. I do want to go. And, well, most of my piano students stop for the summer, so I won't be losing much income there. They want shevek to come as well, at this point I think that's going to be unlikely as he isn't just now able to make a commitment to something six months in advance, I'd love him to come of course but that is another matter. Anyway my dad in particular really wants me to come, and has offered to pay for my ticket with air miles - but I need to be able to set up dates Very Soon for this to happen.

But, the busking thing. Last summer I did nine or ten pitches a week, sometimes more, and earned myself a pretty penny due to it being peak tourist season. I'm doing a full-time degree which involves a lot of practical work that is difficult to slide around (ie if I have a rehearsal I have a rehearsal, and I have to practice every day, I can't just do eight hours of studying on one day and then none for a few days), and this means I don't busk a lot during term-time - two or three pitches a week, really, and not always during times that are the best times to play, and term time and peak tourist season don't collide. So, summer is my main money-making opportunity of the year and I really REALLY can't afford to take a few weeks off to visit Canada. I'll still have to pay rent while I'm away, and I'll lose in the neighbourhood of £200 in income for every week that I'm gone (rent for a single room in a shared house in Greenwich is likely to be around £100/week, to give you some idea of how expensive London is). I want to go to Canada, but taking ANY time off completely screws my "busk lots all summer and save up for the rest of the year" plan. It also means I'll need to have the money for rent (and anything else I have to pay while I'm gone, like utilities) in advance of travelling, which could be a pretty tight squeeze considering I'll have to move at either the beginning or the end of summer (more likely the beginning at this rate) and pay a deposit on wherever I move to.

Going to either of my parents (some in Ontario, some in Saskatchewan) for less than a week or two is going to be pointless for reasons of jetlag. I'll also have to contend with jetlag on the way back - I find it takes me at least three or four days to recover after travelling east (going west isn't so bad). So I'm looking at three weeks MINIMUM that I won't be busking, possibly more like four or five. And, well, if I'm going all that way it might be nice to visit some of the other people I know in Canada and that travel will cost money, and it might be nice to go out for a cup of tea or a meal with friends now and then, and while I don't currently have any huge things I wish to buy from Canada I can't really leave spending money out of the calculation.

Doing some work in Canada might be one option. The exchange rate doesn't work in my favour, though, and even after exchange all things (including labour) are cheaper there. I'd probably have to work about 100 hours a week to earn what I'd earn by busking in London, and this isn't sensible by any stretch of the imagination.

So, any ideas on how to get an extra £600 to £1000 would be greatly appreciated. Then I could go, and not have to worry so much.

EDIT: Basically if I started saving this week I would be looking at needing to earn an extra £25 to £42 every week in order to save enough to make up the lost income by the time I go. I'm struggling to make ends meet as it is.

FURTHER UPDATE: I'm definitely going, and have been assured that what costs I can't cover because of the loss of income will be taken care of. I need to choose me some dates, and leave enough time either side for househunting/moving/et cetera. Of course if any of you still have ideas for earning the extra cash I would be delighted to have them!

Comments

[561.livejournal.com]

Pie in the sky idea, probably not possible at short notice but it is all my brain came up with so far:

You could try and get some sponsership for the second year of your degree. Now, I know that this might not actually be feasible at short notice but I know someone who raised all her fees for a masters in music of some form (performing I think). She did this by writing letters to charities/organisations who specifically look to sponser young musicians.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

I'm doing these calculations based on renewal of my scholarship from this year (which pays all my fees). If I get other sponsorship then I have to give up that scholarship, so it would have to be for more than just fees to be worthwhile. Getting sponsorship for living expenses while doing an undergraduate degree is hugely unlikely (at least from what I've seen on noticeboards etc here), but I will give it further consideration.

[spiralflames.livejournal.com]

tell it to your dad exactly like you told it to us- that you'd love to come, but summer is when you make most of your income- which translates into, 'this is what i made last summer, and if you want me to be there, you'll have to front me the money i would lose by not working.' either he'll write you a check, or he'll understand why you can't be there.

parents in the world? the idea of your kids supporting themselves and Being independent works both ways-- you don't have to pay for them for most things, but that also means they still have to pay for themselves when YOU want them to come home for sentimental reasons.

[kake]

Going to either of my parents (some in Ontario, some in Saskatchewan) for less than a week or two is going to be pointless for reasons of jetlag. [...] And, well, if I'm going all that way it might be nice to visit some of the other people I know in Canada

It depends on what the point of the exercise is. If it's to go to this reunion and thus make your family happy, then you could surely get away with a short visit. If it's to go see people in Canada and spend a relaxed time there and thus make yourself and your Canadian friends happy then you could surely put it off until you can afford it.

It sounds a bit like you're in the kind of headspace I get into sometimes where someone asks me to change one bit of code and I think "oh, it's not worth doing that on its own; I'd better fix this other bug too, oh and while I'm here I'll fix up that documentation and I CAN'T POSSIBLY DO THIS IN LESS THAN A WEEK" when making just the actual change that was asked for would take half an hour, and was be plenty good enough to satisfy the original demand.

(I hope this doesn't come across as criticism; you asked to borrow some of my brain and that's the bit that looked most useful.)

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Going to the reunion is only one part of making my family happy. It's also only one part of making me happy. I did consider the option of flying out, spending the weekend - jetlagged - at the reunion, and flying back. But going to Saskatchewan (where the reunion will be) and not to Ontario (where my mum will be) is going to be a seriously unwise move in terms of family politics, so I'd have to go to Ontario for a bit as well. This would mean I'd essentially lose a week rather than a weekend. This would still be do-able, but highly unpleasant...

Also, my parents only have so many airmiles with which to purchase airplane tickets for free, so if I go for a short visit it may be another two or three years before I get the opportunity to do this again.

[redcountess]

I also suggest talking to your father about the loss of income. Honesty is the best policy.

I guess this means you're not coming to the restaurant tomorrow evening then?

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I won't be able to make it to the restaurant.

I do plan to turn up on Saturday afternoon/evening in Walthamstow, though. Do I get to dress up all goff?

[redcountess]

If you want - I shall be in my comfy clothes though :-)

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Comfy clothes good. I just haven't dressed up for ages, not having really been out. I suspect it will very much depend on how I'm feeling on Saturday afternoon, though.

[nslm.livejournal.com]

A random conversation I had with a parent previously (not my parents) basically ended up with me being told that once your children get to the stage of generally supporting themselves you WANT them to come to you and ask for help when it's needed. The struggle isn't worth it, and it's actually a pleasure for them to be there for you.

(Oh and they generally really like seeing you too :) )