Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 12:37 PM

Quite right Cap'n, your feet are different, why should your socks be the same?

XG

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: kendall
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 12:17 PM

I sometimes wear miss matched socks; if I'm wearing boots, what difference does it make?

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 11:27 AM

I had a couple of speeches to make in the USA two years ago and I started each one with (paraphrase) "I'd like to thank all the people we have met here in America for their wonderful hospitality - beginning with the Depratment of Homeland Security". It got a great laugh each time.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: maeve
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 09:34 AM

Brian, thanks very much for the additional information. Sounds like a bother but worth looking into.

Kendall- I'm glad your socks matched that day. Is that a particular challenge for you?

maeve

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: Brian Peters
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 09:17 AM

"Keep in mind that people who have just landed are tired, cranky and sleep-deprived."

....which makes it all the more stressful if they are treated with rudeness and hostility when they arrive. I've nothing against proper security screening, but sometimes a bit more politeness would be welcome. And, yes, I know British immigration officials can be hard work as well.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: Brian Peters
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 09:12 AM

Charley: Bryan Bowers thread here (and my apologies for misspelling his name previously)

"I have overseas musician friends I'd like to book and needed information regarding the requirements."

Maeve, if you are in the US and are applying for a P-3 visa (which is what I get), you will need to make sure your friends have: good track record of CDs and reviews; impressive letters of support from the music press, broadcasters or other expert opinion (preferably on both sides of the pond) detailing their status as performers and explaining why their repertoire is culturally unique; a gig itinerary - and from events in the last year it appears that the authorities sometimes demand that the performances are in venues where that cultural uniqueness will be essential (so specialist festivals or summer camps count better than coffeehouses). You need to fill in the I-129 form in triplicate, and make sure you have the AFM support letter ready when you send it in. In short, it's a really big job. Don't even think about it unless you are prepared to spend time on it, and are sure your friends will meet the stringent requirements.

On my last entry into the US (at Boston), the fellow on immigration was distinctly hostile despite the fact that I had the P-3 visa all ready in my passport. He started demanding the dates of my previous visits, which again were all legit, but difficult to recall details of on the spot. In general their manner is often intimidating, although just now and then I've had real ray of sunshine who smiles and wishes me a pleasant stay. In genera they don't try to make you welcome.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 09:09 AM

'They are herded like cattle, shouted at by those marshalling the queues, [and boy are there queues]. Then they are treated like criminals by most of the immigration officers on the interview desks.'
==========
I've news for you. The same thing happens to visitors coming into London. I've been there, done that.

Except for the part about being treated like criminals. But then, I don't believe that, anyway.

Keep in mind that people who have just landed are tired, cranky and sleep-deprived. They have been bombarded by airliner noise for hours with not a moment's respite. (Noise raises blood pressure.) Try to calm yourself and not let little things bug you.

I always wear hearing protection on flights, and I recommend it to everyone.

Also, it is not the fault of the Immigration Service that airplanes land at about the same time of the morning and thus people come in batches that turn into queues.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: kendall
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 09:03 AM

Those immigration flunkies are not representatives of all Americans.

Can you imagine the crap they would take from above if they let another terrorist in?

They even searched me in Boston, and I was required to take my shoes off. I didn't mind, my socks matched.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: maeve
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 08:42 AM

Yes, John. I've heard the same from others. I'm sorry. Wish I could say it is changing, but I doubt it.

We'll just have to be especially kind and welcoming to our visiting friends to make up for some of the unpleasantness. Thus I'd like to be sure I understand the permit requirements for musicians visiting the States so I can help smooth the way where possible.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 08:36 AM

From my point of view, the biggest disincentive to visiting the US, is the abysmal way people are treated at US immigration.
They are herded like cattle, shouted at by those marshalling the queues, [and boy are there queues]. Then they are treated like criminals by most of the immigration officers on the interview desks.
I don't want to upset my friends in the US, and I may have been unlucky, but I know that's the bit of any trip to the US that I dread most.

JM

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 08:29 AM

"Brian Bowers debacle this year"?

Tell us more!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: maeve
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 08:22 AM

Joe, thanks for asking this question. Thanks also to those who've responded so far. I have overseas musician friends I'd like to book and needed information regarding the requirements.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: Brian Peters
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 06:30 AM

> my favorite house concert venue is Bill Wagman's home in Davis, California. <

Been there, played it, Joe! A nice gig - but I don't think we ever met there? I'm on the East Coast next March, but am looking to set up something out West on my next visa application.

> The authorities on both sides of the pond have better things to do than to chase folkies around <

A comforting thought, but they are well capable of asking a lot of awkward questions at the border, even when you do have all the proper paperwork. Who knows what they are viewing on their monitor screen as they question you - your website and gig schedule perhaps? I've heard of people who have gone in 'under the wire', but it's way too big a risk for me. For people travelling this way from over the pond, be aware of the Brian Bowers debacle this year.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 06:28 AM

They still talk about you there too.

JM

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: kendall
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 06:22 AM

When I did my tour of Scotland, I had it set up to mail a box of recordings to my contact over there, and I borrowed a guitar there instead of taking one with me. The authorities on both sides of the pond have better things to do than to chase folkies around.There are ways around any obstacle.

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 06:01 AM

Hi, Brian - my favorite house concert venue is Bill Wagman's home in Davis, California. The acoustics and atmosphere are wonderful, and the audience is very friendly to traditional musicians. Here's Bill'sWebsite:
http://wagmanhouseconcerts.org/

I hope you can come our way!

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: Brian Peters
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 05:55 AM

My last US visa cost $320 for the application to the immigration service, $200 (recently bumped up from $50) for approval letter from the Federation of Musicians, £65 (=$130 at that time) to apply to the US Embassy in London, and another £9 ($18) for passport courier service. Fortunately I was able to time the Embassy appointment to coincide with a gig I had in London. Total getting on for $700 when mailing costs etc. are included. However, since a visa can last for twelve months, I generally try to book two tours within the same period,to spread the cost.

The good news is that the approval came through in around five weeks, which is a quite unprecedented level of efficiency. So no need to pay the extra $1000 additional fee for rapid expedition, as some had to do when they were taking months to approve petitions.

I haven't asked Dave and Anni recently, but I'm sure they'll be back over there soon.

Joe, where is your favourite house concert venue? I'm touring again next March and still have a few dates fee!

Subject: RE: Travel to U.S. for Gigs - expensive?
From: nickp
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 03:52 AM

Don't know about 'your' side of it Joe, but the cost of a permit for an artist/act to work here in the UK is £190 so roughly $350 (as a nice round figure even if not exact to the exchange rate). $1000 seems a little high but maybe it is so. Nick

Subject: Travel to U.S. for Gigs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 03:04 AM

I used to go to a Dave Webber/Anni Fentiman at my favorite house concert venue every year, but they haven't been here for at least two years now. I ran into the host last week, and he said he has had trouble booking folk performers from outside the U.S., because it is so expensive for performers to travel here nowadays.
He said it costs $1,000 for a performer's visa, which would be double that for Dave and Anni.

Has it really increased in cost all that much? Are there (legal) ways around it? I'm missing all the good English and Irish musicians I used to see at this venue. All he's booking now are American singer-songwriters, so I haven't been to a house concert in almost a year.

-Joe-