One of the ridiculously awesome things about our job is the occasional opportunity to TRAVEL for work! I’ve had the good fortune of going to China, Hong Kong, Vancouver, New York City, Atlanta, Scottsdale and Colorado. So. Much. Fun! Along the way, I’ve learned how to make the most of these trips and avoid some potential pitfalls.
Before You Pack Those Bags
Have a current passport! Yes, this should be obvious, but you’d be surprised how people can shoot themselves in the foot with this one. Don’t be left stateside when you could’ve been world-travelin’! And even worse than missing the trip, you just lost the job you almost booked and your agent is shaking his fist in the air at you. Yikes.
Sign up for the airline’s frequent flier program! Ask the production to add your number when they book your ticket. Don’t leave free miles on the table! They add up quickly and before you know it, you’ll be feeling super fancy in the priority line at airport security! Oh, you fancy, huh!
Invest in decent luggage. In other words, don’t have embarrassing luggage. Ok, this may sound ridiculously superficial, and I’m NOT suggesting you go out and get Louis Vuitton bags, but showing up with ratty, old, dirty, beaten up luggage doesn’t make a good first professional impression. I almost always bump into somebody from production first thing at the hotel and I want to give the impression that they’ve hired a working professional…go figure.
Prepare For Takeoff You are about to get on a plane full of people who have a cold (just assume it) with circulated air. You will likely be landing with a good case of jet lag. Your back will be sore and your face will be dry. And then you’ll have to look and feel your best to perform in front of a camera the next day. Before you panic, prepare.
A few days before you travel, make sure you are getting hydrated, taking your vitamins or doing what you do to get your immune system in full working condition. The last thing you want to do is work through a bug you picked up en route. That, and no one wants to be on set with a sick person. Make your health a top priority!
What to Pack
- Outfits for each day you work. Come to set dressed like a professional, not a slob.
- Appropriate undergarments. That means nude and seamless. Your wardrobe stylist will love you!
- Slippers/comfortable flats. If you’ll be working in heels, bring something comfy to slip into during down time. Your feet will thank you!
- Reading material. Unless you consider your Newsfeed reading material, you need to be prepared for plenty of downtime, both on the plane and on set. Give yourself permission to dive into that novel you’ve been putting off or better yet, use the extra time to read something educational to better yourself!
- Electronics, chargers, and a pair of earbuds.
- Note pad and pen (unless you’re a high-tech note-taker). I don’t know about you, but when I’m in a creative mindset, ideas start to flow and I want to have somewhere to catch them. It’s also a great idea to write people’s names down as you meet them!
- A warm coat. Sometimes the Wardrobe Department will have extra coats, but don’t rely on them. It can be very cold in those early morning call-time hours or on heavily air-conditioned sets.
- Emergen-C or other electrolyte packets to add to water. Easy-to-pack little lifesavers! Keep that immune system humming along! And some hand sanitizer won’t hurt!
- A moisture mask for your face. When I travel, my skin can get on the dry side, so I love bringing individually packed paper moisture masks (where you look like Michael from “Halloween” wearing them) and wear them the night before or the morning of a shoot.
- Teeth-whitening strips. Again, an easy-to-pack way to freshen your look.
- Melatonin! This is my secret weapon against jet lag! When you’re a west coast gal, like me, flying to work on the east coast, it can mean an extra painful early call-time if you can’t get to sleep the night before! That time change isn’t messing around. I take this herbal supplement to help me catch those much needed zzz’s.
- High protein, high fiber snacks. Squirrel away a bag of nuts or a healthy bar for a mid-flight snack. Don’t get stuck eating airplane food that’s high in salt and sugar that’ll leave you looking and feeling bloated.
Once You’ve Landed
Check in immediately with production once you’ve made it. I usually even let them know that I got on the plane before I take off! Going the extra mile to be in communication to eliminate worry will not go unnoticed.
Be easy to reach for production so they can give you call-times and other important info.
Just because you’re out of town doesn’t mean you’re on vacation! Now is not the time to do anything risky or party it up. Keep it professional with fellow cast mates and crew (don’t make it weird on set, people). Just because it’s a different area code…just sayin’.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have three different jobs which I traveled to invite me back to work again (and again…). Sure, this can be attributed to the work itself, but I also make a genuine effort to create a work-family environment with the people I’m lucky enough to work with. It really is about relationships and being great to work with and be around. Then it’s even more fun to see familiar friendly faces when they book you again!
Bonus tip: I love extending my stay and having my return flight pushed a day or two after wrapping (paying for my own hotel room of course) to explore whatever new city I may be working in!
Happy travels!