The Background: 'The Man' and me

Did you know there are only 4 words in the English language that end in 'dous'?

I found this fact on the Internet so it is DEFINITELY true. Stupendous, horrendous, hazardous, tremendous. There is a good chance that these four words will perfectly represent the next few months in my life....

Before I get into the nitty gritty of why, let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Kate. I am 31 years old. I grew up in Rockhampton in a blue collar, middle class, labour supporting family. My dad was a train driver member of the ACTU. My mum is a nurse who has been in the same line of work for 46 years. From a very early age it was dictated to me that "you've got to work for a living Katie, you've got to pay the bills, that's just the way it is".

My first job was when I was 12, sweeping up hair and cleaning at the local hair dresser 'Hair By Lyn'. I got 6 bucks for 3 hours work. SLAVE LABOUR IS REAL, PEOPLE. Straight after work, I would take my 6 precious dollars and promptly go next door to the convenience store to by an Archie comic, a bubblebum slush puppy and approximately $4 worth of lollies. Life was good then. All I needed was sugar and books.

Pretty much since I left school I have worked full time (apart from a year or so where I may or may not have been a full time cone-puller). Mostly though, I have been a fine example of an upstanding citizen.

I didn't go to Uni. I didn't know what I wanted to do. So I just started working.

Getting a full time wage as a young person can be dangerous. I was earning some really good money working as Train Hostess on Queensland Rail. I liked to call us 'The Air Hostesses of the Ground'. I earnt, and I spent. Every last cent of it... and then some, getting myself into some pretty major debt, which stills lingers to this day.

So here I am. Still doing the 9-5. I currently work in Marketing as a Admin Assistant/Copywriter and I can honestly say that I like my job. Of course, it has it ups and downs and sometimes working for the man gets me down.

I am also a part-time musician. I would probably be considered an 'established' artist but I certainly make no money out of music. I think my last APRA writers cheque was for around $43. So not exactly throwing-TV-out-of-5-Star-hotel-room-window status yet.

So, a couple of months ago I got a call from a then-acquantaince/now-friend of mine, who had a unique offer for me. She asked if I would be interested in joining her band for a 5 week tour of Australia supporting a big time Australian alt-folk artist. I would be playing guitar, keyboards and doing backing vocals. She could pay me a small wage for my services. Umm, people get paid to do this???

I was flattered, surprised and confused. My inital reaction being 'You do know that I am not very good at playing guitar don't you?'. She has seen me play and insisted that I would be great. I'm pretty sure she still doesn't fully understand the illusion that I have created with my band. Yes, I am a musician, but I pretty much have NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING most of the time.

I then thought about it a little more and came to the conclusion that there was no possible way I could get time off work to do the Aussie tour for 5 weeks in October/November, and then get ANOTHER 3 weeks off in December to do a European tour with my own band. The decision was made, I just couldn't do it. I had to be responsible.

After a week or so of day-dreaming and thinking how great it would be to quit my job and go on tour (but convinced I couldn't), I had an epiphany. Why couldn't I do it? Yes...I have debt. Yes...I have bills to pay, but I have some savings right?? JUST DO IT!!

And so, that is how I decided to quit my job and get a real haircut.

For the past 6 weeks I have been on a mission to pay off my credit card debt and save as much money as possible so I can support myself through the 5 week tour of Australia and then 3 weeks touring Europe during October, November and December. I have worked out the budget and if I live like the amish my savings will get me through until just before Christmas. It is VERY likely that I will be travelling to Europe in December with little more than a couple of hundred dollars in my bank account.

It is sufficient to say that I. AM. SHIT. SCARED.

This blog will document the ups and downs over the next few months. I will use it as a tour diary and an up close and personal account of my thoughts, fears and experiences over this time. At the moment I do need to remain anonomous, as my employer still doesn't know of my plans. But in due time, I will reveal myself (....perhaps another way of making money ---> this is a joke). Truthfully, I'm really scared about what will happen when I tell my employers that I am going to do this. It is a very emotionally charged workplace and there is every chance that they will fire me on the spot (throwing a proverbial spanner into my carefully planned budget).

I will be asking your advice, with ideas on how to make extra cash during this time and ways to save bucks here and there.

So there you have it. Watch me fail at life and disappoint my mum...

NB: My mum has actually been very supportive over the decision making process. (Hi Mum!). She was somewhat sceptical about my plan until I mentioned that we would be playing at Rockhampton's premier theatre, The Pilbeam. This changed everything. "You're playing at the Pilbeam?? Well, it must be something good then! Who is this person that you are supporting?". I am pretty sure half of Rockhampton knows about it already and that most of the audience will be there purely to see 'Margo's daughter' play.