4-11-08
Uncle Dale's Guide
Calandra as Dame Edna
Actor Dale Calandra traveled for two years (2004-2006) with the first Broadway tour of Hairspray as the standby for Edna Turnblad. He went to 54 North American cities, sometimes sitting the show down for eight to 10 weeks; sometimes just one week. By the end of his contract, Calandra had learned a thing or two about how to survive on the road.
He described the process, as more than 60 people (actors, band, crew) snaked their way around the country: “The crew would strike the show Sunday night, load up the trucks, and the trucks would take off. Then the crew would fly to the next city on two hours of sleep, put up the show on Monday night and we’d open on Tuesday.”
Hairspray traveled with its own deck, which made things easier for the actors and stage manager. “Our show was cued off the numbers on the floor. As actors, we rarely had to make adjustments to the theatre. It was more a matter of how much wing space and backstage space there was.”
While coy about admitting his least favorite cities, Calandra said he loved Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore (the city in which Hairspray is set). “There were some surprise cities like Oklahoma City. It was a beautiful theatre, we were right downtown. To visit the memorial and to see the culture of America was my gift.”
The Basics: Food and Housing
One of the key survival skills Calandra picked up was asking the crew (especially those hired locally) where to go and what to eat. “I learned to listen to our crew to ask where we should stay because a lot of them had been on tour before. Especially I learned to listen to our prop guy. He was never wrong.”
On tour, you’ll get a housing and food per diem and a list of lodging options that you will pay for out of this per diem. Calandra said that after a while he teamed up with a buddy in the cast and they started renting houses together. This isn’t a viable option in every city, but sometimes it can come out to the same cost as a hotel, and can be much more comfortable.
Certain basic needs you should address right away, like eating. If you’re hungry, nothing else matters in that moment, people tend to get crabby, and it’s all downhill from there. The tour manager generally provides a list of basic survival places (lodging, grocery, laundry, etc.) for each city you’ll be in, but sometimes these lists are years old. Check online or call ahead to be sure.
Calandra found that by making his own travel arrangements (which would be reimbursed by the company) he was able to travel on his own schedule, which suited him better. “I liked getting to the new city as early as I possibly could. On that Monday I would have a full half-day to get settled. Otherwise we wouldn’t get in until four or five at night and only have time for a little bite to eat.”
When it comes to lodging, Calandra highly recommends making friends with the hotel staff. Don’t be afraid to call the manager and let them know if you have any special needs. If you need blackout curtains to sleep, a certain kind of pillow or a room that faces west so the morning sun doesn’t wake you, they can often accommodate. Also, remember to ask for upgrades. The worst they can say is no.
“Remember all these people are in the service industry, and the nicer you are to them, the nicer they’ll be to you,” Calandra said. “I watched some people in the company be too demanding. It was so interesting to watch how they wouldn’t get anything.”
When the staff can accommodate your request or do something nice for you, thank them right away. Calandra would often start his hotel stay with a thank you for those who helped him. “I’d go down to the local store and get them flowers or a box of chocolate.”
Staying Healthy
Life on tour is exhausting, and being in a new place all the time can really keep a person on edge. Even if you are used to performing eight shows a week, it’s still hard to stay rested. “You’re running just a little bit more than you normally do,” said Calandra. “There’s always this feeling of, ‘What’s next?’”
All of this can wear down your immune system, so make your health a priority. One practical suggestion Calandra made was to use your less dominant hand in public to open doors, pick things up, etc. That way when you pick up germs, you’re less likely to transfer them to your face. “And get your Airborne,” he laughed.
Packing: What do you really need?
Pack lightly. Chances are you can buy anything you forgot, and as you’re headed off to yet another airport, you’ll probably be glad to not have to lug so much baggage.
That said, Calandra noted, “Everyone needs something different to survive on the road. Decide what’s it going to take to make you happy. Some people needed their DVD player. Other people needed rooms with blackout curtains because they couldn’t stand the sun in the morning. As the tour went on, I enjoyed having a car in bigger cities, so I started renting cars. I enjoyed getting out and about and away from the downtown.”
Definitely bring a digital camera though, “to send pictures back home and keep a record for yourself.”
Save Your Money
Save as much money as you can on the road because the salaries are pretty good, and the company is paying for a great deal of your living expenses. For example Calandra never ordered room service because it was so expensive. “If nothing else I would have peanut butter crackers and fruit with me to get me through the night until I could go out the next morning,” he said.
As you are making your travel arrangements, be sure to join all the hotel, car rental and frequent flier clubs. They are all free, and even though the company is paying for it, you are the one actually doing the travel and earning the points. These points can be used for discounts, upgrades and free travel later on to help you save money.
Get Out and Have Fun
“If you’re not having fun, you’re on the wrong tour,” said Calandra. “And if no one’s having fun, you have to create the fun.” Hang out with different segments of the cast and crew. Get to know your tour mates. “Some days you’d just hang out with the band because you knew it would be a fun night.”
Calandra also suggested talking to the people at the hotel. “Every time someone would recommend something. They would never steer you wrong. People love showing off their city.” Also, do some research on the cities before you get there. Learn about public transportation and how to get around.
“Don’t miss the opportunity to eat the food and meet the people. I made about a dozen friends who I met when I was in their cities who are still my friends. You can make friends with someone in a day if you are vulnerable to that,” Calandra said.
Calandra noted that the Hairspray cast would organize volunteer work every couple of weeks. “It was a great way to give a little somethin’ back.”
Because of Hairspray, Calandra got to fulfill many dreams. “I almost died in 2003. I had three surgeries that removed three-fourths of my small intestine. Out of the blue this low point comes, then nine months later comes my Hairspray audition, and within a year I was on tour. I was the standby, but being on tour you’re on all the time. I would be on for weeks at a time. I got to play Chicago when the tour came around again. I got to play the Cadillac Palace.
“I was so fortunate because I was in a great show that everyone loved. I was proud to be in that show. It was a good show with a great message and everyone loved it from young kids to 80 year-olds.”
His love of the show and the opportunity that going on a national tour afforded him is palpable, and Calandra said that he is willing to be a resource to anyone who would like to contact him before they hit the road. “It’s not a bad thing to call someone who’s been on the road.” His e-mail address is showbizdude@aol.com.