Get There!

It's not just what I scream while repeatedly slamming my knuckles atop my deck. While I am often heard praying to the heathen gods for one more great, Johnny Rungood style topdeck, sometimes my concerns turn more literal. A topic that I've been exploring a ton in my own personal life is the act of Getting There; that is, actually making the journey from your home to a Magic event far, far away.

Many people think that Pro players live a glamorous lifestyle replete with money, women, fame and endless luxurious travel. Unless your name is Brian Kibler (and you look like him, too), that may not end up the case. The lifestyle, from all I've heard of it, is inglorious, stressful, and often ends up being more trouble than it's worth. Remember that unless you maintain a high level of Pro Club rating, you still have to pay to take these trips.

Let's assume that you're not a Level 8 Mage (something I've been dying to say to a woman when she asks me what I do), and you're just a regular guy like me. You probably don't have a standing invite to every pro tour, you don't get a 3-round bye and an appearance fee when you arrive at the Grand Prix events, and you work for your money. That's what most of us do, so let's not pretend that the majority of us will ever win a pro tour. The simple odds are against you.

The Mindset

The first step is to make Magic-related journeys a priority in your life. You're never going to take the trip if you don't want to go, so if you're just interested in coasting and living the same old life you've been living, frequent travel is not for you. Keep doing what you've always done and you'll keep getting what you've always gotten. If you're like me, in that you relish the idea of learning about new cultures, new people, and new places, you might be in the mindset necessary. This is not for people with a comfort zone within which they intend to stay.

There are a few hurdles that stop people from traveling to events, but they all really just boil down to money. The job you can't quit gives you the money you need to pay your rent, car payment, and all that jazz. You can't take time off, or else you might lose your job, and then you won't have any money. In addition, plane tickets can be (but are not always) very expensive. Travel also has a way of inducing unexpected expenses into your budget, even if it's briefly. For example, I managed to lose a 10-Trip commuter rail ticket in New York, which cost me the loss of the ticket and the 100% markup they charge for a new ticket on the train. Blowout.

If you have plenty of money, travel will be much easier, but most people haven't got money to just blow at random on trips around the globe. Hopefully you have at least some discretionary income. If you used to spend a lot on Magic but you've been speculating successfully, you may have freed up some of that money. Start a fund that you'll use to travel. I'm using my MTGO fund, which I grow by writing articles for Tix, speculating, and generally being smart with my money. This type of planning precludes late night Drunk Drafting, which is the surest way to waste both your time and money. MTGO has been an investment vehicle for me moreso than it has been a platform to play the game. Since money is the biggest hurdle, it should be the first thing you square away when you decide to travel.

First, You Get The Money...

Let's assume that you don't have much money, as is often the case. You need to start a fund just for travel. This is true whether your goal is to attend and win each GP and PT on the calendar or just to go and experience the game. Magic is a game of resource management, so it would behoove you to manage your money as you manage your games. If you're playing in an event, square your cards up days in advance. I knew I wouldn't have Vengevine in time for DC, but Lauren Lee promised me a set a week in advance. That took a lot of stress off me, and saved me a few hundred bucks on the day of the event. There's something you can do that is free, fun, and super-high EV.

Network.

Network like your life depends upon it. Because it does. It absolutely does. I don't mean to imply that you should network like a corporate ambassador, coldly shaking hands and exchanging formalities. Make real, honest, earnest friendships. If you aren't capable of doing so, learn. Magic players can be a bit cliquey and exclusive, but many of them are good people worth knowing. So get to know them. If you don't use social media like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, or some other way to connect with people outside your locale, do so. Thanks to the power of social networking, I found every card I needed for GP DC, a ride to and from, a hotel to stay in, people to eat dinner with, and in the end, I made some great friends over a beer or two. You guys know who you are. That was one of the best nights I've had as a result of Magic, and it's not one I'm soon to forget.

This game is nothing without the people that play it. How often do you really get better, or have fun, goldfishing the same dumbass combo deck over and over again? It sucks. For me, the playing of the game is becoming ancillary to the social networks that have cropped up around it. If this isn't a concept you understand, then you're not going to have the proper mindset to travel.

A network's value can be, if you're the sort to crunch numbers, quantified easily. I prefer not to think of my friends as dollar amounts, but if I had to quantify the amount I saved by having a few people on my side in DC, I'd break it down as follows.

$200 - 4 Vengevines I didn't have to buy because Lauren lent me a set. They were an easy $50 in the hotel the night before.

$50 - My guess at what a bus ticket would cost to and from NYC/DC. I only saved about 20 bucks here, but the company of other players was far preferable to playing the "Please Don't Smell Like BO" lottery with the passenger seated next to you. The ability to stop at any time for food, bathroom, or any other reason was also worth every cent.

$150+ - Cost of a hotel room. Now, I know a lot of people don't get their own rooms, but that's what one would have cost me in DC for 2 nights. That's a LOT of money for a place to leave your stuff, sleep, and God willing, shower. I was lucky enough to know someone who offered me his pull-out couch in the hotel, wanting almost nothing in return. This also happens a lot with friends who live near the event site too. Figuring out how to save money on lodging is one of the keys to traveling efficiently.

I could go on and on here, but it becomes clear the value of having a good network of people you genuinely enjoy being around. It's not about the EV, but it sure doesn't hurt.

Managing Your Money & Your Hunger

Food is the slient budget-killer. I'm a big dude. I eat a lot. I expend a lot of energy on a daily basis, and even when I'm eating healthy as can be, I eat a lot. This means that I spend a lot on food, right? Like hell. I know we all hear the stories about the Pros playing $200+ credit card games, going to the $60-a-head Churrascarias, blowing huge amounts of money on night life, but guess what? That's not the life for you unless you're actually earning money at the events you attend. Chances are, you're reading this and wondering how to do these trips for less, not more. If you're pulling in a 4-figure prize at each GP and PT, you don't need my advice. Go play the Credit Card Game at Texas De Brasil!

Food is easy. If you can bring some cheap snacks that will keep you away from the overpriced, low quality food that is readily available in most venue, you will save at least $20 a day. At least. Fast food sucks, but sometimes it can be your friend. If you're budget conscious, make it a mindset. You can eat cheaply and eat healthy by being smart with your time. In a pinch, street food can be a great play. Avoid touristy locations when possible, for obvious reasons. If you can arrive at a weekend-long event on Friday morning, you can scope out some local markets within a quick drive or ride from the site. At DC, I didn't have the time to do so, but I wish I had. I know that proper nutrition would have made a huge difference on Day 2, but I was poorly fed and rested.

If you can avoid going out for the big blockbuster dinner, you can save a ton. There's no reason to pay $25+ for dinner when you can stop at a Trader Joe's or some similar place and eat like a Prince all weekend for the same price. The only constraint is time, but when your options are expenditure of time or expenditure of money, you must consider which one you've more of. Both are finite resources that you can, and should, budget. Don't assume anything will "just happen"; decisive action is required when planning a trip, and you should budget both time and money actively and concretely.

Some Costs To Consider

Let's assume you're flying within the country, since most of us have at least made the weekend pilgrimage to a PTQ. You have a lot of costs to be wary of. Here are a few to consider.

The Flight: You can save a lot of money by booking a flight early, going through a low-cost carrier, and by doing your homework on Frequent Flier programs, etc. I am not the person to ask about those programs, but I'm sure that there are many resources for the savvy traveler that are easily accessible.

Checked Bag Fees: These suck. So hard. Most airlines will give you one "personal item" like a laptop bag and one carry-on bag that's comically small. I carry a backpack with my laptop in it, and pack as much other stuff in there as I can. I know it will fit under any plane's seat or in any plane's overhead. I then use half of a duffel bag as my carry-on. I use a strap or belt to make it look smaller so that the airline folk don't get uppity with me. I've yet to have an issue. Any male traveler should be well versed in the art of traveling light. I am ill-equipped to advice women on packing light, but I am certain it can be done.

Packing: You know how little room you will have, so be sure to pack smart. Fold your clothes. Fold them well. This will buy you 50% more room, bare minimum. Bring a pair of sneakers, dress shoes, and maybe some flip flops if its warm or you have to shower somewhere gross. 2 button-up shirts, a couple tees, a pair of shorts, a pair of jeans, and a hoodie/jacket should take care of you for a long weekend. Bring 50% more socks and underwear than you think you need. Trust me on that one.

For toiletries, be efficient. Bring travel-sized everything or else the mean lady at the TSA will steal your hair gel and toothpaste. I was displeased. Almost everywhere in the US will provide you basic shampoo and soap, so don't bother with those if you know where you'll be staying. Conversely, if there's any doubt, bring them. A small can of spray-on deodorant that smells nice will double as cologne, and also does wonders for roommates that forgo bathing for a day or two. Minimlalism is key. Dragging a heavy bag around will hurt your back and shoulders and leave you pissed off as you arrive at your destination.

Getting Around: You have to get to the airport, from the airport, to and from your lodging and the site, and wherever else you go when you're there. In my case, I know that the airport shuttle is a flat $50 round trip, which isn't cheap, but it is time-efficient. I can work, write, or just sleep on the ride home. If you live in New York City, flying out of LaGuardia is horrific, but since the NYC bus goes to and from LGA for $2.25, it's worth the savings. I encourage you to check these options out in your area. Knowing someone from the local area with a vehicle is probably best for navigating the locale once you arrive. Friends from out of town with cars are just as good, especially if someone in the party has a GPS enabled phone. Cabs should be a last resort, especially if you're in another country.

Food & Drink: Night life can be expensive. If you can eschew booze, or just keep it to a minimum, you'll save a TON of money. If you want to go drink one night, leave your credit card at home and bring a fixed cash amount. That way, you don't get drunk and overspend. Alcohol does amazing things to people, including their ability to manage their money. Skip the drinking or just budget it tightly. Just don't pretend that "we'll see what happens", or you'll end up broke, hung over, and wondering why the damned hotel workers won't stop knocking on your door and saying "Housekeeping!". A human can survive on very meager amount of food, but there's no need to starve yourself. You can feed yourself for about the cost of 2 drafts or less if you hit a grocery store on Friday morning or something. There's no reason to waste money on food when you're on a shoestring budget. If you must drink, drink in. I know a lot of Magic players have no interest in the night life, but if you want to share a beer with the guys, grab a few six-packs and crack them in the hotel lobby. It'll be packed with Magic players anyway and you'll probably make a few friends. I may or may not have bartered someone a beer for a Devastating Summons.

Why It's Worth It

By booking flights well in advance, with a low fare carrier that runs deals, not going out to eat every night, minimizing drinking and other such vices, and being as conscious with your money as you possibly can, you can break the profligate vacation mindset and travel like someone who knows what they're doing. Just because some people fly 1st Class, rack up $100 bar tabs every night, and hit Fogo de Chao each time they go to a major event doesn't mean you have to. The best night I have had, ever, playing Magic was the Saturday night I spent in the Wingate in Chantilly, VA, and it hardly cost me anything.

I was exhausted, unshaven, dressed poorly, and I stunk. Badly. I had just locked in Day 2 at my first Grand Prix and I was euphoric. The frigid hotel room air was an assualt on my dry, hoarse throat, but I still spoke with the enthusiasm and passion that only a euphoric Magic player can. When a civil discussion about Royal Assassin turned theatrical over a couple Yuengling beers, Joey Pasco pulled out his recorder and we ceased being a group of morons drinking in a hotel. We became podcasters. We became creators of something bigger than us. I'm not sure if that podcast ever even saw the light of day - considering how many times I dropped the F-Bomb and how many times Scotty Mac called me a host of lovingly-crafted ethnic slurs - it's probably best that it remains unheard. I have no idea what others did that night, but it was an authentic experience. It was not touristy, overpriced, nor guided. It was quite simply a spontaneous gathering of like-minded people - one that you won't find everywhere you go.

I should have been in bed the moment that they called time in Round 9. I had to play the biggest tournament of my life the next day. It didn't matter. The experience of that night, among what can only be called friends, was enough. I stayed up far past my bedtime, considering the 9AM call for Players Meeting. The sleep I lost having the night of my life was enough to seriously damage my ability to play the game, but it was no longer a concern of mine. I did what I set out to do, which was to have a fantastic, authentic experience.

The goal of travel should not be to rack up stamps on your passport, to have something about which to brag, or to learn intimately the topography of each major city's convention center. Your goal should be to experience. What and how you experience is entirely up to you. Don't travel on anyone's terms but your own. You are not required to stay in nice hotels, go out for expensive meals, or blow money on frivolties. If you are of means, then doing so is your choice. I personally prefer to live below my means whenever possible. It's a personal choice that keeps me focused on improving as a businessperson, writer, and Magic player instead of lusting after the newest toy that I see on television. I don't condemn those who do, but it is simply not a viable lifestyle for many.

Travel, and travel often. Learn the ways of the world and grow into someone beyond who you believed you were before. The people you meet along the way make it all worth it, and sometimes, they're the whole reason your trip was possible. Now get off your ass and get there.