Fund Independent Artist's First European Tour

Hello everybody! Thank you for clicking on my campaign, I really hope you can help me bring this dream to life!

My name is Spencer Zachary and I’m a singer/songwriter/rapper who’s just released his first studio album titled “OPEN WATER,” on January 3rd and I need your help to fund my first ever European Tour which starts March 5th.

The album I’ve just released is a labor of over 4 years that I wrote while traveling on the road through South America in Peru and Argentina into Patagonia, and is a snapshot in time of the person I was before, during and after I fell in love and met a person that would drastically challenge and change me. Each song is essentially a diary entry that attempts to find some sort of grounding and sense amidst the overpowering current that is falling in love.

In one word, my live shows can be described as intimate.

It’s me, my acoustic guitar, and a mic. I play these songs in the same way that I initially wrote them – and usually with my eyes closed. I take the time to give the audience a bit of background on each song – explaining lyrics and meaning – to give context on the issues I was experiencing which led to the creation of the song.

I’ve been fortunate enough to book 6 shows throughout Europe already and new shows are coming in almost every day as bookers and curators get back to me.

Yes, I am booking all of these shows myself. I don’t have a manager or booker or assistant. I send emails and Instagram messages and more emails and Instagram messages to potential curators in hopes our schedules will align and I’ll be able to share my music in their city. I feel very grateful and proud to have 6 shows coming in March, most of which in cities which I have never visited (and I’ve traveled a lot!).

For this trip I’m asking for help with travel, accommodation, food and rent of my apartment back in Lisbon.

Yes! I currently live in Lisbon, Portugal, so the initial upfront cost of traveling to Europe in the first place is already covered! I’m looking to use all modes of travel possible. When time isn’t a constraining factor and I don’t have to be in a city the next day for a show, I’m planning to take trains and buses to get to my destination, and even “over-night” buses which double as accommodation and transportation at the same time (pro-tip ;) ).

I made a preliminary Excel doc of the travel costs up until the 18th of March when I plan on being in Amsterdam and the total comes to $416. This is strictly cost of flights, buses and trains, but does not include Ubers to bus stations or fees for public transportation which I presume will add a not insignificant amount to that total. For the entire month I’m estimating travel costs to be $1250 to account for these intermediary travel costs (Ubers, public transportation) and potential rate spikes of flights or buses as closer to the date of travel, prices tend to (unfortunately and miraculously) increase sharply.

I will attempt to add or attach said Excel sheet as a reference for the total cost of the trip in the spirit of transparency.

As for accommodation, I’m planning on mostly staying with friends or friends of friends depending on which city I’m in and if there are acquaintances there. Outside of these chance experiences and relying on the grace of those willing to put up a stranger, I will also book a few private rooms on AirBnb or Booking.com to regroup and give myself the proper rest I need to intelligently make it through this month-long tour. As for factoring in the cost of accommodation for the days that I’m not being hosted (I estimate about half of the time to be safe), Googling “average AirBnb price in Europe 2023” returns an average of $144/night. Total cost of accommodation therefore comes to $1710.

Food will be kept simple and fast when I’m not staying with friends, and when I am lucky enough to have someone host me I plan on cooking meals at home (and treating my host to a bottle of wine as a “thank you”).

Here in Lisbon, its customary to have a solid, filling lunch for $8-12 (7-11 Euro). Eating out for dinner could be anywhere from $17-22 at a nicer restaurant. I don’t usually eat breakfast so averaging out these two options comes to about $30 a day when I’m eating out. Groceries for a dinner with a host family I calculate to be $10-$13 (the aforementioned wine included). Therefore 15-days hosted and 15-days fending for myself (with your help, of course) comes to $810, which I’ll round up to $900 for the potential likelihood that I’m naively estimating these prices.

As for my apartment, I live in a cozy, top floor, one-bedroom apartment in the center of Lisbon with a little balcony and view of the Moorish castle which I pay $810 per month for. It would be extremely difficult to carry this cost with me as I travel Europe living out this dream, while simultaneously eating and paying for room and board all over Europe. I will attempt to rent out (sublet) my room while I’m gone if possible, but as it is not certain that I will be able to do so I’m adding this cost to the total of the campaign goal to cover my bases.

The total of all of these factors; Travel, Accommodation, Food, and Rent, comes to $4670.

Now, I honestly don’t know how I could do this tour without help and fundraising as right now I do not have the required funds to make this trip happen.

With your help, I will be able to share my music – which are my life experiences – with people all over the world, with different backgrounds, cultures, languages and stories. I’ll be able to visit new countries and cities with the purpose of sharing my stories from South America with them, like the troubadours of old.

And unequivocally, I will carry YOU, the donor, with me as I live out this dream to plan and complete my first European World tour.

Follow my journey that you’re a part of on my Instagram account @_spencerzachary.

The journey starts March 1st!

Thank you for your contribution, and thank you for helping an independent artist achieve their dream!!