We've been told that we can perform at Beco das Garrafas in Rio, in October. It will be either Friday or Saturday night.
Time goes by, and still we don't know which date we will perform. I've told our agent, Mara, that we are available to do either, or both nights, if they want us to. Mara contacts the venue again, and tells us she thinks that at least one night is guaranteed.
On the basis of this indication, I feel we can start booking our flights.
But when will we know which night(s)? We need to book accommodation, and flights for the musicians, plus we need to let people know when we will be performing, so they can come and see us.
I settle down to work for a few months. It's July, and I have the opportunity to earn some money to pay for our adventures.
But time is ticking, and we need visas. To get a visa we need an itinerary.
In September I will be going to the USA for a conference. To get my Brazil visa, I need to send my passport away. The web site says visa applications will be processed within 90 days. What if my passport doesn't come back in time for my conference trip? You can get a replacement passport, but that would cancel the one with the visa in it.
'
I decide to get my own visa application started. My husband has more time, as he is not coming with me to Washington DC.
The online application calls for a large amount of information. I'm sure it's more onerous than last year. I have to scan and upload various documents, all of which must adhere to strict sizing requirements. And I have to upload my signature in jpg format. I have no idea how to do this, and there is no explanation provided. In the end, the travel agent recommends paying a fee to the visa company to deal with the outstanding issues. I pay.
A courier arrives to take my passport away.
Two weeks later, I arrive at the office to find a parcel waiting for me.
It's my passport, with the visa to enter Brazil. I whoop and sigh with relief.
Now I embark on the application for my husband's visa. Second time through the process, I'm a bit better prepared, though I get to the end of the online application and cannot upload his passport photo because the file size is too large. Next morning, I ask a friend to see if he can resize the file, and he manages to do this. Overnight the system has timed out, and I've lost all my work, so I have to start the application all over again.
I persevere with it, as I am determined that this project will succeed. The visa application process would drive my husband crazy, but I stick with it, and after about an hour I print out the receipt that he will need to sign, and I glue his photo onto it.
Mara has now booked the hotel in Jaraguá for me. I'm gradually ticking items off my checklist.
Still, I feel on edge, unable to relax, not daring to assume that this show will proceed as planned.
How disappointing it would be for my plans to fall through, after all this effort.
Time goes by, and still we don't know which date we will perform. I've told our agent, Mara, that we are available to do either, or both nights, if they want us to. Mara contacts the venue again, and tells us she thinks that at least one night is guaranteed.
On the basis of this indication, I feel we can start booking our flights.
But when will we know which night(s)? We need to book accommodation, and flights for the musicians, plus we need to let people know when we will be performing, so they can come and see us.
I settle down to work for a few months. It's July, and I have the opportunity to earn some money to pay for our adventures.
But time is ticking, and we need visas. To get a visa we need an itinerary.
In September I will be going to the USA for a conference. To get my Brazil visa, I need to send my passport away. The web site says visa applications will be processed within 90 days. What if my passport doesn't come back in time for my conference trip? You can get a replacement passport, but that would cancel the one with the visa in it.
'
I decide to get my own visa application started. My husband has more time, as he is not coming with me to Washington DC.
The online application calls for a large amount of information. I'm sure it's more onerous than last year. I have to scan and upload various documents, all of which must adhere to strict sizing requirements. And I have to upload my signature in jpg format. I have no idea how to do this, and there is no explanation provided. In the end, the travel agent recommends paying a fee to the visa company to deal with the outstanding issues. I pay.
A courier arrives to take my passport away.
Two weeks later, I arrive at the office to find a parcel waiting for me.
It's my passport, with the visa to enter Brazil. I whoop and sigh with relief.
Now I embark on the application for my husband's visa. Second time through the process, I'm a bit better prepared, though I get to the end of the online application and cannot upload his passport photo because the file size is too large. Next morning, I ask a friend to see if he can resize the file, and he manages to do this. Overnight the system has timed out, and I've lost all my work, so I have to start the application all over again.
I persevere with it, as I am determined that this project will succeed. The visa application process would drive my husband crazy, but I stick with it, and after about an hour I print out the receipt that he will need to sign, and I glue his photo onto it.
Mara has now booked the hotel in Jaraguá for me. I'm gradually ticking items off my checklist.
Still, I feel on edge, unable to relax, not daring to assume that this show will proceed as planned.
How disappointing it would be for my plans to fall through, after all this effort.
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