The moat around Vancouver Island is expensive. BC Ferries is the gatekeeper, and if you don't plan right, it will eat your entire fee. Here is the cheat sheet for touring DJs.
1. The Reservation System
If you are driving, you must book a reservation. Showing up at Horseshoe Bay on a Friday afternoon without one is a recipe for missing your soundcheck. Book at least two weeks in advance for summer weekends.
2. The "Experience Card"
If you travel frequently, get a BC Ferries Experience Card. It offers savings on fares for certain routes and makes the payment process smoother. Every dollar saved adds to your bottom line.
3. The Hullo Ferry Option
For gigs in Nanaimo, the new Hullo passenger ferry from downtown Vancouver is a game-changer. It's fast, comfortable, and drops you right in the harbor. If the promoter can pick you up, this is often faster and cheaper than driving on the big boat.
4. Harbour Air Standby
Harbour Air offers "standby" fares for students and sometimes general standby that are significantly cheaper than confirmed bookings. If you have a flexible schedule, this is the rockstar way to arrive at a gig—landing on the water in Victoria Inner Harbour is an unbeatable entrance.