The Parachute Artist

Who would have guessed that travel writing (and indeed traveling) could be a business?  Describe the business aspects of what you have done so far in your journey, being careful to define the business before beginning.

Travel writing, and all business models of this enterprise, must begin with the writer.  A travel writer is self –employed.  Although getting a check from an institution, the real work is being done for the self.  And, I believe, some bosses are more demanding than others.  From the writer, the business developed – or is it the other way around?  Either way, this genre of writing is quite comprehensive, covering cuisine to transportation, and history to self-help.  Regardless of what sub-category this business falls under, its goal remains the same: to educate.

One of the leading travel businessmen is Tony Wheeler.  Wheeler is the creator of “Lonely Planet”, a travel writing company that grossed $72 million last year.  Tad Friend, in his New Yorker article, “Parachute Artist”, described Wheeler as “at least two people.” (135)  There is the socially awkward Wheeler who occupies the offices of Lonely Planet, and then the man who is the face of Lonely Planet, explorer of 117 countries, who comes to life travelling.  As Friend puts it, Wheeler is “like one of those dehydrated sponges which inflate to astonishing size when dropped into their proper element.” (136)  Travelling, and indeed travel writing, can help us all find our proper element.

In searching for my proper element, I, like Tony Wheeler, have acted as more than one person.  But, each of these “identities” is part of me.  I do not change, the world around me does, and in doing so, new aspects of myself come to light.  Travelling is constant character development – I do not view myself changed, I just view myself deeper.

This weekend I travelled to London, England with Rebeka and Abby.  I designated myself captain of transportation, in charge of how we were getting from point A to B throughout the weekend.  Me, the same person who gets lost driving around Columbus, Ohio, my home for twenty years, was going to figure out how to get three girls around a foreign city. And I did just that.  Armed with a laptop and a map of the Tube, I got us around London.  Now, it wasn’t flawless or graceful, but it was done.  For the first time, I was the person with the directions.  I was the person who knew travel time and landmarks.  I was acutely aware of my surroundings, to the point where I wondered if I indeed was another person.

I had to adapt, it was that or be lost and miserable the entire trip.  This is what a travel writer must do.  Wheeler describes himself as a parachute artist, someone who can drop into a place and quickly assimilate.  I remember seeing my travel card for Rome in my wallet when we were in London and wondering aloud, “What is this for?” 

Rebeka was shocked, “You really get lost in travelling, don’t you?”   

I smiled at her and told her, “It’s because I do theater, I just throw myself into what I do.”

Maybe that’s it.  Or maybe it is because I am a writer.  Or maybe it’s just me.  

I travel to discover.  Can discovery be educational?  Sure.  But, a business goal isn’t on my mind when I am out exploring.  Travelling and the business of travelling are not the same.  As Wheeler puts it, “In many ways, I don’t think [my wife and I] traveled a lot, because we’ve had the business distracting us.  It got in the way.” (152)  Travelling serves the self, the business serves the other.  Both are important, because without the business, all of us would be attempting to discover our proper element alone.