Seriously Steve,
If you have followed a few posts in here over the past 3 or so months,I tried to get members who were in your situation, to try give up some spending vices...like Starbucks,ciggies,magazines,fast foods etc.....and instead,save that money in a sealed piggy bank.After 3 months,the ones who have started it have savings put aside from $100ish up to about $900.
I am in the same boat as you as I live paycheck to paycheck,but,by giving up and cutting back on useless things I used to spend too much money on,I am now up to about $500 myself.I gave up Starbucks,magazines and pop and cut back on a few other "spending vices" and my lifestyle has not changed at all. AND...I don't miss the money simply because I would have spent it anyway on crap.
It is not too late to start.Just get a pig or big old tin and put a slot in it,seal it shut so that you cannot see what is inside and open it a week before the show starts.You will be amazed at how much you can put aside,AND....even if you can only save a couple of hundred...WHO CARES?...that is free money,that you would have blown anyway... right? Ya can't lose.You can only gain.
Give it a try.