Klarinet Archive - Posting 000637.txt from 2000/01

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Transportation measures
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 01:47:56 -0500

> Take on the plane WITH YOU. Put it underneath the seat, where
> it is tight
> and won't bounce around,(especially at Denver) and if you need to leace it
> for the bathroom, put it in the compartment above you and make sure it is
> tightly in there. Do not take it on the bottom of the plane as "cargo",
> considering how the baggage will care for it and how it will
> bounce around.
> (unless if it is a bass clarinet)

As somebody that has flown a lot with an instruments, I cannot say how
important it is to bring your horn on the plane. B-flat or Bass, there IS
room for it on the plane. Bass Clarinets don't fit beneath the seat, but
they do fit overhead. I have seen instruments and Audio gear destroyed in
the belly of the plane EVEN WHEN IN FLIGHT CASES. There is no respect by
baggage handlers for anything they touch.

On a tour once, we were forced to take a 20 seat plane for part of the
trip. A trumpet player carried his horns on the plane in a soft case. They
made him put it in the cargo hold. After a long lecture (to the baggage
handlers) on how the need to be careful with it, they threw it into the
plane. The 3 trumpets in the case were unplayable after that.

The only exception about putting it in as cargo is if your group has special
cargo containers that your group packs. Most Orchestras/Bands, etc... do
this and it is relatively safe.

With the new luggage restrictions, it is getting really difficult to carry
bass clarinets on board. My solution is to be firm with the stewardesses
about not letting it go down below. I usually offer "Hey, I'll be happy to
put it in cargo if you give me the $6,000 it would cost to replace this
instrument *when* it is destroyed by your baggage handlers" When they hear
that, they usually relent.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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