 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aaron Diestel
Date: 2001-12-22 02:30
Hello All.
I'm going to be auditioning at many schools at many distant locations from my home base here in Kansas City. I'll be going to New York, Conn, Colorado, Chicago to name a few. I'll probablly be taking the airlines on many of the longer trips. I'm inquiring as to how many of you have taken your bass clarinets. Mainly the professionals in the field who have gone on tours, or others who have a nice instrument and don't want it out of your sight? I ahve a brand new Buffet Prestige Low C and dont want to be a nervous wreck thinking baout what COULD happen to it in the cargo bins.
What have you gone through and what is your experience and thoughts on the subject. Any advice for the safe transport of this instrument? I know my Bb and A will be OK as carry -on's but the bass I'm worried about.
Aaron
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-12-22 03:53
if you have the time you may want to ship the bass by UPS ahead of time.
it's to big for carry on. Besides they may think it is some kind or weapon! How many outsiders ever saw a bass clarinet.
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Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2001-12-22 04:43
Andrew Uren always flies with his Bass Clarinet, as do Harry Sparnay and Henri Bok. I believe they lie to the air crew- telling them that it's a violin or a viola. Andrew has done this with no problems in the US, Europe and Australia/NZ, however this method hasn't been tested since the Sept 11 tragedy- it might be more difficult to get away with it these days. I travelled to Clarinetfest 2000 with Andrew and i had more trouble with my Reedual (in what looked like a reasonably sized camera bag) than he did with his giant Bass Clarinet- mainly because he lied and said it was a Viola, and i tried to explain exactly what i was carrying (thank goodness no one thought to weigh the Reedual!). I can't imagine Andrew lying about anything else, but this one he does with a straight face....
good luck- this problem is a real pain in the neck.... i've had to fly domestic within NZ with a pair of clarinets plus Bass and Eflat and found it's actually just easier to borrow instruments when i have to play in Wellington or Christchurch.....(thanks for your Bass clarinet Debbie!)
nzdonald
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-12-22 04:45
After having my Leblanc contra getting the 10 cent tour of Texas, I'd be leary about shipping it by UPS. It finally ended up in a truck in San Antonio for the weekend and it got so hot that the styrofoam noodles stuck to the case to the point I had to scrape them off with a plastic spatula (wife still mad about that). Then scrub with one of those plastic pan scrubber things. I've also had pads on other clarinets get hot enough to come loose or out of set. I'd get a case cover, let 'em peek at it, then lock it up and throw it in the belly of the plane. Insure it!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-12-22 06:52
If you've got the money - the Wiseman cases are pretty much allowed on board airliners. You just sling it over your shoulder and saunter aboard ...
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-12-22 14:57
willie: if I told you once I told you a thousand times. Use real noodles not styrofoam--they don't melt.
Have a very Merry Christmas old buddy- and watch out for the snakes.
bob
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-12-23 03:33
I just had my bass on a united flight 3 days ago. The only thing they had a problem with was my homemade dampit. A pill bottle with holes drilled in it must look a bit suspicious under the x ray! I really can't advise putting the instrument under the plane. We've all seen how roughly luggage is handled, plus it gets really cold in the luggage hold. If you want your bass on the plane, just walk up to the gate confident that it's getting on. The more questions you ask, the more likely they'll ask you to check it in. Good luck and enjoy your travels.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2001-12-23 05:43
Don't miss Willie's advice about insuring the instrument(s). For non-professionals (those who do not play for pay) coverage is usually available quite cheaply as scheduled personal property under your (or your parent's) homeowners policy.
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2001-12-23 13:37
Here is a link to the American Symphony Orchestra League's "Tips for Traveling Musicians" It contains a link to a pdf document.
http://www.symphony.org/govaff/what/traveltips.shtml
Steve Hartman
NY, NY
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2001-12-23 13:39
PS: Lying to airport personnel might not be such a good idea in this post 9/11 world.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-12-24 04:37
I once had El Al take apart my camera's tripods legs in Jerusalem. Just think what fun they could have with a BC.
Bob A
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2001-12-26 13:00
Whatever you do, take your reed knife out of the case and put it into checked luggage.
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Author: Roger
Date: 2001-12-26 14:17
A funny story about reedknives. Back in 1989 I was a member of the orchestra of First Baptist Church in Tallahassee FL (the home of the dimpled chad), and played at the funeral of Rep. (former senator---quite a story behind that) Claude Pepper. There were many DC politicos at the serve. We did our rehersal and then were told there would be a security check. I went to lunch. When I came back, I learned that the security guards had seached my clarinet case and had a fit over my reedknife. The other clarinet player had to explain at length what is was for.
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Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2001-12-28 07:22
this thread is old now, probably no one will read this- but airport security in LAX had a total fit over my Reedual (when i was on my way to Clarinetfest 2000) and i nearly missed a connection. The lady who first examined it didn't know what a "Clarinet or Saxophone reed" was and told me to "put your hands by your side" when i reached into one of my bags to get a reed out to show her!
donald
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