They should get together, and form small groups to share the costs. These... "bands," if you will, could then perform for money, possibly all at once to save time.

Though I guess if it were that easy, everybody would be doing it.

Virtual performances FTW

Why don't you get a van already! _Sheesh

I LOLed at "pianist".

+1

I'm an electric guitarist who's toured a lot this year, and I'm definitely not getting a kick...

Seriously. Electric guitar. They aren't that big, and it's become an enormous headache.

/not flying if i can help it

What if there was a way of capturing their music on some sort of object that could then be used to enjoy the music later in the comfort of our own homes. They wouldn't need to travel.

/pianola

Thanks Security Theatre! You've made it hard on people struggling for art (because the ones that made it just take the charter), and reduced our freedom to below what cold war iron curtain had in terms of flying.

What happens if Oasis wants you to come to London to play a solo on your xylophone for their next record? I guess you're just plain farked.

Bob Down:

What if there was a way of capturing their music on some sort of object that could then be used to enjoy the music later in the comfort of our own homes. They wouldn't need to travel.

/pianola


Exactly. Because nobody likes live music, right?

Band I was in last year flew halfway across the country twice because it was just as cheap and a hell of a lot easier than driving. Just make sure one of the members has a talent for sweet talking the girls/gay dude (they always are, somehow) behind the counter, get your gear on without paying the extra charges.

That's why I never take my high-end electric basses on planes. My American Jazz will have to suffice for the tour. In the right gig bag, it fits in the overhead compartment nicely, and if it does get broken or damaged, I'm not terribly upset.

For upright gigs, I take my NS EUB (new window), which worries me quite a bit, but is *far* better than taking my acoustic upright.

mctom:I'm an electric guitarist who's toured a lot this year, and I'm definitely not getting a kick...

Seriously. Electric guitar. They aren't that big, and it's become an enormous headache.

/not flying if i can help it

I'm about to find out if US Air will let me take my Fender with me onboard when I fly to San Diego tomorrow. Wish me luck.

I'm flying to Greece today, in about 6 hours, via Alitalia. I was planning on bringing my 7-string electric guitar. Any comments/advice on what to do, or I should be expecting?

I just flew back to Phoenix from Milwaukee with my tuba this past week. Checking it is not an option for me as even in a hard case, the horn still can receive an obscene amount of damage, instead I bought it a window seat for my travels. Luckily Milwaukee TSA agents were kind and sympathetic towards my plight and didn't hassle me very much, the same could not be said for Phoenix Sky Harbor TSA.

I do a few fly-in dates a year with a singer/songwriter who takes her acoustic guitar in a hardshell case. I take my electric bass in a gig bag. Our two instruments basically take up one overhead bin, and our 2nd carry-ons go under our feet. We haven't had any trouble yet, so we'll see how it goes. Right now we have a weekend each in September, October, and November. Hopefully the airlines don't get too uptight before then. I'm a left-handed player, so I can't just play whatever instrument the venue happens to supply. It's bad enough playing whatever amp they supply. Last time I submitted a long list of amps I'd be fine with for the backline (all the gear was being rented for this show, and they asked us what we wanted), and they had the one amp I said I didn't want...

DrBenway:Exactly. Because nobody likes live music, right?

Bob Down probably comes from the school of thought that music is well-captured by a 64kpbs MP3 and generic headphones.

The touring industry is going to hurt for a while...

As a professional musician, if there is no water in between you and the show, drive.

If there is, especially if its another country, have your record company take care of it (don't take no for an answer) to have gear rented for you and only bring your guitars and basses.

Its really your only choice, a headache (especially for the drummer having to work with a completely different kit) but its the only choice these days (Unless you have the cash to rent your own plane.)

This might be a problem.

When I buy my next horn, there is no way in Hell I'm not getting the bell cut. I can't fit my fixed bell anywhere on a plane. There's a reason they call them "flight cases."

/aargh

question for musicians flying to gigs:

with all the stories of TSA theft, i'm worried about going packing my keyboard



it's small enough to fit in a suitcase; but what's the likelihood of it being stolen? i wanted to do some shows in NYC (in Atlanta here) and maybe overseas (if i can finagle it)

thoughts?