Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Carry On Baggage and the Arts
I'm travelling in just a few days for a meeting in Vancouver. This has me thinking a lot about how the newest restrictions on carry-ons for airlines might affect those in the arts. Here, it seems that anything that a musician might bring on board--like slide oil--could be a royal pain.
In the UK, the entire ban on carry on baggage obviously affected all travelers. But how about musicians who rely on their instruments to make their living? My uncle plays cello for the London Symphony Orchestra and it occurs to me that they fly in and out of the UK fairly often. The normal mode is to bring your instrument on board with you--if it is big you buy an extra seat for it. Placing expensive musical instruments into the hold verboten. Freezing cold AND not necessarily pressurized...
So as rough as not having toothpaste on the plane, or moms having to drink a little formula at security might seem. Imagine the impact this must be having for any artist group that must carry instruments with them.
In the UK, the entire ban on carry on baggage obviously affected all travelers. But how about musicians who rely on their instruments to make their living? My uncle plays cello for the London Symphony Orchestra and it occurs to me that they fly in and out of the UK fairly often. The normal mode is to bring your instrument on board with you--if it is big you buy an extra seat for it. Placing expensive musical instruments into the hold verboten. Freezing cold AND not necessarily pressurized...
So as rough as not having toothpaste on the plane, or moms having to drink a little formula at security might seem. Imagine the impact this must be having for any artist group that must carry instruments with them.
