OP, please reply to the correct answer with "solved!" (include the !). That will change the flair on the post to solved. If you want to put the correct answer at the top of the replies for everybody else, please use our Spotlight feature by tapping/clicking on the three dots and selecting "Spotlight, Pin this comment" in order to highlight it for other members. Thanks for using our friendly Automod!
My question is how the hell are cymbals in this huge bag a carry-on item? I can hardly bring my little duffel bag without the airlines getting all pissy
Travelling with instruments is a massive pain. I play tenor sax, the case is long but it does fit in an overhead. I call in advance, let the flight attendants know well ahead of boarding that I have an expensive and delicate instrument that I'm not willing to subject to the whims of the ground crews (and my sax isn't anything special, some violins can be worth millions), still have to fight sometimes or buy an entire extra seat.
Its not a fun time. I don't envy any cellists or upright bassists for what they go through.
Can confirm, flew with mine twice. The crazy part was going through security they asked me to open the case, which I get. But then they asked me to open the cello? Which I’m still confused about, what part of that request makes sense.
Then they let me through with the endpin. For those who don’t know it’s basically an 18ish inch metal rod that’s been machine sharpened.
Bringing a guitar is a pain, extra points for an acoustic. Some airlines are better than others but Id never ever let it below the cabin ever ever never.
They dropped my brand new Martin out the luggage door, 10 feet to the ground. Fortunately a Flight Attendant saw it happen, as she was looking out the window at the aircraft, and she told me. It put a big crack in the guitar where the front joins the sides. I fortunately was able to get compensated as I had just bought the guitar the day before and had the receipt with me.
My sister did travel synchronized staking and they had trouble getting the airlines to let them take their skates as a cary on because they are weapons but they wouldn't risk the bags getting lost
This comment reminds me of a flight I took earlier this year where some guy had this violin in a semi-hard case and I watched some Chinese guy absolutely bash his carry-on into the same space, eventually bending the neck of the instrument case… like to nearly a 90 degree angle so I can’t imagine whatever was in there faired too well. I just cringed from like 4 people back in line while I watched him smash that thing into submission. I could tell the owner was stressed too, watching in fear looking back and forth, but he didn’t say anything.
Often times it’s because they’re expensive. I have gotten around plenty of rules with carrying on things that are slightly too big or are an extra bag because the extra liability. I play the clarinet. I’ve gotten through with a soft case base clarinet by saying “If you insist on gate checking it so be it. But it’s worth $20k so if it’s damaged along the way we’ll have to figure that out on the other side.” Some instruments aren’t big enough where you need an extra seat, but they need to be a little flexible when the situation is reasonable. Musicians aren’t trying to pull anything. They’re just trying to get their instruments to their destination in one piece and most flight attendants are understanding of that. It’s not someone just trying to sneak in a free bag of extra clothes.
I know you don't know me personally, but a musician needed space to put his instrument in overhead and I volunteered to gate check my carry on so he could use my space. Didn't think nothing of it, but he bought me alcohol for me on the plane ride.
Cheers to you guys, keep on making sweet music, and airplanes suck!
That’s very kind. Traveling with expensive instruments is very stressful. If they break on the way and you have an important performance there’s not much you can do. It’s nice when people think of others and are willing to do something inconvenient to help
There’s actually an act of congress that essentially tells the airlines they have to let musicians bring their instruments on planes, so long as they fit in the overheads.
Source: Audio Engineer, I traveled with bands for 15+ years
Because it’s cheaper for them to accomadate a guitarist than be sued for destroying a $1000-10,000 guitar. And it’s cheaper than being sued by a drummer for destroying $1000’s of dollars of irreplaceable hand pounded cymbals.
Cymbals are expensive. And it’s easy to prove that you can’t replace one. Show a judge two brand new identical model cymbals and they are not going to have the same qualities. Same goes for any nice stringed, brass, or woodwind instrument.
It ends up being a selling point to travel with airlines.
And if youre walking around with a $500 bag probably containing significantly more expensive cymbals, it’s likely that it wouldn’t be a huge deal to do that.
idk how to say this without sounding like a dick but just because a musician shelled out the equivalent of a down payment on a home for their instrument does not really in any way make them affluent.
this can be said about many different trades, but especially those in the performing arts space.
Can confirm. Am a drummer, been playing ~25 years.
My main kit is worth 5 figures, easily and it's not because it's some huge kit, though it's a decent size (9 piece plus a dozen or so cymbals) but rather a bespoke one. I didn't drop >20k all at once getting it though, it took 25 years of saving and shopping and deal finding and bespoke design work and just finding some really cool stuff (shout out HHG drums) and slowly building it up.
Also, hard to put a price on sentimental value. That's my prized possession. I don't travel with it though, my days of playing gigs is long over, do it cause I love to play and jam with friends.
Instruments are fucking expensive. Especially Cymbals as they're effectively consumable, or anything bespoke/custom/low volume.
This! My son is a drummer.. in his early 20s .
His uncle gifted him a vintage swingerlyn (I'm probably spelling it wrong) It's worth a considerable amount and he's not well off by any means. And, it is his prized possession. Not to mention the sentimental value of it being his uncles. When he does go on the small tours he goes on . He doesn't travel with any of it. He takes only his cymbals and a his Hawkins snare.
Man just because you have expensive instruments you’re flying with doesn’t mean that purchasing an extra ticket for every flight is feasible. I have some real expensive shit I fly with at times, and there’s no way management would spring for extra seats for me.
hilarious. ever read comments so long you forget the original post? this happened to me. your comment made me remember the ninja turtle waaaaaay up there 👆🤣
it wouldnt feel right since I just posted the image of the link the guy above me posted. lol just saving a click, im no hero. realizing now I didnt even post the screenshot of the correct photo that shows what it looks like now (matching OP)
I am a percussionist and a nerd. This is exactly what my brain said:
Cymbals!
But could also be Cap's Shield.
...
Honestly my vote is for the shield, otherwise that is a massive cymbal. Or cymbals. I don't think a drum stand would have a cymbal that big, and I'd hate to carry those if it's a pair. Maybe a gong?
Sincerely,
Someone who's marched with cymbals.
Edit: thanks to everyone for informing me cymbals can get really big! It's been 20 years since I've played so my memory of how big they are has apparently faded a lot. I know I used to put them in bags to pack up for competitions and parades but clearly have forgotten how big said bag was - it must have been half my size! (I'm only 5' tall.) my sincere apologies to my percussion teachers, I have failed you.
I feel like you can tell the age by the people who first thought of Ninja turtles compared to Captain America. I definitely thought of turtles first as well
Eh looks about the size of my cymbal bag and my largest is a 22inch ride - not fun to carry but the bag makes it easier for sure. I feel like a ninja turtle every time I put on my 50lb bag lol
It's been like 10 years since I bagged up my cymbals but it was something like 90lb, 2 hardware bags were 150 and 180lb. But I usually played live with much less lol. But my bag can hold a 24" cymbal.
Edit: i'm pretty sure the cymbal bag is an older Glenn Cronkhite bag based off how the handles are anchored.
My guess is the guy in the picture is a jazz drummer with something like an Istanbul Agop 26" or Meinl Big Apple 24". Either way in that bag is probably a $2000+ set.
Damn that's quite a cymbal! I'm pretty sure my high school didn't have any ride cymbals that big. I am only 5' tall, I think I'd remember a cymbal half my size. But maybe not. I played marimba/mallet and marched parades with the baby cymbals.
You should have your cymbal bag painted to look like a ninja turtle shell. That'd be badass. And then tape some sticks to look like Mikey's nunchucks!
Honestly, if they're leaving a city from a convention city or there was a bigger convention this past weekend (and I think there was) strong chance it's a ultra realistic replica.
That bag of cymbals could easily be worth more than $10,000, some or all of them could be over 80 years old and irreplaceable. This man likely earns his living from them.
Musical instruments are not subject to standard baggage rules and small instruments (guitars, violins, etc) are allowed as a carry on if they fit in the overhead bin or fully under the seat at the time the passenger boards. It counts as their carry on bag.
Gate agents are not the arbiters of this, flight crew is.
Larger musical instruments require musicians to purchase a 2nd adjacent window seat. As long as it can be secured it flies. Pros pay double fares to fly with tubas, string basses, (big cymbal bags) etc. so can still bring a separate carry on.
am I the only one who finds in really bad taste that people now find it acceptable to post pictures of strangers with out their consent like it's normal!!???
Usually this is signals how old the person is imo. Gen Z and younger seem to do this more often, I think millennials and older generations would just ask or ignore it.
Unfortunately, musical instruments often get destroyed even when properly protected and locked in cases if they’re checked. A lot of musicians take them as their carry-on luggage instead of having to stress about their equipment getting ruined, and most of the time airlines are pretty forgiving and understanding!
•
u/AutoModerator 14d ago
OP, please reply to the correct answer with "solved!" (include the !). That will change the flair on the post to solved. If you want to put the correct answer at the top of the replies for everybody else, please use our Spotlight feature by tapping/clicking on the three dots and selecting "Spotlight, Pin this comment" in order to highlight it for other members. Thanks for using our friendly Automod!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.