A C-17 Globemaster III cargo jet is a very big aircraft. With a maximum payload of over 85 tons, the U.S, Air Force uses this aircraft to move anything from troops to the 70-ton M1 Abrams tank.
In contrast, I can barely fit my carry-on bag into the overhead compartment of some smaller domestic flights. So, when I found myself hitching a ride across Europe with the U.S, Air Force, I began to think about how I prepare for a trip and what I always have with me.
Documentation
When I recently did some overseas military shows, I quickly learned that your orders are your life. No matter where you go, you are always expected to have your ID (military or US passport) and your orders, a document that describes exactly where you’re allowed to be and under whose authority. This turned out to be pretty easy for me. It’s how I always travel.
I always make sure that I have a valid passport. (I can’t emphasize this enough.) It amazes me how many people I have seen lose work because their passport wasn’t up to date. If you don’t have a passport, or if yours is expired, finish reading this magazine and then go directly to your nearest post office to get your passport renewed.
Along with proper identification (for domestic and international travel) I always print out a travel packet for myself prior to leaving on a trip. This packet will include things like flight and hotel information, venue maps, and customer service numbers for all of the above. It will also have a show schedule including load-in, techs, rehearsals, shows, and load-out. It always includes a show-specific phone list with my TD, crew chief and anyone else I might need to contact. If I’m in a large complex, such as a Las Vegas casino, I’ll also print out floor layouts so that I can find my way to the ballroom or arena I’m working in. (Being lost on the casino floor usually doesn’t go over well as an excuse for being late to your call.)
Tools
When an Air Force maintenance crew is repairing an F-15 on an air base in Turkey, they can’t depend on having a Home Depot down the street if they forgot the right tool at home. While I have a higher likelihood of finding a hardware store near the gig, I never depend on it. I always have a small handful of critical tools that travel with me to every show.
My kit includes a 4-way screwdriver, two sets of hex keys (Allen wrenches), a jeweler’s screwdriver, a small flashlight, a crescent wrench (adjustable spanner), and a handful of other items. In addition to these staples, I pack a few other bits and bobs that I find useful. A digital clamp meter allows me to check voltage and current draw on the system. Black and white rolls of electrical tape and a small bundle of plastic zip ties allow me to organize FOH neatly. If I’m preparing a show to tour, I also bring a small label tape machine to neatly label FOH connections.
If you’re planning to carry tools onto a plane with you, be sure to check the TSA Web site for what they allow. Most hand tools fewer than seven inches in length are allowed. Also, effective January 1, 2008, loose lithium batteries (not installed in electronic gear) are no longer allowed in checked baggage.
Be aware, though, that every U.S. airport has the right to modify these rules, and you might find yourself checking your tools no matter how well you’ve planned. (Yet another reason to give yourself plenty of time for check-in and security these days.)
Baggage
Fifteen-foot wide palettes and dozens upon dozens of stackable heavy-duty plastic cases. That’s how the military moves a concert rig around the world in the back of a C-17. That and a lot of manpower.
The baggage that you use, be it a backpack, roll-aboard, pelican case, or all of the above, is a very personal choice. Not all bags are created equal, and not everyone has the same uses for them. When you’re looking for your next bag, ask yourself what you need it to do. Does it roll? Will it fit into airplane overhead compartments? Does it protect your laptop/iPod/floppy disks? Is it compartmentalized? Does it have a good warranty?
Remember also that you may be packing things that most bags aren’t specifically designed to hold. Look around for specialized baggage in other industries that might have similar needs. (I have found a couple of really great bags designed for cameras and photographic equipment.)
Deployment
The Air Force knows that no system is ever perfect. That’s why they are constantly analyzing themselves, looking for things that they can improve or streamline.
Try this exercise yourself: Type up a checklist of all the things you should have with you on every show. Before you leave for a gig, go down the checklist and look for things that you forgot to pack or things that you used up last show (like tape). After you’ve done this for several trips go back through your list and look for things that you don’t ever use. If they’re non-critical, consider removing them from your bag or downsizing to a smaller version of the same.
By printing out your trip packet and going through your checklist every trip, you’ll quickly find ways to travel more efficiently, and you’ll reduce stressful conditions on the road.
Good luck and safe travels!
