Stop Traveling Musicians' Abuse!!! - Log
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AND PLEASE HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD!!!
Connect
with Arkady!!! |
AND SOMEONE, PLEASE TELL FOLKS LIKE THESE!!!!
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OK, if the CELEBRETIES can't help, how about US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice?! As an avid pianist, she should understand musicians' pain:)... Plus she loves playing chamber music, and thus knows how attached the musicians are to their instruments!!! Plus, she's got connections:)!... wink, wink:)... OK, let's be fair now... How about Bill
Clinton?!:) As a fellow sax player, he should have no problem "feeling musicians' pain"... |
 |
TONY BENNETT -- LUCKILY NOT A HORN PLAYER WHO FLIES COACH!!!
 |
Yes, Tony Bennett is nice people... Once I heard an old timer from Astoria, NY call
him "banana nose..." So, when I told Tony about that, a
great sport that is, he laughed:)... Here is a photo proof:) http://arkady.com/gallery.html ... On 9/24/06 I saw this article -- He
left his heart in Astoria -- on the news stand,
as I was iPod-walking in ASTORIA... See the original article
here http://arkady.com/stoptravelingmusiciansabuse-tonybennettnewsday20060924.html The spontaneity of LIVE recording, Tony is talking about, isn't so cheap... But, I don't want to get off the topic... |
These days, MUSICIANS are lucky to be working at all, and not be ABUSED AT THE AIRPORTS, like my friend, Valery Ponomarev, world renowned jazz trumpet player, who had his arm broken by Air France recently, cause they thought that their plane would blow up, if his trumpet was in an overhead compartment, vs. under then plane! (scroll down to my Previous Posting for more on that story).
Hey, I too was almost violated by American Airlines and TSA, here in the US, when I was carrying 1 more piece, over 2 pieces carry-on limit. That 3rd piece was a straight tube-like case, containing a Soprano sax. It's the same type of saxophone that most undereducated public associates with Kenny G...
But, not everyone is a NAME like Tony Bennett, Kenny G, and others, who are mentioned or not in that Newsday article on Tony Bennett, which I have attached/posted here, in case it is taken offline, or becomes a pay per view archive...
How NICE it would be if ALL THOSE STARS-NAMES could lend their CELEBRETIES STATUS to this SIMPLE CAUSE, since Bono can't rescue everyone...:) --
DEAR AIRLINES ETC. -- PLEASE DON'T ABUSE OUR FELLOW MUSICIANS!!
Gigs, work, is already hard to come by.
Having one's instrument broken, stolen, or damaged doesn't help.
Breaking trumpet player's arm doesn't make an airplane any safer!!!
Hey, I personally, as a sax player, would gladly take out my horn at the TSA Screening and play a song, or take requests, if that what it takes to convince the TSA or AIRLINES that I am not a bomb or drugs carrying mule for the terrorists!!!
What are these folks gonna do next, ask Itzhak Perlman to dance, in order for him to be allowed to carry-on his violin?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itzhak_Perlman
So, if anyone reading this runs into Tony Bennett, or any other CELEBRETIES, please ask them to SPEAK OUT FOR THEIR FELLOW MUSICIANS... Hey, all CELEBRITIES were not FAMOUS always, and, if that was true for some of them today, they'd be lucky to get on the plane with their instruments, or not have their arms broken!!!
Till I can afford a $4,000 ticket in 1st or business class, as opposed to $300 in coach, on the same flight, where as the AIRLINES would HOPEFULY treat me with more respect, PLEASE SOMEONE START SPEAKING OUT IN DEFENCE OF TRAVELING MUSICIANS!!!
And, of course, if the POLITICIANS need a break from kissing babies, maybe they could HUG A MUSICIAN:)?!?!?
And, if you know anyone in MEDIA, AIRLINES, POLITICIANS etc., PLEASE share this topic with them!!!! Musicians need ALL HELP THEY CAN GET!!!
That is exactly what I have already suggested to American Federation of Musicians, and NYC, Musicians Local 802... Hopefully they will DO something about it!!!
October 5, 2006
Dear UNDISCLOSED fellow musician,
After reading your very upsetting HORRROR STORY about the way Delta Airlines had ABUSED you at NYC's, La Guardia Airport recently, I went to Delta's website, and I spoke to Tina, Delta Reservations Supervisor. It was like talking to a robot, which is "who" I think composed these web pages:
Baggage Allowances on Flights
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/baggage_allowance/index.jsp
Musical Instruments
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/special_baggage/fragile_bulky/musical_instruments/index.jsp
Basically, Delta is CLEARLY using Terrorism as a PRETEXT to STICK IT TO THE MUSICIANS and force them to buy extra seats...
The FUNNY part in your incident was that, after you PAID for that extra seat, so that 2 musicians could bring their instruments as carry-on, they still forced you to put your trombone and sax into overhead compartment. Thus you were charged for AN EMPTY SEAT!!!!
The weight of the plane remained the same, compared to if you checked those PRECIOUS INSTRUMENTS into luggage...
Those instruments got checked by TSA, unlike most of luggage that is being checked-in and is put on the plane unscreened, and same goes for sea ports cargo...
Thus 2 more passengers, you and the sax player, were no longer terrorism suspects, because your instruments went through TSA Screening, unlike most of the LUGGAGE that only randomly gets checked:)!
So, you paid for an EMPTY SEAT, and thus the POTENTIAL THIEVES-CRIMINALS didn't get to STEAL your trombone and sax off the luggage carousel, compared to if your checked those instruments in, and you got to that carousel a minute too late... Hey, as we all know, NOBODY checks to see WHO picks up the luggage. It could be ANYBODY, but the owner-passenger...
And, in your case it was not a Point A and B round trip. It was points A - B - C, C - B - A ROUND TRIP!!! Thus more likely to have your instruments stolen, damaged or lost!!!
And, unlike LaGuardia, Delta folks at points B and C had no problems with these 2 instruments [ trombone and sax] being carried onto the the SAME PLANES, ON THE SAME AIRLINE!!! Can you hear me now, DELTA AIRLINES!!!
The SHAMEFUL ACTIONS of Delta and other AIRLINES hurt not only the musicians, but the GOOD PEOPLE who work at those airlines.
The sad part will be that the GOOD PEOPLE at the airlines will be LAID OFF, cause the AIRLINES will end up losing money, and good luck to those good people who will be fighting for their jobs vs. those AIRLINES MANAGEMENTS!!!
Additionally, a lot of MUSICIANS will be ABUSED, as their LIMBS a.k.a. INSTRUMENTS get STOLEN or DAMAGED, simply because the AIRLINES, like DELTA in this case, are not willing to find a solution for this problem!!!!
I do call on American Federation of Musicians to OFFICIALLY BOYCOT DELTA AIRLINES and such ASAP in a MOST PUBLIC WAY!!! Maybe that will put other AIRLINES on notice!!
And I hope that everyone I know will show their SOLIDARITY with the MUSICIANS!!!
For now, I am posting this email on my website, anonymously as per your request.
My only other advise, for now, is to keep pen and paper ready, so that you can write down the names of those ABUSERS-MONSTERS at the airports.
Hopefully, you'll be lucky enough not be subjected to that kind of ABUSE!!! But, if you do, let there be NAMES and RANKS etc... The more DOCUMENTATION, the better....
Please stop by at this webpage for more information and tips on this topic...
ARKADY, LOCAL 802, Friday, October 5, 2006
September 19, 2006
WHERE IS AFM ( American Federation of Musicians top officers) - (212) 869-1330, MUSICIANS LOCAL 802 - (212) 245-4802 ETC ON THIS TOPIC?!?!!!!
WHY AREN'T YOU SCREAMING FOR ALL OF US?!
WHY HASN'T ANYONE FROM AFM, LOCAL 802 even acknowledged my previous emails(see below) on this topic???
Are you guys too busy badmouthing each other trying to get (re)-elected:):):)?!?!?!? WHAT A SHAME, AND EMBARRASSMENT!!!!
Below is a LOG of my EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS regarding this Carry-on of Instruments on Airplanes Issue...
I am BCC'ing it to my fellow musicians and friends!!! Hopefully ALL OF THEM will join in and hold your and many other feet to the fire!!!!
PLEASE take on this topic BIG TIME ASAP:)! How many musicians need to get hurt before you guys MAKE BIG NOISE?!?!!?
ARKADY, LOCAL 802, Tuesday, August 29, 2006
website: http://www.arkady.com
•••• MUSICIAN'S ARM BROKEN BY AIRLINES FOLKS! ••••
Today, 9/18/06, I heard the latest example of a musician being ABUSED and INJURED for trying to bring his instruments aboard the plane... Except, in this case it was someone I know PERSONALLY... Google these Keywords,
VALERY PONOMAREV TRUMPET AIRPORT BROKEN ARM
and you'll see more info... Or here are a few LINKS to save you time. Please don't be distracted by the Left/Liberal flavor of these articles... Valery Ponomarev http://www.valeryponomarev.com/Biography.html is not a POLITICAL GUY, he is just a JAZZ MUSICIAN who simply wants to share his music with the world...
New York Times article
A Trumpet, a Struggle, and a Musician’s Broken Arm -- Valery Ponomarev abused in Paris!!!
The Ballad of Valery Ponomarev.
It's Their Way Or It's Their Way.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/16/72849/4595
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2006/9/15/55125/2698
http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=4847B52866FDC86A3F1476C70E3FA463?diaryId=11760
http://www2.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2006/9/15/55125/2698
Whether Valery plays JAZZ, or any other type of music, is IRRELEVANT, when it comes to PARENT-CHILD-like relationship that musicians have with their INSTRUMENTS!!!! One would never suggest checking a CHILD into baggage:), but to MUSICIANS, their instruments are like their LIMBS, like their CHILDREN!!!
When I recently flew, I was ALMOST separated from my INSTRUMENT(S)!!!! It was a SICKENING EXPERIENCE, STRESS AND HUMILIATION that I will never forget!!!
The CHAOS and the ABUSE of the musicians at the AIRPORTS MUST STOP!!!
Off the record, a baggage handler for American Airlines confirmed that THINGS DO GET STOLEN, but that it's more likely to happen on the smaller airlines, where the baggage handlers are not Union, are underpaid, and are more likely to STEAL...
Add to that the fact that an instruments or baggage could be taken off the carousel by ANYONE, and so, if the passenger doesn't get to there before the luggage does, it's POSSIBLE that ANYONE can pick up a piece of luggage, or INSTRUMENT, and WALK OUT from the airport, because NOBODY is checking whether that piece of luggage belongs to a person carrying it!!!!! And, if one is arriving from abroad, there is an additional delay at the CUSTOMS, thus giving THIEVES more time to walk away with possibly YOUR LUGGAGE!!!!
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!?!!?!?!
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CALLING ON THE AFM (see their email addresses in TO of this email, copy them and tell them how you feel... !!!!), your local Musicians Union (Local 802 email addresses are in CC of this email, copy them and tell them how you feel... !!!!), POLITICIANS, MEDIA etc, to spotlight this topic!!!!
I am probably going to start a webpage or website dedicated to this topic, but for now, PLEASE FORWARD this to THE WORLD and MAKE NOISE!!!!
WHEN SENDING MASS EMAILS, PLEASE REMEMBER THE "GOLDEN RULE OF EMAIL" --
BCC = PRIVACY = LESS SPAM!!!!!!
SEE THE LINK BELOW FOR INFORMATION
ON FIGHTING SPAM AND HOAXES:
http://arkady.com/bcc.html
I.E. PLEASE DELETE MY EMAIL ADDRESS, AND ALL OTHER EMAIL ADDRESSES FROM PREVIOUS FORWARDS, IF YOU ARE GOING TO FORWARD THIS EMAIL!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Dear American Federation of Musicians top officers,
Tom Lee <presoffice@afm.org>, Sam Folio <sam@afm.org>, Stanton Davis <sdavis@afm.org>, Harold Bradley <hbradley@afm.org>
LOCAL 802 (NYC, USA), see them in CC of this email,
Fellow Musicians (BCC), to whom it may concern!!!
Below is a LOG of my EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS regarding this Instruments on Airplanes Issue...
Hope yall can take on this topic BIG TIME:)!
ARKADY, LOCAL 802, Tuesday, August 29, 2006
website: http://www.arkady.com
> From: Mikael Elsila <melsila@local802afm.org>
> Organization: Allegro Editor
> Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 11:26:28 -0400
> To: <arkady1@mac.com>
> Subject: Instruments on airplanes
>
> Dear Local 802 member,
>
> It's time once again for "Beat on the Street." This month's
question is the
> following:
>
> "In your travels as a musician, how have you successfully negotiated
carrying
> your instrument aboard a plane? Do you have any tips to share?"
>
> By answering, you agree to have your response edited and printed in Allegro.
> As usual, short and concise responses have a better chance of being published.
>
> Musically,
>
> Mikael
>
> Mr. Mikael Elsila, editor
> Allegro, the newspaper of the New York City musicians' union
> Local 802, American Federation of Musicians
> 322 West 48th Street
> New York, NY 10036
> (212) 245-4802, ext. 179
> melsila@local802afm.org
Mikael, Local 802,
THANKS A ZILLION for putting this EXTRA IMPORTANT TOPIC on a front burner....
AFM,
Can you hear me now?!?!?
I am about to travel with my alto and soprano sax, plus laptop, and this TOPIC has been giving me HUGE ANXIETY!!!!
****Below is my Reply to a Reply from AFM on this very TOPIC, and I STRONGLY FEEL that at least some of my IDEAS-SOLUTIONS deserve consideration...
Meanwhile, as of yesterday, 8/28/06, when I stopped by at Sam Ash Woodwinds store on 48th st., they didn't have any SOLUTIONS, cases to offer, and couldn't even think of any.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP from AFM, 802 and MUSICIANS CELEBS... Then, maybe, when we get some respect and understanding from the PUBLIC, AIRLINES ETC -- worldwide, we can build on that, and get HEALTH CARE for musicians, instead of the CURRENT JOKE called Plan A or Plan B..., so that musicians don't need to pass a hat, asking for donations, via email, when one of us gets sick, and Plans A or and B run out!!!!
Where are Local 802's President, LEADERS on this TOPIC OF AIRLINES CARRY-ON. How come I don't see them on the TV making NOISE about it?
I know that Local 802 is about to have an ELECTION, and I already received this email from The Members Party <membersparty@nyc.rr.com> and on their website http://www.membersparty.com/ including this page
http://www.membersparty.com/memberspartyrecordandplatform.htm
I saw ZERO MENTION of this TOPIC!!!
As a Member of 802, BEFORE ANYONE TRIES TO SUCKS ME into OFFICE POLITICS etc., He Said She Said of the Local 802 Elections, please PROTECT MY HORNS at the airport, and my HEALTH, then let us, the members, decide on WHOEVER IS the BEST PROTECTOR!!!
And, in the PROCESS of PROTECTING OUR HORNS, INSTRUMENTS, AND OUR HEALTH, WE'LL BE REMINDING THE WORLD ABOUT LIVE vs. CANNED MUSIC which needs all the PROTECTION it can get!!!!
Where are BONO, WYNTON MARSALIS, P. DIDY, MADONNA, BILL CLINTON, COUNTRY SINGERS, BRUCE SPRINGSTEIN, SPIKE LEE, WOODY ALLEN ETC. AND COUNTLESS OTHER SHOW BIZ CELEBS who are known for their HIGH MEDIA PROFILES? They ALL know MUSICIANS personally, and many of those musicians are EFFECTED by this INSANITY AT THE AIRPORTS!
Boy, wouldn't it be great if Kanye West helped make some noise for the musicians?
Surely, between those CELEBS, AFM & Local Musicians Unions, someone can get a few PUBLICISTS and POLITICIANS together:):)!!! How bad a CAUSE could this be:)!?!? And, the good thing is that it's not like we'd be asking for DONATION$:)!!!
Hey, WOODY ALLEN has been seen with clarinet -- maybe he is looking for a TOPIC:)!? Or Saturday Night Live, and other TV COMEDY SHOWS?! A biting comedy sketch would help!!!
All we are asking for is RESPECT and UNDERSTANDING for the MUSICIANS from the TRAVEL INDUSTRY!!!
If the attached TSA LETTER (pdf attached) is the LATEST VERSION, it is still PATHETIC, and doesn't even qualify as a FIG LEAF to cover this SHAMEFUL TOPIC ASAP!!!! Thanks Jim Hannen for emailing it to me. Can 802 update their website with this LATEST(?) VERSION of this almost MEANINGLESS LETTER?!?!?
Will there EVER be a day, where the MUSICIANS won't be like CHARITY CASES, AT THE MERCY OF SOMEONE'S WHIM AT THE AIRPORTS WORLDWIDE?!
How many STRADIVARIUS violins etc., or vintage saxes etc, Laptops with PERSONAL DATA(IDENTITY THEFT). have to be DISTROED, LOST OR STOLEN WHILE TRAVELING, tours cancelled. etc. BEFORE someone makes enough NOISE to EMBARRASS the AIRPORT FOLKS AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY!!!, whomever they are, from TOP TO BOTTOM!!!
THE WORLD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR INSTRUMENTS ARE NOT SIMPLY "PERSONAL ITEMS" which is a subject to a whim of WHOMEVER decides to abuse a musician at the airport at any time!!!
TO MOST MUSICIANS THEIR INSTRUMENTS ARE LIKE THE EXTENSIONS OF THEIR BODIES, LIKE THEIR CHILDREN!!!
IF NOTHING ELSE, MOST MUSICIANS WOULD ON THIS PLANTE AGREE AT LEAST ON THAT!!! Just ask them!!!!
Sincerely,
ARKADY, LOCAL 802, Tuesday, August 29, 2006
website: http://www.arkady.com
JAZZCORNER PODCAST - JAZZ ARTISTS PROFILES
http://www.jazzcorner.com/innerviews/
GREAT MOVIE ABOUT THE MUSIC BIZ FROM THE INSIDERS'
POINTS OF VIEW!!!
http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
-----------**** EMAIL TO & FROM AFM TO & FROM ARKADY.COM ------------------
------ Forwarded Message
From: "ARKADY.COM"
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:15:06 -0400
To: "Hal Ponder, AFM, L802" <cmcgurn@afm.org>, "Bill
Dennison, Local 802" <bdennison@local802afm.org>
Conversation: Baggage Rules Trouble Musicians - New York Times Article
- American Federation of Musicians
Subject: Baggage Rules Trouble Musicians - New York Times Article - American
Federation of Musicians
Eric,
Thanks for sending me this Auto Reply:) [below] -- most likely that's what this is... But that's understandable...
> This letter, and a subsequent updated version,
have virtually eliminated such
> problems.
Where can I download the LATEST PDF Version of this letter?!?!?! If such PDF DOWNLOAD version is not available, it MUST be made available ASAP, and the DOWNLOAD LINK should appear in EVERY ISSUE of the International Musician, so that it can't be missed by the musicians reading it.
Furthermore, for those musicians, who are not technically proficient, and there are plenty of those around, there should be Automated Fax On Demand, Toll Free (preferably) Number.
This TOPIC should be in the MASS, MAINSTREAM MEDIA often enough, and the "DIFFICULT", MUSICIANS UNFRIENDLY CARRIERS should be exposed as such in a VERY PUBLIC WAY, short of law suit on the carrier(s') part against AFM...
Since this TOPIC has been an ONGOING DILEMA for musicians, long before the recent nightmare in UK, there should be a LOUD AND CLEAR website dedicate to this TOPIC SPECIFICALLY, and its CATCHY NAME, like...
TRAVELINGMUSICIANS.COM
Or these
HUGATRAVELINGMUSICIAN.COM
DON'THURTATRAVELINGMUSICIAN.COM
should be mentioned on EVERY POSSIBLE OCCASION, verbally or in writing in conjunction with this topic....
I bet, if AFM issued an APPEAL, EVERY BAND, big name (U2, Stones etc) or not, would PROUDLY display that website's BANNER, and thus THOUSANDS attending their performances would be starring at such banner the same way sports fans can't escape ads at sports venues...
The SIDE EFFECT BENEFIT could be that this website/banner would remind PUBLIC that there are MUSICIANS out there, and not all of them are ROCK STARS traveling in chartered planes, and thus not subject to these issues..
Articles like this http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/15/arts/music/15tour.html?_r=1&oref=slogin MUST be AMPLIFIED to the max!!!
Buy this article from NY Times, or here it is...
Surely this TOPIC is no less important than AFM's other topics, like PENSION, and INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY rights.
This TOPIC transcend any political, religious, economic etc. divides, an can UNITED the ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY a lot quicker than most CAUSES!!!
Hey, a little UNITY won't hurt, particularly these days, don't you think?!
And, BTW, there is no reason why this TOPIC should be limited to US and Canada... LET'S GO GLOBAL!!!
And of course, let's give our POLITICIANS a chance:)...
http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/contact/contact.html
It would also be a good reminder about LIVE MUSIC, PLAYED BY LIVE MUSICIANS, but I don't want to turn this email into a RANT:)
These are my immediate thoughts for now... Thanks a lot for acknowledging my email...
ARKADY
website: http://www.arkady.com
> From: ebeers <ebeers@afm.org>
> Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 17:28:05 -0400
> To: <arkady>
> Cc: hponder <hponder@afm.org>
> Conversation: Baggage Rules Trouble Musicians - New York Times
> Subject: Baggage Rules Trouble Musicians - New York Times
>
> Dear Arkady,
>
> Hal Ponder is out of the office and asked that I respond to your email
on his
> behalf.
>
> Yes, the AFM has taken action to improve conditions for traveling musicians.
> Before addressing this issue however, I think it's important to note that
the
> plans the UK government uncovered to blow up 10 planes over the Atlantic
could
> have resulted in over 3,000 deaths. Surely you can understand severe measures
> would be taken, if only for a short time (and are already being rolled
back),
> for all travelers until such time as passengers safely could be reasonably
> assured. I understand and sympathize with the concerns of traveling musicians,
> and I myself am a musician. But when balancing our needs against mass
murder
> of the potential scale uncovered, UK officials felt it necessary to err
on the
> side of caution.
>
> The "OLD TSA Letter" you refer to has been incredibly useful
and has served
> the exact purpose for which it was originally intended; ensuring that
musical
> instruments may be carried through screening/security checkpoints. This
> letter, and a subsequent updated version, have virtually eliminated such
> problems.
>
> Despite our numerous best efforts to inform people otherwise, individuals
> continue to use the letter as a means to get instruments on board that
might
> otherwise be denied cabin access. The letter was never intended to be
used
> with individual airlines as airlines are free to establish and enforce
their
> own policies without interference from the TSA. (It's important to note
the
> TSA has no authority to dictate anything to air carriers.) Therefore the
AFM
> has been working with individual airlines to continue improving traveling
> conditions for our members. We have made much progress with many of the
> airlines and even secured policy changes specific to musical instruments.
> However, we have had very little success with Delta (and over 90% of our
> complaints are about this one airline) and have on several occasions advised
> our members to avoid Delta at all costs.
>
> Finally it is worth noting that the AFM, or any U.S. entity for that matter,
> has absolutely no jurisdiction to demand or even suggest that the UK handle
> matters differently. Nor would the UK have that authority if the situation
> were reversed.
>
> I understand the frustrations that accompany traveling with a musical
> instrument, and we will continue to pursue all avenues to improve conditions
> for our members.
>
> Eric Beers, SSD
-------------------------
Dear Mr. Ponder, American Federation of Musicians, Local 802,
I'd like to hear from you regarding this topic:
--------------------------------------------
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/14/arts/14arts.html
New York Times -- Arts, Briefly
Compiled by LAWRENCE VAN GELDER
Published: August 14, 2006
Baggage Rules Trouble Musicians
Bolshoi Theater musicians, fearing harm to their instruments
under strict new British airport security regulations, will probably
have to leave England by rail and fly home to Russia from Paris when
their engagement at the Royal Opera House in London ends on Saturday,
the BBC reported. Alexander Vedernikov, the chief conductor, said the
musicians were under contract to keep their instruments with them and
could not check them as luggage. Russian news media noted that musicians
of the Bolshoi, based in Moscow, borrow their instruments from Russia’s
state collection and have no right to part with them under any circumstances.
Mr. Vedernikov spoke in Moscow a day after a terror plot froze traffic
at Heathrow Airport in London and led to a ban on cabin baggage. He said
his remark was prompted by noticing instruments checked as cargo on his
flight to Moscow as he flew home ahead of the rest of the group. “I saw
two violins being checked in as luggage, which is unacceptable,” the
RIA Novosti news agency quoted him as saying.
---------------------------------------
But what about musicians that travel solo, or in small groups, who can't make this much pr noise?
Is American Federation of Musicians, (212) 869-1330, DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, besides that OLD TSA Letter about carry-on's? That letter is OUTDATED, and is still subject to the whims of whomever at the airports:)!
If the RUSSIANS (Bolshoi Theater musicians) can make this pr noise, and throw their $$ weight around(?!), SURELY American Federation of Musicians needs to EXPOSE this old issue, which only got worse recently.
Sax player carrying alto or tenor sax + soprano sax, in addition to a carry-on bag with a laptop etc. is automatically over the 2 pieces/45 linear inches (less for some airlines) rule!!!
Is the musician supposed to check in one of those instruments, or the laptop?
This is particularly AWFULL last minute (at the gate?), when the luggage has already been checked, and it is not a direct flight?
Besides the FRAGILITY, the $1,500(?) Liability Limit for airlines, or music instruments insurance, litigation etc., what about the NIGHTMARE if the stuff doesn't get there when a musician gets to the out of town gig?!
Private Information on a laptop falling into wrong hands, or precious instruments getting stolen or damaged -- such is a NIGHTMARE that musicians are now facing if they are flying from England, or if they run into a moody official at the airport!!!
What is the American Federation of Musicians, (212) 869-1330, DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?! Can you hear me now?
What about (212) 245-4802 Local 802, that is in NYC, the MEDIA center of the world?!!!
PLEASE STEP IN ASAP on this topic, and DEMAND that airlines/airports give the music instruments the same courtesy as the lipstick, iPod's etc, which have just been un-banned by the British[starting tomorrow] according to CNN?!:)
I'd appreciate your Reply, thanks a lot!
ARKADY
website: http://www.arkady.com
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