Question: "Since this is my very first convention, should I take my gangster figure, Frank,
with me? And, if so, can I trust the airline to get him to Cincinnati safely?
He's my first hard figure and I wouldn't want anything to happen to him! I've
seen some of the seminar DVDs from past conventions and I've noticed some of the
vents have their figures with them, during the sessions. One part of me wants
to take Frank with me, while another part of me doesn't trust the airline.
Maybe that's unjustified; I don't know. I've never had to fly with a figure
before, other than my own - body! HA!" Danny
* * * * *
Do you have any advice for Danny?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I have never taken my puppet on an airline but I did take my banjo with me once. Here is what I learned about that. Is it too far for you to drive? The man at the check in told me to put the banjo in another section so it would be handled better and not be subject to a lot of rough handeling. He told me that in the regular baggage it would have a 5 foot drop on the conveyer belt. I had bought a hard banjo case in case I wanted to travel with it. When I picked it up after the end of the flight my banjo was fine but my brand new case looked about 10 years old. I was certainly glad that I had spent the extra money for a good case. I bought a case from Clinton for Joe which looks like a very good case. I don't know how it would hold up to the kind of abuse my banjo case got. Has anyone else had any experience?
ReplyDeleteWatch the following video on YouTube called United Breaks Guitars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo
ReplyDeleteWhat goes for guitars goes for figures!
Danny, here is what I did with Wally my sidekick. He is a 36 inch hard figure from Clinton. I put his head wrapped up in my carryon case. There are carryon cases in which it will fit. I put his body wrapped in some of my clothes in a hard sided suitcase. A body is easier to replace than the head. I have transported Wally four times from America to Hungary in Europe with no problems. Security will xray him and see all of the mechanics so I tell them it is my ventriloquist figure and you are welcome to see him. I tell them, "If you want I can make him talk." Most of them say that is not necessary. The only time I had trouble was when I shipped him in a crate from Papua New Guinea to Hungary (we are missionaries). He was damaged so I sent him to the Detwiler hospital for dummies and he performed a marvelous operation and made him look like new. I will again carry Wally's head in a carryon in July when we come home on furlough and will buy a new body for Wally from Clinton. Then he will have two bodies, one in Hungary and one in the States. Oh, but they say two heads are better than one! I will leave that discussion for another day. Good luck and enjoy the convention. Dan Peters, Baptist Missionary in Hungary. When you're hungry, pray for Hungary!
ReplyDeleteI remember 1 ConVENTion where one of the vents that was to do Senior Mic had put his character's head in one suitcase and the body in another. The body arrived at the Drawbridge but the head didn't About 1 hour prior to Senior Mic, the head suitcase was found and delivered. Best advice for you is to have your character as a carry on. Either that or just carry on the head and put the body in the cargo hold because someone at the ConVENTion can loan you a body.
ReplyDeleteThis will be my very first ConVENTion as well. One of the major features of the ConVENTion are the workshops. I would miss working with Larry and becoming a better vent if I left him home. I have heard other vents say to wrap up the head carefully and take it on a carry on and check the body. I am going to do this. I am confident that everything will workout perfectly. I am sure that Larry can continue his run for the White House when we return.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Hugh, Dan, Wilma and Jim for your advice and information! Yes, Hugh, it's too far for me to drive and will be much cheaper to fly. I'm now trying to decide whether I want to take Frank as a carry-on or just his head and check his body inside his hard case. I really want to take him with me. I just wasn't sure of the best way to do it. Plus, I haven't had Frank very long and am still shy about performing with him. Perfectionism sucks! But, I'm really excited about the trip! Thanks, again, for your kind words!
ReplyDeleteRemember, Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent unfortunate flyers!
ReplyDeleteBill Matthews