British cellists may no longer fly to New York

[Jcrowley]

Why British cellists may no longer fly to New York
By Mark Rice-Oxley, Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor Wed Sep 13, 4:00 AM ET

LONDON - For more than 30 years, Ralph Kirshbaum bought two airline tickets for his trips. The world-renowned American musician, who lives in England, bought one seat for himself, and the other for his strong, silent companion - a priceless 250-year-old Montagnana cello.

But British authorities say Mr. Kirshbaum must now sit alone. Since police broke up an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights last month, restrictions have been placed on travelers: Nothing larger than a laptop bag can be carried into airplane cabins. But cellists, violinists, and French horn players are loath to consign their instruments, often antiquities worth millions of dollars, to cavalier baggage handlers and the rough-and-tumble conditions of the aircraft hold.

As a result, hundreds of musicians in Britain are complaining that the measures designed to thwart terrorists are in fact punishing virtuosos with nothing more malicious in mind than a Saint-Saëns solo.

The performers, who shuttle around the world to concerts, rehearsals, and festivals with ancient instruments in tow, are warning that their performances - and even livelihoods - are in jeopardy because the new rules make international travel almost impossible.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060913/wl_csm/ocello

[tanyev]

1. Cellos on a plane!

AAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!

[Extend a Hand]

6. bahahahahahahaha

it had to be said. ;)

:rofl: :rofl:

[Horse with no Name]

2. Yeah well I can see how a cello can be mistaken for a terrorist

:sarcasm:

[Jcrowley]

5. Beware

Who needs classical music when we got Garth.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Given that even banjo players

using Calton cases , strongest known I believe, are reluctant to get their instruments trashed in the hold I can hardly blame a cellist with an antique cello .

[LeftHander]

21. I use to take my banjo traveling....

In a gig bag. It fit in the overhead. I woudl purposely board first, and sit in the back. (noisy there and people not always keen to sit in the way back. And use a overhead or ask to use the closet in front.

The gig bag allowed the banjo to fit through the small opening to the carry on x-ray thing.

I remember one operator saying....."wha...? OH! It's a banjo!"

not any more....

[dipsydoodle]

26. Well prior to the latest restrictions

there had been lots of threads on banjo-l on this subject. Safest bet these days seems to be to dismantle a short scale banjearine and pack it in a case. Performers like Debbie McClatchy keep banjos both sides of the Atlantic - she uses a super charged Bacon ff Pro here. :)

[lildreamer316]

4. Like they couldn't get a bomb in something SMALLER than a laptop???

DUH.
Oh, nevermind.

[holboz]

7. I see a resurgence of transatlantic boat travel...

When we move to back to england next year we're going to do it on the Queen Mary II. Cabin fare in a small suite is comparable to airfare these days. Granted there are other incidental expenses involved but we're using it as our holiday. Six lovely days crossing the Atlantic...um, provided there aren't any iceburgs. ;)

I don't blame the musicians for not checking their gear into the hold. My husband used to be responsible for all of the backline and insturments for a English musician and he was constantly having to lodge complaints against the airlines for manhandling and damaging their gear on transatlantic and transpacific flights.

[Horse with no Name]

8. No worries about iceburgs

Global warming, you know.:)

[shadowknows69]

10. In fact we might all want to give our sea legs some practice

In ten years anyone on a coast could be taking gondolas to the corner store.

[MADem]

14. And you can bring your antibacterial GEL, too--and you'll need it!!!

Given the way they don't do such a hot job of wiping down all those fecal-ish surfaces on those cruise liners....!!!!

I've sailed on the old QE2 several times...Actually, CUNARD does a good job, unlike a lot of these island hopping nightclubs at sea where it seems they wipe everything down with a filthy toilet brush.

[peace13]

9. Music! WE don't need no stinking music!

In *'s world there is no place for cultural arts and this is just another piece of the puzzle. Books, music, what's next?

[NashVegas]

11. Ever Watch the Baggage Handlers From a Window Seat?

They're the real terrorists, if you have any breakables in your luggage.

Sucks; last time I went home to NY state, I brought back a local wine in my carry-on. I've done the same with trips to San Fran. And I live in a state where it's illegal for individual consumers to have alcohol shipped in.

[marmar]

13. "where it's illegal for individual consumers to have alcohol shipped in"

Really? That's seems like a very antiquated law.

[NashVegas]

27. Yes Really

Draconian.

[wtmusic]

12. But if he buys a ticket for the cello...

Isn't the cello a "traveler", too?

When a jazz-player friend used to tour with his upright bass, he always bought a ticket for "Mr. Bass Fiddle". Hell, just send it through the gates like anyone else.

[MADem]

15. Nawwww....it's a TERRIST!!!!!

Who knows where that exacto knife might be secreted upon its devious person?

[KansDem]

23. Now that you mention it, the lacquer on a cello is pretty dark...

Hmmmm...aren't there any "white guy" cellos that these musicians could play?

[Coventina]

16. I don't blame the musicians one bit. No way would I send my guitar

through cargo.

Not a chance. And it's not even particularly valuable!

[wtmusic]

18. Good choice

A sight I'll remember: a blade of a forklift going entirely through a drummer's kick drum case, with pieces of drumhead and maple shell sticking out the other side.

[truthisfreedom]

17. simple solution... voluntary background checks on musicians, with special

permits for carrying instruments on board. voila. or viola, depending.

[wtmusic]

19. so if someone doesn't want to "volunteer" their personal info

they can't fly? (Oh right, if they have nothing to hide...) :crazy:

[MADem]

25. Or swim with the thing on their back...or book a cruise!

Or deny we doltish Americans ANY of that pesky 'furrin' classical music....yeah, that's the ticket.

Only Kickass Country Music will henceforth be allowed, by order of the Emperor Monkey in Chief....

[MamaBear]

20. Concerto for Laptop and Orchestra

Sounds like something PDQ Bach would be proud to present. Oh, Professor?

[Nikki Stone 1]

29. Actually, there are composers writing for laptop and orchestra

Computer music is just exploding at certain universities

[rodeodance]

22. no brainers at work to protect us!

[KansDem]

24. I had a quality instrument damaged once...

...to cavalier baggage handlers and the rough-and-tumble conditions of the aircraft hold.

I even had it marked with "Handle with Care" stickers--must have been like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

[Nikki Stone 1]

28. All the cellists I know buy a plane ticket for their cellos

This is going to affect musicians all over the place.

[Sparkly]

30. This is INSANE!!!

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[Karenina]

31. Frogs in heating water...

You're being CUT OFF, kids. I never let those security goons do anything more than hold my case until I got wanded through and opened it for them to inspect. Fortunately, it's small enough to fit in my backpack. If one plays a larger instrument that has to go in the hold, the fragile stickers are nothing more than waving a red flag in front of a bull. A friend had the neck of his cello INSIDE A HARDENED CASE sheared off. The damage IS OFTEN INTENTIONAL.