Comments on: Basses, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Part 4 – Baggage handlers treat basses like chimps on amphetamines http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html double bass news, stories, downloads, podcasts, and more! Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:11:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Alex Jones http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-15213 Alex Jones Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:27:03 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-15213 Apparently, we aren't the only ones that airlines hate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&feature=channel Apparently, we aren’t the only ones that airlines hate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&feature=channel

]]> By: Airlines are the enemy of bass players http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-10138 Airlines are the enemy of bass players Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00:43 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-10138 [...] no recourse at present but to take it on the chin with a bittersweet smile. I’ve had horrific bass travel moments like this before, let me assure [...] [...] no recourse at present but to take it on the chin with a bittersweet smile. I’ve had horrific bass travel moments like this before, let me assure [...]

]]> By: They’re throwing bags at our basses now! http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-5566 They’re throwing bags at our basses now! Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:00:40 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-5566 [...] had something similar happen to me at Midway Airport in Chicago. These baggage handlers can ruin our livelihood and do so on a daily [...] [...] had something similar happen to me at Midway Airport in Chicago. These baggage handlers can ruin our livelihood and do so on a daily [...]

]]> By: Jason http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-1397 Jason Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:59:29 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-1397 Amen to that! Nothing like having that broken bass neck flop out of the case when you open it. Amen to that! Nothing like having that broken bass neck flop out of the case when you open it.

]]> By: Sean http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-1396 Sean Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:14:27 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-1396 A few weeks ago, I would not have known the pain and the frustration that must be like having your neck snapped off on the bass. However, last week my neck broke off after a hard slam on the floor of my car. In a rush to a rehearsal I was pulling my bass out of the car when my hand slipped and the bass fell right into the floor of my minivan. Opened up my bag and there ya have it! The neck snapped right off. And I had All State in three days! Luckily, my teacher allowed me to borrow his bass and before going up to Rochester (The Conductor was a friend of yours; Dennis Brown) I brought my bass in to be repaired. I horrible experience, I hope neither of us experience it again! A few weeks ago, I would not have known the pain and the frustration that must be like having your neck snapped off on the bass. However, last week my neck broke off after a hard slam on the floor of my car. In a rush to a rehearsal I was pulling my bass out of the car when my hand slipped and the bass fell right into the floor of my minivan. Opened up my bag and there ya have it! The neck snapped right off.

And I had All State in three days!

Luckily, my teacher allowed me to borrow his bass and before going up to Rochester (The Conductor was a friend of yours; Dennis Brown) I brought my bass in to be repaired.

I horrible experience, I hope neither of us experience it again!

]]> By: Jason Heath http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-1041 Jason Heath Sun, 16 Sep 2007 04:26:00 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-1041 Getting your neck snapped off is not something that is much fun, but add the suspicion of you being a terrorist....uuugh. Getting your neck snapped off is not something that is much fun, but add the suspicion of you being a terrorist….uuugh.

]]> By: Jason Heath http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-1040 Jason Heath Sun, 16 Sep 2007 04:24:00 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-1040 Thanks for the great comments on this latest story. It's great to hear that people are enjoying the writing. I really enjoy writing these tales, and I've got a whole slew of them that I'm thinking about and working on all the time. Thanks for the great comments on this latest story. It’s great to hear that people are enjoying the writing. I really enjoy writing these tales, and I’ve got a whole slew of them that I’m thinking about and working on all the time.

]]> By: Benjy http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-1034 Benjy Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:49:00 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-1034 My bass neck snapped off in a straw case back in 1981 while touring the USA with the Toulouse Chamber Orchestra for 2 months. Everything went fine up until the 33rd and final concert. <br/><br/>On the way back to France, I preferred transporting the neck and fingerboard with me on the plane. I wrapped it up in t-shirts securely fastened with rubber bands. Its other half traveled back in its case. As I entered security, the security guards thought it I was carrying a MACHINE GUN and I was strongly questioned about my hidden intentions.<br/><br/>From all of the horror stories that I have read on this blog, mine is probably the only one where a bass player has been ultimately compared to a terrorist. <br/><br/>Things may now change after all of our needless travel suffering. Airline companies shouldn't be surprised if we now start seeking some soothing revenge! My bass neck snapped off in a straw case back in 1981 while touring the USA with the Toulouse Chamber Orchestra for 2 months. Everything went fine up until the 33rd and final concert.

On the way back to France, I preferred transporting the neck and fingerboard with me on the plane. I wrapped it up in t-shirts securely fastened with rubber bands. Its other half traveled back in its case. As I entered security, the security guards thought it I was carrying a MACHINE GUN and I was strongly questioned about my hidden intentions.

From all of the horror stories that I have read on this blog, mine is probably the only one where a bass player has been ultimately compared to a terrorist.

Things may now change after all of our needless travel suffering. Airline companies shouldn’t be surprised if we now start seeking some soothing revenge!

]]> By: Anonymous http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-1032 Anonymous Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:43:00 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-1032 You are a great writer -- right up there with Dave Berry.<br/><br/>As for the woes of the traveling bassist: I had just joined my first bass forum Monday, asking how one gets his bass from Iowa to Italy. After reading this blog, I think my son will rent basses wherever he goes.<br/><br/>But he's hoping to study the jazz scene in Milan for a year (or semester) after he learns Italian and completes at least one year of college (that would be next year).<br/><br/>Cheaper to BUY a new bass in Italy than pay $5K in repairs, right????<br/><br/>C You are a great writer — right up there with Dave Berry.

As for the woes of the traveling bassist: I had just joined my first bass forum Monday, asking how one gets his bass from Iowa to Italy. After reading this blog, I think my son will rent basses wherever he goes.

But he’s hoping to study the jazz scene in Milan for a year (or semester) after he learns Italian and completes at least one year of college (that would be next year).

Cheaper to BUY a new bass in Italy than pay $5K in repairs, right????

C

]]> By: Matt Heller http://doublebassblog.org/2007/09/basses-planes-trains-and-automobiles-part-4-%e2%80%93-baggage-handlers-treat-basses-like-chimps-on-amphetamines.html/comment-page-1#comment-1031 Matt Heller Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:23:00 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/?p=1551#comment-1031 I had a very similar story, and a very similar shattered neck block, on a SwissAir flight in 2001 - specifically, September 4, 2001. I didn't see my trunk's deadly crash, though I imagine I would probably still be having nightmares if I had! I sent my poor severed bass to Robertson's the next day, and didn't see it again until December. <br/><br/>As it turned out, a week later the whole world was just as shocked and horrified as I was; all of the sudden it seemed almost trivial to complain. Almost. I had a very similar story, and a very similar shattered neck block, on a SwissAir flight in 2001 – specifically, September 4, 2001. I didn’t see my trunk’s deadly crash, though I imagine I would probably still be having nightmares if I had! I sent my poor severed bass to Robertson’s the next day, and didn’t see it again until December.

As it turned out, a week later the whole world was just as shocked and horrified as I was; all of the sudden it seemed almost trivial to complain. Almost.

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