Concerto for laptop? Conductor's sharp note over airport security (UK)

[struggle4progress]

Musicians hit by ban on instruments in cabin
Protests at crippling effect on cultural life

Jeevan Vasagar
Monday September 11, 2006
The Guardian


From Waterloo in London, Ralph Kirshbaum took the Eurostar to Paris with his £2.5m cello in the seat beside him. Yesterday afternoon, the virtuoso musician crossed the Alps, changed trains in Milan, got picked up by car in Verona and dashed to a rehearsal in the Italian town of Lendinara. A journey which could have taken fewer than three hours by air had lasted more than 24. Kirshbaum's experience is by no means unique.

Musicians are to lobby Downing Street over fears that airport counter-terrorism measures could cripple Britain's cultural life. So widespread is the alarm that Mark Elder, guest conductor at the Last Night of the Proms, joined the chorus of protest from the stage on Saturday night.

"I think we would all agree that the time has come really to put an end to this unfairness," he told the audience at the world's most popular classical music event. "Otherwise it seems to me that next year we should all look forward to Concerto for Laptop and Orchestra."

Restrictions on hand luggage, intended to reduce the volume of baggage going through cabin security checks, have had a devastating impact on performers ..

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1869495,00.html

[Canuckistanian]

1. A local student here had his $13,800 viola destroyed

He was told he could not take it as carry-on and protested vigourously.

And sure enough, his instrument was broken in two, despite several "fragile" stickers.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=2b8d8168-3abe-4d7f-b076-875c835a032e&k=87115

(edited for corrections)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. Oh my god!

I was under the impression that this problem was resolved!

I have to fly to OK next week. If they try to make me put my instrument in the hold, I won't go. :grr:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Right after 9/11,

there was talk of not allowing musicians to take their instruments on flights. Putting them in the hold can easily ruin them, between the temperature and improper handling; and no musician wants to risk having their instrument end up in the wrong destination, as often occurs with luggage.

Thanks the influence of the American Federation of Musicians, most musicians travelling in the U.S. and Canada can now do so without difficulty, provided they keep the contents of their cases to a minimum, and put accessories in their regular luggage.

I hope my European colleagues are soon able to travel with their instruments in a hassle-free environment.

[struggle4progress]

4. Thanks for the info.

I'd guess this is limiting trans-Atlantic cultural exchanges ...