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Re: Re: Shipping audio gear in the US

Subject: Re: Re: Shipping audio gear in the US
From: Wild Sanctuary <>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 09:35:54 -0800
Good advise, Marty. As to issue #1, however, aside from my wonderful 
wife, Katherine, our "family" only consists of our two cats, YoYo 
Meow and Eddie-pus-Rex. And they don't travel.

Bernie

>At 08:29 AM 2/10/2003 -0800, Will wrote:
>>Since 911 I've been pulled aside and received extra scrutiny every time
>>I've flown with recording equipment. Usually the security people slide
>>my case across the table to me and stand back as I open it. The
>>microphones and preamp seem to be the most frightening items for them to
>>touch and they try to figure out what I'm carrying.
>>The only theft so far has been my AA and 9volt batteries.  While
>>traveling US->Mexico->US I wasn't allowed to carry on any batteries and
>>had to put them in my check-in luggage. Upon arrival I found my bag had
>>been rifled thru and all the batteries taken. Luckily I had extras
>>hidden away and got my recordings...so much for "tight security"
>>
>>I can realize that a case with mics, recorders and cables must look
>>pretty suspicious under an x-ray, but having equipment confiscated
>>and/or stolen is just not acceptable. I don't mind saying that I feel my
>>privacy and personal security has been greatly compromised by the
>>current laws and standards.  We carry on our recording gear because it
>>is crucial to our work and very valuable. Perhaps shipping equipment is
>>now the way to go despite the expense and hassle.
>>
>>I guess the next thread after this should be which shippers are the best
>>and packing tips.  :-)
>>
>>Will
>
>Travelling recordists:
>
>I have read with interest this thread.  I travel about twice a year with
>HHb Portadisc, Leica Binocs, two Sennheiser ME-67 mics in heavy PVC tubes,
>etc. etc.  And I have three rules which so far have "worked".  We will see
>if this is still so when we go to Hawaii in March.
>
>1. I always arrive early and travel "as a family".  This I suspect thwarts
>a lot of the interest directed by "profiling". I realize, this is not an
>available option for many.
>
>2.  I always have in my 35 lb. carry-on backpack sufficient wires, etc. so
>the audio can be demonstrated to work - plug in and turn on and let anyone
>HEAR sounds coming in, very sensitive, etc.  This way no one can validly
>doubt the functionality for long. I also always carry a field computer in a
>fanny-pack. [I don't know how I would take any parabola, even a roll-up
>one, but that 40 year period is behind me.]
>
>3. As you already know, I regard ANY questions as a golden opportunity to
>teach.  I am delighted for find a grumpy guard who wants to know about the
>sounds from our vanishing species, and takes such a sincere interest in
>understanding the problems of unwanted noises and of habitat-specific
>difficulties.  Each question is rewarded by great detail and examples of
>how each wire, rubber-band or twistem is critical to jungle recording
>success.  The more of a mess all my stuff makes on their table, the happier
>and more excited I become to find so ardent a student.  I almost guarantee
>there isn't a person on the planet who can take more than five 
>minutes of this!
>
>
>Seriously, most of our comments so far are about how inconvenient this
>"security" game is to US.  Please think, instead, of how time-consuming and
>inconvenient we can be to them.  Especially by being
>enthusiastic!   ;^0)    Every security station has a time-related quota,
>and a ten minute pleasant, yet impassioned exchange about "our duties to
>nature", will make us the LAST people they ever want to see
>again.  Besides, it makes other passengers certain that they have the wrong
>person.  Most people can make an accurate gut-judgement about the
>trustworthiness of a stranger on overhearing them for only a few
>seconds;  only most guards seem to lack this capacity.
>
>my best regards,
>
>Marty Michener
>MIST Software Associates PO Box 269, Hollis, NH 03049
>
>EnjoyBirds.com  - Software that migrates with you. 
>http://www.EnjoyBirds.com
>
>
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-- 
Wild Sanctuary, Inc.
P. O. Box 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707-996-6677 tel
707-996-0280 fax
http://www.wildsanctuary.com


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