[Jewelry making - Article 00153] - Re: [Orchid] [Tucson 2003] General information

[andy cooperman]

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    Dear Christine et al, These new checked bag restrictions are VERY
    unsettling to me.  I fly 4-5 times a year around the country teaching
    weekend workshops and 5 day intensives (in jewelry and
    metalsmithing).  I have the luggage thing pretty much down to a
    science:  I have a stash-- that I constantly renew-- of gray
    Samsonite hard shell suitcases found at thrift stores and yard
    sales.  The suitcase is very carefully packed with tools: hammers,
    stakes, handpieces, samples, mandrels-- you name it. As I said, since
    I have done this for 8 years or so,  I have this honed to a smoothly
    running system.  The tools for each area that I address at the
    workshop, such as soldering or flex shaft or forming,are packed  into
    flat, see thru plastic compartment boxes.  All these boxes nestle in
    just the right way into the suitcase.  All hollow areas are
    backfilled with the tougher tools like mandrels and hammers.  All
    this weighs in at about 50-55 lbs, well within the 70lb weight limit
    of most airlines.  The suitcase is locked at the latches to keep it
    closed and the whole shootin' match is bound firmly by two hefty
    luggage straps. 

    The idea of opening this up at for security is not pleasant.  All
    the obvious concerns about theft other me, but even more is the
    question of how will they repack things?  Will they get it all back
    in there ? (It took me many trips to figure out how best things pack
    together inside the suitcase. You can't just let things rattle
    around...)  When I'm standing at the baggage carousel there's always
    the fear of seeing my tools coming down the conveyor one at a time. 
    (I recently saw someone's briefcase come down the belt open and
    trailing a fine collection of pornographic magazines.  No one claimed
    it but everyone waited to see if anyone would.  But I digress...)
    Must I leave the latches un locked? After all, they have no key.. 
    Also, since 9/11 I've been packing my more threatening pieces, ie
    long brooches, in carefully w/ my tools.  Will they be repacked
    properly? 

    Honestly, in  a year of slower business on almost all fronts, I fear
    that this final straw is pretty significant.  I love to teach these
    workshops and I believe firmly in the value of passing on knowledge;
    many pay adequately (once you streamline your prep time) but with the
    added travel time and now the risk of tool loss and breakage, I'm not
    sure that it's worth doing it anymore.  Insuring the bag becomes
    costly.  Shipping it ahead via Grayhound is time consuming, costly
    and leaves me without tools on either end of my trip-- not to mention
    the lead time of having to have  everything in order at least one
    week before I leave.  All these added costs, both hidden and up
    front, just about make this a losing proposition.  Many of the
    schools-- such as Arrowmont, Penland, etc.-- can't cover these extra
    costs.  Frankly, the instructor fees that some schools pay are
    already marginal at best; this added expense puts teaching there
    firmly into the charity column.  (I believe that schools, guilds,
    etc. will have to deal with this sooner than later as more
    instructors encounter these problems.) 

    I have a call in to TSA and I'm waiting for a call back.  I've
    spoken with the airlines as well.  It is not there responsibility and
    so they assume no liability.  It seems that we're at sea.  I hope
    that it's not as bad as it seems.  Perhaps, when I next travel in
    February, I'll find that it's no big deal.  Hope springs eternal. 

Andy Cooperman

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