Touring on the other coast this summer; any suggestions would be appreciated!

Elliot

Member
So my band is booked for a festival in Washington in August, across the country from Maine where I live, and we are planning to build a tour around it now. We'll probably start in LA and work our way up the coast.
I've never planned such a serious tour, and I'm not sure where to even begin. I don't know yet, but it seems most likely that we'll fly there, rent a car/van OR buy a cheap one and sell it when we're done.
Assuming we do fly, how would I get my drums there?
I can pack the lot of them into my bd case if I take the heads off, probably with cymbals but not hardware. If I pack them well, will they survive the flight? Or is that unlikely? They are vintage Ludwigs that I got for a steal and probably couldn't afford to replace. That said, this is my gigging it, they do get a bit knocked around so I'm not worried about a little wear. Just them getting destroyed on the way (if they do get destroyed, I want it to be during an epic fill, not poor baggage handling!).
I suppose I could buy some cheap shell pack once I'm there and just bring my snare and cymbals maybe?

Anyway, long and multi-faceted question, sorry!
Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated, especially from others who have done this before. Thanks!
 
So my band is booked for a festival in Washington in August, across the country from Maine where I live, and we are planning to build a tour around it now. We'll probably start in LA and work our way up the coast.
I've never planned such a serious tour, and I'm not sure where to even begin. I don't know yet, but it seems most likely that we'll fly there, rent a car/van OR buy a cheap one and sell it when we're done.
Assuming we do fly, how would I get my drums there?
I can pack the lot of them into my bd case if I take the heads off, probably with cymbals but not hardware. If I pack them well, will they survive the flight? Or is that unlikely? They are vintage Ludwigs that I got for a steal and probably couldn't afford to replace. That said, this is my gigging it, they do get a bit knocked around so I'm not worried about a little wear. Just them getting destroyed on the way (if they do get destroyed, I want it to be during an epic fill, not poor baggage handling!).
I suppose I could buy some cheap shell pack once I'm there and just bring my snare and cymbals maybe?

Anyway, long and multi-faceted question, sorry!
Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated, especially from others who have done this before. Thanks!

More than likely, you will either rent or use backline drums - part of paying your dues!

Read this book: TOUR SMART by Martin Atkins http://www.amazon.com/Tour-Smart-Break-Martin-Atkins/dp/0979731305

and buy one of these:

http://store.randmcnally.com/dist-o-map-rand-mcnally.html


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
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So my band is booked for a festival in Washington in August, across the country from Maine where I live, and we are planning to build a tour around it now. We'll probably start in LA and work our way up the coast.
I've never planned such a serious tour, and I'm not sure where to even begin. I don't know yet, but it seems most likely that we'll fly there, rent a car/van OR buy a cheap one and sell it when we're done.
Assuming we do fly, how would I get my drums there?
I can pack the lot of them into my bd case if I take the heads off, probably with cymbals but not hardware. If I pack them well, will they survive the flight? Or is that unlikely? They are vintage Ludwigs that I got for a steal and probably couldn't afford to replace. That said, this is my gigging it, they do get a bit knocked around so I'm not worried about a little wear. Just them getting destroyed on the way (if they do get destroyed, I want it to be during an epic fill, not poor baggage handling!).
I suppose I could buy some cheap shell pack once I'm there and just bring my snare and cymbals maybe?

Anyway, long and multi-faceted question, sorry!
Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated, especially from others who have done this before. Thanks!

Rent the gear, rent the van. I know it doesn't seem like it, but it is definitely the cheapest way to go.
 
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