The joys of traveling 1-man band...
I have picked up tons of travel tricks over the years. Some were passed down, while others have come from the school of hard knocks! Here's my general approach to traveling with gear:
PRE-PREP
- Start planing your gear and clothing the second you get the gig. I always paper pack first. This involves creating several lists on my iPad. I start with whats most important to the gig. (i.e. 1-Camera department. 2- Audio. 3- Camera Support. 4-Lighting and grip. 5-First Aid 6-Clothes.)
- Research your airlines baggage policy. Find out their 'media pass' policy. If you have to put in a phone call, be sure to ask what type of credentials are accepted. (Sometimes all you need is a good business card. Other time they want to see a recognizable network/studio with some work orders. Don't fret, this can save you hundreds!)
- I create "Resource lists" based on the areas I'm traveling to. I want to know where the nearest rental houses, camera supply stores, and 'go to' department stores are in the event that the needs arise. Once you have your trip spread out you will recognize ways to be more efficient with your packing.
- Sometimes I use UPS Ground to ship items before. This requires a call to a manager/Bell Captain on the destination end. Most reputable hotels will hold items in storage until you arrive. This won't always be an option, but when it is it can lighten your travel load tremendously and save you tons of energy.
- Do your research! Sometimes it's cheaper to fly first class then to fly coach with a three oversized and over weight bags. (Some airlines allow 1st class passengers to wave baggage fees.)
- Check weather and travel advisories.
- If traveling abroad, find out if you need a Carnet. If not, make an itemized list of your gear anyway in your computer.
- Make photo copies of EVERYTHING in your wallet!
- Research exchange rates. Sometimes its cheaper to change money before you leave. Usually I change a little money before I go just to have native currency on hand.
- Resist the urge to by new bags. New bags attract thieves.
CLOTHES
After I've finished my major lists/research I find packing clothes to be pretty easy. I don't have any hard rules on packing clothes because all my travel gigs differ drastically and require different clothing. But generally, I try to pack light. For 7 days of travel I pack the following:
- 2 Pair of cargo pants. Similar to these.
- 2 Long sleeve shirts Button ups. (I like Columbia Bahama II)
- 2 High performance tee shirts
- 1 light rain jacket.
- 3 pair of socks.
- 2 pair of shoes (If you're on your feet with gear, try swapping shoes at the half way mark. Your feet and back will thank you!)
- 1 belt
- Some sort of hat or headband.
- 1-2 bags of tide travel packs. (I choose cloths that can be hand washed and dry quickly)
- Some sort of time piece. (Here's my trusty Hamilton)
- A nap sack with toiletries.
*I never pack my cloths in a bag. They always go in with my gear. Usually, I use cloths as an extra protective layer for the gear I want to keep safe.
*I always count the outfit I'm wearing counts as part of my overall wardrobe!
FLYING
- *Never ever, ever, EVER check your camera! As you usually get one carry-on and one personal bag, make sure you pack EVERYTHING you need to shoot into these two bags. (The ideas is - - you should be able to get right off the plane and shoot.)
- Generosity is a long term investment. How is this applicable to travel? Well, if you take the time to get to know the folks that check you in, you might be able to do the following... In some planes, the overhead storage is too small. In these instances I ask the very 1st person that I recognize, by name, if I can store my camera in the "Captains closet". This has worked a few times for me.
ONCE YOU LAND
- Get a rental car with a trunk or a hidden storage area. (NEVER, NEVER, NEVER - leave gear in plain view!)
- Always carry your camera with you whenever you leave your vehicle.
SAFETY & SECURITY
I'm going to do a blog specifically about traveling to high alert areas, but for now here are some general rules to live by.
- Remember the photo copies I told you about earlier? Carry those. Never carry your passport, credit cards, or other ID. I leave documents in the hotel safe or with front desk.
- I NEVER, NEVER, EVER use my credit cards if I can help it.
- Never keep all your cash in one place. (If I'm carrying $100. I put $25 in four different pockets.)
- Stay alert! Leave your phone packed away.
- Keep your camera with you at all times.
- Keep some wipes, band aids, and Motrin.
- Finally, remember the lists you created? In the event something is stolen, these will come in handy while filing police and insurance reports. They also help when packing for home. It's easy to lose things when you're tired.
Well, that's my approach to traveling with gear. I hope this helps!
