<p>So I've got the boy registered for 2 camps this summer that require a flight and possibly a plane change (not booked yet). He hasn't flown with the cymbals before. Does anyone have tips or advise on the best way to pack/carry them? Should they be checked? Is it possible to carry them on? Are they safe in a higher quality soft sided case? I have no clue, so I thought I'd ask the experts first. Thanks! :D</p>
<p>I would ship them FedEx or ups insured to the destination. Use a high hat clutch to secure the together then in a cymbal bag. Pack them with newspaper and those bubble pockets. Cymbals are incredibly durable and are the easiest to ship without worry. I wouldn’t fly with them. I wouldn’t want them lost in baggage.</p>
<p>Seriously? That seems like it would be crazy expensive based on weight and some reasonably expedited and reliable delivery . . . both ways. That doesn’t even get into the potential of winter auditions next year.</p>
<p>People fly with instruments all of the time–I’m sure there is a good answer to this question. But (not knowing much about cymbals) I don’t know why could couldn’t check them. Have you asked your son’s teacher?</p>
<p>Totally serious about shipping. A ride, hi hat, and crash shouldn’t cost that much. Probably less then paying the airport. No where near the cost of what you paid to send your kid to camp. Does he absolutely need them? As for auditions, I wouldn’t bring anything unless it is required. Remember you son’s cymbals aren’t going to impress the professors he’s auditioning for and if cymbals are provided they are already going to be top notch if the audition is in the professors office. My son played set on 2 of 3 auditions. Both in the professors office and both top notch equipment. You want your kids time with the professor to be playing not setting up. Many kids brought their own snare drums. My kid did not and it wasn’t a problem for him to play on a top of the line drum provided. </p>
<p>There are few percussion parents here and the advice I offer is from not only having my son’s experiences going through this adventure but also my own as a percussion major and the many, friends I have who have degrees in percussion as well. </p>
<p>If you really want to fly the cymbals buy an SKB brand Cymbal vault. </p>
<p>Good Luck!!</p>
<p>Thanks for your further response, bigdjp! Yes, both camps require that he bring his own cymbals so they will be going one way or the other. We are not into auditions until next year, but it seemed split. A few places say don’t bring anything and a couple say specifically to bring them. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but I was just trying to get an idea for this summer. A fair number of camps/workshops want you to bring your whole kit or rent one there so I thought we were getting off easy with just the cymbals :)</p>
<p>Thanks for checking in glassharmonica. I haven’t checked with his teacher yet but will. I just came to you all first. :D</p>
<p>S never took his cymbals but flew with his large stick bag filled with sticks and mallets and used it as a carry-on. They did inspect it after it went thru x-ray but nobody said anything. He would never even consider checking any of his percussion stuff-always carry it where you can handle it yourself.</p>
<p>UPDATE: So DS went to Boston and back and is now almost in Dallas and walked on 3 flight so far (Jet Blue and Alaska) with his cymbals in his Mono cymbal bag / back pack. It is 24" diameter and does fit in the overhead just fine. He slings one strap over his shoulder away from the side of the gate agent and acts casual so it looks like a regular backpack. He doesn’t take another carry on other than a few personals in a little soft drawstring bag. We put some extra “large gauge” bubble wrap and thin sheet foam in there that a friend had left over from shipping dishes to pad in the event of a gate check and have a TSA lock on it. So far so good. The Mono bag is pretty stout for a non hard shell. He doesn’t use the outside pockets for flying. He put bubble wrap in the outside pockets front and back in addition to the main compartment.</p>
<p><a href=“22" & 24" Cymbal Cases | MONO”>http://monocreators.com/cymbal/</a></p>
<p>Brilliant, saintfan, thanks for the update. Never been so glad DD is a vocalist!</p>
<p>Well I bet it’s inside the cabin that a vocalist has to worry about their “instrument”</p>
<p>So true, saintfan, and the slightest illness affects the ability to perform.</p>
<p>When I read the thread title, my thought was that it’s unlikely to work unless you can flap your arms really fast…sorry.</p>