Leaving the States

October 15, 2007, 9:00 p.m.

Baggage check in at S.F.O. was a two hour process. The name of the game in this business is “weight overage.” That cost money and should be avoided at all costs, and by whatever means. And in the rock business this includes autographing albums, passing out picks, and even Jeff singing a few bars of the Tesla hit song, “Love Song.” Originally done as a joke, it paid off in a weight reduction by the counter lady at United. Seriously. I told him to sing a few more bars, maybe we’d get an upgrade to first class.

But weight overages are a necessary evil. Tesla carries a relatively lite and efficient setup for “fly dates.” But here’s a rundown: 7 guitars, 3 basses, two pedal boards, two guitar tech workboxes, a production rack, two in ear monitoring racks, digital monitoring console, and boxes with promotional items, gaffers tape and cables. Guitars cases are taped together in groups of two, it helps meet United’s baggage limitations.

Each tour member is allow one large suitcase and one carry on. I put together a tech work box, which I will show later on. Although baggage restrictions allow a second carry on, we utilize that for gear related items. I was handed a carry on filled with cables and rolls of gaffers tape. Although it’s small, it’s about 40 to 45 pounds. Try carrying that around an airport.