Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:35:30 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] paper mache travelling


My guess is that they don't want sealed items like a pinata that has
stuff in it. but who knows.  I agree just say its sculpture and you
think its plastic.  I alway check my puppets in my baggage.  Usually
they see my gear and ask what it is and i say a puppet show and they
ease up and are genuinely curious and often give me a break on
oversize or additional.  If I have a festival badge from a gig I' ll
wear it.  Here is the thing to be aware of, Don't use oil paints,
spray paints or flammable glue or super glue leading up to a trip. the
off gassing will trip the chemical test and then your in for some
possible hassle.  I always watch those things when I know I have to
take my show on a plane.  They are always pretty good about not losing
my gear.  I have all my boxes the same off color so they are an
obvious set.  Once I got to oversize baggage and there were Phillip
Huber's boxes and he was not far behind.


On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 1:40 PM, Mathieu René <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca> wrote:
> Hi Alexander,
>
> I have built puppets for a few companies, some tour internationaly, and I
> never heard about this as a problem.
>
> The text you mentionned is subject to interpretation, especially in view of
> the two items mentionned:
>>papier maché statues/pi=F1atas
>  those are usually tourist bought items, not profesionnal tools of a
> performing trade.
>
> -they don't mention puppets.
>
> -a lot of puppeteers travel by plane, and I'm guessing most of them  have
> puppets made of various materials, which I'm sure they don't list
> individually.
>
> -The puppets I made you don't look like paper mache (more like latex,
> somehow).
> -Pro paper mache puppets will often look like wood (which logically, should
> be more problematic because of insects, but no mention of it on the list)
>
> -As you said, if you don't mention it, there won't be a problem, as long as
> you are indeed not carrying anything illegal or truly dangerous. We have to
> realize the rules have been made, on paper, much more severe than necessary.
> A safety data sheet for every oil paint tube one carries? Come on! That's
> ridiculous! and that bit about forbidding ready-to-eat meals, even in
> checked luggage, is probably just a commercial plot to force us to buy the
> airline food!
>
> -I've come to understand this principle about borders while traveling by
> bus: The less you say, the less trouble you're in.  Just once I mentionned I
> was a puppeteer. I had twice the amount of questions as usual, and twice the
> amount of questions as anyone else on that bus. Now, when they ask what I do
> for a living, I say I'm a theatrical prop maker. Somehow, that doesn't set
> them off?!
>
> -Airline employees are people too. Even security. They are able to
> interpret, and show flexibility within some limits, althought that bit is
> not guaranteed. Once, I boldly brought an authentic farming Scythe handle
> accross the border, from the USA to Canada. I'm pretty sure the USA wouldn't
> have let me bring it the other way around, even though I had no blade on the
> thing. The border agent was a bit surprised and wondering what I found
> interesting about a scythe without a blade. "City folks", he said.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alexander Winfield" <sheepwpunks-AT-gmail.com>
> To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 2:11 AM
> Subject: [Puptcrit] paper mache travelling
>
>
> Hello All,
>
>  Was just having a look at the Air Canada website and I noticed that,
> technically speaking, they do not allow any object made from paper mache on
> an airline, but it in carry on luggage or in check in.
>   http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/security.html
>   (it is mentioned in the large yellow list at the bottom of the page under
> flammable objects)
>   I have several puppets made of paper mache (and more in the progress of
> creation) and as it so happens I've already traveled around Europe with
> them, taking at least one air canada flight and receiving no objections
> about taking these puppets with me (though at the time I never thought to
> mention it). I am curious if anyone has ever had any trouble with security
> at airports in regards to transporting puppets - is there a 'special magic
> form' one may have signed by authorative persons to allow us to transport
> puppets of such material legally (ie. just in case they do check the
> luggage). At the moment, having no time, I'm going with a policy of keeping
> my trap shut and hoping for the best.
>
> yrs.
>
> Alexander
> On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 10:20 PM, Mathieu René <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca>wrote:
>
>> http://www.instructables.com/id/Drill-Press-Lathe/
>>
>> I have a press drill, and I kept the head of an old drill.
>> Maybe I'll make one of those!
>>
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