Talk me into it...or out of it.

[Beervangelist]

Sounds intriguing!

I vote do it & lay out to them what you need/want or what's in the way.

Ticket for the horn (vs. baggage) (I've heard that's a thing...), Mrs Bloke, etc....

Dig in and enjoy!

[timothy42b]

There is a way to minimize the TSA stuff. (provided of course you have a clean record and aren't on any lists) Sign up for the TSA pre-check program. It costs $85 USD for 5 years, and exempts you from some of the checks, and lets you walk through the short line at security. They investigate you beforehand (remember I mentioned that clean record bit). Work pays for mine because I'm required to fly, but it saves so much hassle I would do it myself if I had to.

[Peach]

Add my name to the list of folk saying this is likely something you'll regret not doing, and almost certainly NOT something you'd regret DOING.

[Timswisstuba]

Do it. If it's in Europe, you're welcome to borrow the bell-front F for the Vaughn Williams.

[Steve Marcus]

Nice invite. Take advantage of it.

[doublebuzzing]

If it was the Gregson it would be a no-brainer, but the VW

[iiipopes]

Bloke, your first post was long enough that you could have used the time to work out one of the more difficult passages instead. DO IT!!!

[Beervangelist]

Not directly related, but somebody mentioned TSA Precheck to make things easier, so I thought I'd add some color commentary.

TSA PreCheck is primarily domestic and very well worth it. Short lines, laptops stay in bags, shoes on, pretty smooth TSA experience, as long as their TSA line is open. https://www.tsa.gov/precheck" target="_blank" target="_blank - Process to register is a relatively painless visit to a third party verifier who documents your IDs, takes a picture and fingerprints.

Global Entry is essentially the International equivalent, but not available if you have a DUI (or felony) in your history, as some countries consider that a barrier to entry, so with it on your record, you are no longer "universal." https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-trav ... /how-apply" target="_blank" target="_blank.

Either one are good, but if you don't travel much, I believe you can also upgrade with your ticket to a similar priority entry for a single use.

Music makes the world small, so if it's bringing you somewhere exciting & new, that's pretty darn cool.

[Three Valves]

Not directly related, but somebody mentioned TSA Precheck to make things easier, so I thought I'd add some color commentary.

I'll add some of my own.

Why would you pay the government a fee to treat you like an honest citizen instead of them checking only those that needs checking??

[Beervangelist]

I may have to join Beervangelist's church.

bloke "once I learn to like beer"

I'll gladly make you a cocktail, if you prefer...

[Beervangelist]

Not directly related, but somebody mentioned TSA Precheck to make things easier, so I thought I'd add some color commentary.

I'll add some of my own.

Why would you pay the government a fee to treat you like an honest citizen instead of them checking only those that needs checking??

Because I'm prioritizing ease of travel, and lightness of mood over politics. If I chose to examine any of the TSA's nonsense, I don't think I'd make it through the airport, which I need to do on the regular. Bypassing the lines and breezing through a light duty metal detector is worth $17 a year, regardless of whether they are upside down organizationally.

[Beervangelist]

a very short Johnnie Walker...nothing else...no ice...at bedtime...in the winter

Surely, you don't go dry all summer..... a crisp, refreshing gin and a touch of bitters?

[Three Valves]

I switched to vodka tonics in the Summer...

It chases the Blues away!!

[Mudman]

Suggestion, semi serious.

Talk to an instrument company like Wessex. Have them arrange to have two of their instruments sent to the performance location in exchange for partial sponsorship of the event. The instruments could be sold after the performance somewhere in the region.

Travel to the venue without worrying about instrument damage, wipe the valves down, and play.

I hate travelling as much as da Blokoid. I did one teaching residency where the hosting school had to provide me with an instrument. Worked great, but I did have to use lysol on the leadpipe after scraping out the chunks.

Knowing da Bloke, he will sound as fine on any instrument. It ain't the tool.

[Tubaryan12]

Knowing da Bloke, he will sound as fine on any instrument. It ain't the tool.

Did he just call bloke a tool?

bloke, It really doesn't matter. It's just as much fun telling stories about the one that got away as it is about the one you caught. Only go if you'll not spend the trip worrying about what's left behind while you're gone.

p.s. if you do go, take pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

[hduong]

I'd say go for it, RVW concerto is really fun to play, even better when it's being played by someone that knows what they're doing (unlike myself).

[barry grrr-ero]

Tele-conference your part. Think of all the trouble and hassle you'd be avoiding.

In all seriousness, see if they won't bump the fare up to First Class (Business, whatever the h__l they call it these days) and remain COMFORTABLE!

I'm in my 60's and don't travel well at all. If the Vienna Phil. invited me to play a Bruckner or Mahler symphony with them, that I'd do. But I'd break the trip up and take two days to get there. The TSA and customs business is absurd, regardless of how necessary it all may be. As the world gets smaller and faster, it also gets more annoying and complicated - how's that for a grumpy old person's take?

[barry grrr-ero]

Blame it on my lack of youth.

[barry grrr-ero]

Door number too, I mean two!

[Rick Denney]

If you didn't really want to do it, you wouldn't be trying so hard to talk yourself out of it with all that talk of temporal responsibility.

Rick "who travels so often he didn't have to pay anything to get TSA Pre-Check" Denney