How to mark your cases?

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Looking for options to mark my Storm 2950 cases to identify them as my own on set and also to number them.

 

Any suggestions? I've seen sticky numbers and name stenciling?

 

What works well for these types of cases.

 

Thanks.

[Robert Starling SOC]

I use a big STARLING stencil plus my cases are bright yellow so unless I'm on a Clairmont Camera based shoot it's hard to lose them. They show up well at the airport too. I also have heavy duty laminated luggage tags on them.

 

Starling Steadicam Cart / Cases

 

Panavision uses a super heavy duty adhesive laminate name plate on theirs and I've never seen one come off. On your Storm cases you could put the adhesive name plate on and then have the corners riveted for safety.

 

One thing to remember is to make sure you have name / contact info INSIDE the case too. The lost baggage guy at Delta once told me he could solve more than half the lost bag issues if people did that too.

 

Here's another resource if you want indestructible custom tags for your gear:

 

CREW TAGS

 

Robert

[Steve Acheson]

I use a big STARLING stencil plus my cases are bright yellow so unless I'm on a Clairmont Camera based shoot it's hard to lose them. They show up well at the airport too. I also have heavy duty laminated luggage tags on them.

 

Starling Steadicam Cart / Cases

 

Panavision uses a super heavy duty adhesive laminate name plate on theirs and I've never seen one come off. On your Storm cases you could put the adhesive name plate on and then have the corners riveted for safety.

 

One thing to remember is to make sure you have name / contact info INSIDE the case too. The lost baggage guy at Delta once told me he could solve more than half the lost bag issues if people did that too.

 

Here's another resource if you want indestructible custom tags for your gear:

 

CREW TAGS

 

Robert

 

Hey Robert who did your cases and how much did they charge you. I would love have a set up like that...

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

I use a big STARLING stencil plus my cases are bright yellow so unless I'm on a Clairmont Camera based shoot it's hard to lose them. They show up well at the airport too. I also have heavy duty laminated luggage tags on them.

 

Starling Steadicam Cart / Cases

 

Panavision uses a super heavy duty adhesive laminate name plate on theirs and I've never seen one come off. On your Storm cases you could put the adhesive name plate on and then have the corners riveted for safety.

 

One thing to remember is to make sure you have name / contact info INSIDE the case too. The lost baggage guy at Delta once told me he could solve more than half the lost bag issues if people did that too.

 

Here's another resource if you want indestructible custom tags for your gear:

 

CREW TAGS

 

Robert

 

That is one sweet cart! Thanks for the info Robert. I'd better get on this soon since I'll be lugging my gear out to LA next month for the Masters Class.

[Robert Starling SOC]

Hey Robert who did your cases and how much did they charge you. I would love have a set up like that...

 

Contact Art Arras at A&S Case in North Hollywood.

 

A&S Case Company

 

Robert

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Hey Robert who did your cases and how much did they charge you. I would love have a set up like that...

 

Contact Art Arras at A&S Case in North Hollywood.

 

A&S Case Company

 

Robert

 

 

By the way, if production isn't transporting your gear, can you put it under the plane? Or is that a no no. My cases are under 50lbs each.

[Robert Starling SOC]

There's a thread on this someplace but it changes with the daily airline moods.

 

Yes, you can ship on the airline as excess baggage. Some airlines if not all have a media rate but you have to ask. I ship FedEx Ground a lot if I have time. Or you can use an agregator like SportsExpress.com

 

Another thought is that with a First Class ticket you extra baggage and weight benefits, not to mention a better seat. Sometimes it's almost the same to fly first as it is to fly coach and pay excess.

 

Robert

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

Another thought is that with a First Class ticket you extra baggage and weight benefits, not to mention a better seat. Sometimes it's almost the same to fly first as it is to fly coach and pay excess.

Not to mention you may not have to pay fees to change the flight on a first class (use to).

 

Once, I even saved money by upgrading a ticket to first to change the return flight... I just happened to ask the agent on the phone how much a first class seat would cost jokingly... and then they responded "minus the fees because of first class ticket, the flight will actually cost you $50 less to change your flight."

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

I'm flying southwest this time and they allow two checked bags free. I need to call and see if my cases qualify I suppose. And what the third and fourth will cost!

 

I'm going to zip tie the cases and put some extras in an obvious place inside in case TSA opens them.

 

My nightmare is seeing a case come around the carousel and it's open with gear spilling out. Mama!

[Jess Haas SOC]

Last I checked Southwest actually still has a media rate that allows your two free bags to be over sized and overweight(up to 75 pound) for no extra charge. After that I think its $25/bag(media rate) for 3rd and 4th and they can also be oversized and overweight. Make sure to bring a printout from their website explaining these policies because the gate agent doesn't always know about it and can never seem to find it in their system. I was told by southwest that my business card was enough to get the media rate but in practice I have had to show callsheets and things in the past before they would give it to me. Persistence is key.

 

Of course take expensive bits carry-on if you can and I highly recommend ziptieing your cases shut and including extras inside the case for TSA to reseal them if they open them.

 

~Jess

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Last I checked Southwest actually still has a media rate that allows your two free bags to be over sized and overweight(up to 75 pound) for no extra charge. After that I think its $25/bag(media rate) for 3rd and 4th and they can also be oversized and overweight. Make sure to bring a printout from their website explaining these policies because the gate agent doesn't always know about it and can never seem to find it in their system. I was told by southwest that my business card was enough to get the media rate but in practice I have had to show callsheets and things in the past before they would give it to me. Persistence is key.

 

Of course take expensive bits carry-on if you can and I highly recommend ziptieing your cases shut and including extras inside the case for TSA to reseal them if they open them.

 

~Jess

 

 

Thanks Jess. That's a good idea to print out their policy. I plan on getting some bright yellow zip ties too.

[Rob Vuona SOC]

I'm flying southwest this time and they allow two checked bags free. I need to call and see if my cases qualify I suppose. And what the third and fourth will cost!

 

I'm going to zip tie the cases and put some extras in an obvious place inside in case TSA opens them.

 

My nightmare is seeing a case come around the carousel and it's open with gear spilling out. Mama!

 

Kevin,

LOL . . . . not saying that it's not going to happen, But last year I traveled with my gear to 24 countries and 5 continents all in a total of 6 weeks.

 

Not just my steadicam gear but all of our sound gear and all of the POV stuff, KNock on wood, never once opened unintentionally and nothing missing or damaged.

 

although recently, TSA here in LA went through and left my Fiber jumper cable closed between the lid and the case

 

Just watch them and then Zip Tie them.

 

Oh ya, one leg of the trip was 30 Euro for every Kilo we were over weight. Between all of our gear it came to 18,900 Euro, about $27,000.00 in luggage fees, so complaining about our overweight charges and extra baggage fees is pretty minimal

[Jess Haas SOC]

Oh ya, one leg of the trip was 30 Euro for every Kilo we were over weight. Between all of our gear it came to 18,900 Euro, about $27,000.00 in luggage fees, so complaining about our overweight charges and extra baggage fees is pretty minimal

At that point you should have just chartered your own plane. Then you could have flown in style and it would have probably been cheaper :-)

 

~Jess

[Scott Jason Gill]

Hi Kevin,

 

I travel with 8-12 Pelican/Storm cases 3-4 days a week. All are stenciled using a plastic stencil I had made at FastSigns and painted with Krylon for Plastic. It works pretty well, occasionally gets a scratch through the logo but they're pretty big so its still readable. Easy enough to re-stencil after a couple of years.

 

As for flying, I'm a regular:

 

-American will accept up to 100lbs, ask for the "photo/sound equipment" exception for $50 each (cover overweight and excess). They may ask for a media credential (supposed to) so ink jet one and laminate ahead of time.

 

-Continental will not allow anything over 70lbs. They now require you to have a Continental Media Card which you get through they're media relations dept. Get ready to shell out the big bucks for them.

 

-Delta actually charges the media more than the general public now, so DON'T say you're media with them.

 

-Southwest has a pretty good deal. From www.swamedia.com:

Media cameras are exempt from the sizing box restriction imposed on other carry-on luggage, and, if carried on-board, must be stowed in accordance with FAA safety regulations. If the camera is to be secured in a seat, however, a ticket must be purchased for that seat. Camera, film, video, lighting, and sound equipment will be accepted when presented by a representative of a network or local television broadcasting company or a commercial film-making company. A fee of $50 will be charged for each item in excess of the free baggage allowance. Media equipment will not be assessed oversize or overweight charges.

 

Most ticket agents don't understand their own rules when it comes to this, so just stand your ground and let them make phone calls until they realize you're right. Happens nearly all the time. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

 

Jason

TexasSteadicam@me.com

[Rob Vuona SOC]

Most ticket agents don't understand their own rules when it comes to this, so just stand your ground and let them make phone calls until they realize you're right. Happens nearly all the time.

 

 

So True . . . . . I have to tell them key strokes on their own computers sometimes