Re: [Harp-L] Buckeye Shakedown

[Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hmmm... Sounds like our airport here in Austin, Tx., but not quite as
bad.  Long before 911, I was regularly asked to open every harmonica
box and play them to demonstrate that they really were harmonicas. 
Given our reputation for live music, you would not think that they
would be that unable to identify the instrument.  (They told me that
harmonicas look like gun clips when they are x-rayed.)  Our only
saving grace last year for SPAH was one of our very frequent travelers
pre-warned airport security when he went through that we were all
going to the harmonica convention and they were about to see a whole
lot of harmonicas pass through security.  To my surprise, they
actually listened to him.  Security still seriously rearranged my bag,
but passed me through so quickly I had a long wait at the gate before
the plane arrived.  (I didn't know what to do with myself!)  Of course
that may all be different this year and I may get to enjoy the wait in
the "offenders corner" as you did.  We'll see.

Cara Cooke
Austin, Tx.
www.cyberharp.isonfire.com


On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 20:47:55 -0500, Bill Hines <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> To those flying into Columbus for Buckeye in a few weeks...
> 
> As I sit here in Columbus Airport after once again being shaken down by "the
> Man" (TSA) for having suspicious-looking tin contraband in my bag, I offer
> this advice. Place your harps in an easily accessible pouch on the exterior
> of your luggage. Carry-on or check-in. If you check bags, they may break the
> locks to check out the suspicious contraband. I travel quite a bit, and this
> airport is one of the only ones that will pull you out of the  security line
> to look at the suspicious contraband. Other airports, I'm usually just
> treated to some snide remark about having "harmonicas" or being a "harmonica
> player". Once, the  TSA guy asked me to play to verify they weren't cleverly
> disguised explosives or something, but when I started to pull one from the
> case he said "Just kidding". Too bad, I was gonna play a wicked Red River
> Valley for him.
> 
> So what happens, for example today, is this. When the bag passes through the
> xray, there is suddenly commotion and loud whispering between the TSA folks
> passing the bags through and the person reading the xray screen. The word
> Harmonica" is heard often, as if they were discussing some evil device. By
> the  time they break the huddle, my bag has passed through and I've already
> retrieved it and placed it on the floor. There is more commotion as they try
> to  figure out what happened to the evil bag. Momentarily, they are panicked
> and frightened until I give it up, asking "looking for this?" I am escorted
> to the "special area" for offenders who have come through with metal or God
> forbid with their shoes on (another hint, when they say "you might want to
> remove your shoes to save some time" they *mean* it, if you don't you go to
> the special area regardless of whether you have set off the beeper. They are
> looking for more than metal in your shoes. Hint: wear clean and odor free
> socks.
> 
> So TSA person asks "Ok, where are the harmonicas?" and I point to the pouch.
> They empty the *entire* contents of the pouch, open everything up  (contents
> of toiletry kit spilling to the floor, spectators are now forming on the
> perimeter). They try to get the Lee Oskar cases (linked together)  open, and
> can't figure out the side open deal. I try to help, but in terse terms are
> told "Sir, step away from the harmonicas". They inspect each,  looking
> suspiciously at them. I'm waiting tensely for her to toot on one, so then I
> can inform her of my rare, incurable, fatal, and very contagious gum
> disease, and then tell her (when she revives), "just kidding". Then they
> toss my pouch crap all into a grey plastic bin, and swab the pouch and test
> the swab for explosives (I am **NOT** kidding here). They put the whole bag
> and grey tub through the xray machine again. Then I am allowed to put my
> things back together and pass.
> 
> I ask why this is one of the only airports that does this and told it's up
> to the operators. She says gthey are seeing a lot of harmonicas lately, and
> I said just wait a few weeks, you're going to have some real fun. I told her
> about the convention and she had this look of dread on her face. She made
> mental notes after asking the dates to put in for vacation or call in "sick"
> to get this gum soreness checked out.
> 
> This whole thing delayed me quite a bit, so make sure you leave plenty of
> time for the shakedown. This will likley only affect you when *leaving*
> Columbus, since you will already have been through security at your
> departure airport when you get here. Be polite with these people, or they
> *will* make you pay the price! Funny thing is, all the while, nobody even
> doubted what these were.
> 
> Bill Hines
> Hershey, PA
> 
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