A Passion for Packing ..... Suitcases:)

No matter how many tours, no matter how many trips, no matter how many times I pack a suitcase, I always think I can do it better. I’m constantly in search of the perfect mix of clothing, shoes, coats and sundries that will take me from city to city with a minimum of fuss and bother.

In the 80s and early 90s, packing was easy. On a national tour, I was allowed two suitcases of 70lbs each, two carry-ons (which until 1994 didn’t include a computer or cell phone) and the company traveled a steamer trunk for me. I carried clothing for all occasions, had my cowboy hat with me, even kept memories of home, mostly pictures, books and a favorite quilt close at hand. During “Phantom” with our extended runs, I drove most of the tour and the rules didn’t apply. I could carry a lot in the back of a pick up with a cover. But the times are changing ... not my goal of perfect packing ... but the regulations and requirements from the airlines and my producer.

Now when I pack a bag, I look at weight first. In the past couple of years, the airlines arbitrarily lowered the maximum weight limit from 70lbs to 50lbs per bag, They give a number of reasons for it, but overage as a money-maker and insurance claims by baggage handlers are the driving forces behind the weight-limit reduction. I have first-class suitcases which I no longer use. Because of their sturdiness, they weigh quite a bit empty; their base weight takes away from the weight of the contents I want to carry. Now they live in my parents’ basement or in my storage unit.

Most National Tours no longer allow steamer trunks; so, as I travel from city to city, I try to plan for differing climates, differing lengths of stay, differing lengths of time away, all within the parameters of two 50lb bags and two carry-ons, one dedicated to a laptop. Due to the reduced per diem under my current contract, many of my peers and I carry cooking equipment, such as electric skillets or George Foreman grills in our bags. It’s the only way to watch your pennies.

Eating every meal out is impossible to afford. You encounter cities where downtown is deserted at night and there are no restaurants within walking distance. I’m in Tampa now and this is the case; here you have to add the cost of a taxi to your meal, if you want to eat out before or after the show. Having groceries, and cooking tools to prepare them in your room, is essential.

This particular stretch of the “Evita” Tour, I won’t be home for seven weeks. During that time, we play Baltimore, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio and Tempe. We’re encountering cold and warm weather. It’s been hard to balance the clothing by climate and still get under the weight limits. (Most airlines charge $25 or more even if you are a lb over; ironically, you can check in two bags of 50lbs, but if you have one of 51lbs, you can be charged for excess weight.)

At an airport in Fort Myers, Florida this past March, the gate agent made me take clothing out of my suitcase and shift it to the other to balance the weight, though the total weight for the two bags was under 100lbs. To my embarrassment, two pairs of my jeans weighed 4 lbs. They put them on a scale in front of my co-workers!

On my recent mini-vacation, I was standing in line in Oakland for my Southwest Airlines flight home to Texas. It was to stop in Los Angeles on the way. In line behind me (I was first in line to try to get that coveted exit row seat where there’s no seat directly in front of you:) was film and television actor Peter Coyote. He and his wife were charming, with Coyote referring himself as “just a character actor” like you (meaning me:) For 45 minutes, all we talked about was packing for gigs ... how we wanted to make sure we didn’t carry more than necessary ... the perfect way to pack a suitcase , all the while with Peter’s wife grinning at our passion for the subject.

Peter packs a suitcase with clothing for a week, then does laundry if he’s gone longer. The other suitcase carries his traveling kitchen ... his blender and skillet, a cup, bowl, one setting of silverware and a plate. I carry two cups, two plastic bowls, one small frying pan (which doubles as a plate) and one spoon. It’s amazing what you can do with this mix of items and a microwave:)

My bet noire has always been carrying clothing for too many occasions; I’m always close to going over the weight limit, so I’ve made recent improvements, changed my ways. I’ve purchased lighter-weight suitcases; I weigh them empty, so I know how much weight I can then add. I pack the suitcases and then head to our local UPS Store and weigh them before I head to the Houston or Austin airports.

Once I arrive at the airport, I have my ticket, passport and drivers license around my neck, so that my ID can be checked with a minimum of fuss and my hands are free to carry bags. I try to select clothing of only one or two colors, so I can mix and match. I carry only two coats, one of which I wear; I have two pairs of shoes, always wearing my boots on travel day. This keeps the weight out of the bags and they’re easy to take on and off at security. I carry snacks in zip-lock bags, so that I have food on the flights.

After much internal debate, I’ve limited myself to one suit, two dress shirts and two ties, though I’m still not sure if dress clothes are necessary to carry any more. I now carry two family pictures, packed carefully among my clothing. However, I don’t stint on underwear and socks. I carry enough for 20 days without doing laundry. Outer clothing can be recycled, but not underwear. You can’t count on laundry facilities in hotels or being convenient.

Packing is on my mind a lot these days. I’m really tired of lugging my bags. One of the past-tense perks of traveling with a national tour, is that company managers were required to have porters carry our bags; no longer. Now, with the new security requirements, group travel has become even more stressful. I am always looking for ways to make a travel day easier.

I won’t be home for Christmas this year. I’m not going to put myself through traveling from Newark to Houston on Christmas Eve and then flying from Houston to Washington, DC on the 26th. I’m just not going to do it. I can’t depend on the weather or airline service. Instead, I’m taking Amtrak to DC on Christmas Eve. I’m already trying to figure out how to get my bags to DC, how I can minimize the amount of luggage I have. I won’t have an opportunity to make adjustments; once I’m home from 12-12 to 12-18, that’s it till the tour ends on February 12. Can I make it with one large suitcase and a computer bag while playing DC, Providence, Cleveland, Tuscon, Columbus, GA, Huntsville, AL, Kitchener, Ontarion and Waterbury CT? There’s a lot of potential climate changes there.

I’m curious. I do travel constantly, but I still look for tips on packing. Books ... my passion for reading ... is my constant packing challenge. I'm always mailing boxes home. Anyone out there have secrets they’re willing to share on fine-tuning, the fine art of packing? Anyone out there share my passion for packing perfection?

A Passion for Packing ..... Suitcases:)

No matter how many tours, no matter how many trips, no matter how many times I pack a suitcase, I always think I can do it better. I’m constantly in search of the perfect mix of clothing, shoes, coats and sundries that will take me from city to city with a minimum of fuss and bother.

In the 80s and early 90s, packing was easy. On a national tour, I was allowed two suitcases of 70lbs each, two carry-ons (which until 1994 didn’t include a computer or cell phone) and the company traveled a steamer trunk for me. I carried clothing for all occasions, had my cowboy hat with me, even kept memories of home, mostly pictures, books and a favorite quilt close at hand. During “Phantom” with our extended runs, I drove most of the tour and the rules didn’t apply. I could carry a lot in the back of a pick up with a cover. But the times are changing ... not my goal of perfect packing ... but the regulations and requirements from the airlines and my producer.

Now when I pack a bag, I look at weight first. In the past couple of years, the airlines arbitrarily lowered the maximum weight limit from 70lbs to 50lbs per bag, They give a number of reasons for it, but overage as a money-maker and insurance claims by baggage handlers are the driving forces behind the weight-limit reduction. I have first-class suitcases which I no longer use. Because of their sturdiness, they weigh quite a bit empty; their base weight takes away from the weight of the contents I want to carry. Now they live in my parents’ basement or in my storage unit.

Most National Tours no longer allow steamer trunks; so, as I travel from city to city, I try to plan for differing climates, differing lengths of stay, differing lengths of time away, all within the parameters of two 50lb bags and two carry-ons, one dedicated to a laptop. Due to the reduced per diem under my current contract, many of my peers and I carry cooking equipment, such as electric skillets or George Foreman grills in our bags. It’s the only way to watch your pennies.

Eating every meal out is impossible to afford. You encounter cities where downtown is deserted at night and there are no restaurants within walking distance. I’m in Tampa now and this is the case; here you have to add the cost of a taxi to your meal, if you want to eat out before or after the show. Having groceries, and cooking tools to prepare them in your room, is essential.

This particular stretch of the “Evita” Tour, I won’t be home for seven weeks. During that time, we play Baltimore, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio and Tempe. We’re encountering cold and warm weather. It’s been hard to balance the clothing by climate and still get under the weight limits. (Most airlines charge $25 or more even if you are a lb over; ironically, you can check in two bags of 50lbs, but if you have one of 51lbs, you can be charged for excess weight.)

At an airport in Fort Myers, Florida this past March, the gate agent made me take clothing out of my suitcase and shift it to the other to balance the weight, though the total weight for the two bags was under 100lbs. To my embarrassment, two pairs of my jeans weighed 4 lbs. They put them on a scale in front of my co-workers!

On my recent mini-vacation, I was standing in line in Oakland for my Southwest Airlines flight home to Texas. It was to stop in Los Angeles on the way. In line behind me (I was first in line to try to get that coveted exit row seat where there’s no seat directly in front of you:) was film and television actor Peter Coyote. He and his wife were charming, with Coyote referring himself as “just a character actor” like you (meaning me:) For 45 minutes, all we talked about was packing for gigs ... how we wanted to make sure we didn’t carry more than necessary ... the perfect way to pack a suitcase , all the while with Peter’s wife grinning at our passion for the subject.

Peter packs a suitcase with clothing for a week, then does laundry if he’s gone longer. The other suitcase carries his traveling kitchen ... his blender and skillet, a cup, bowl, one setting of silverware and a plate. I carry two cups, two plastic bowls, one small frying pan (which doubles as a plate) and one spoon. It’s amazing what you can do with this mix of items and a microwave:)

My bet noire has always been carrying clothing for too many occasions; I’m always close to going over the weight limit, so I’ve made recent improvements, changed my ways. I’ve purchased lighter-weight suitcases; I weigh them empty, so I know how much weight I can then add. I pack the suitcases and then head to our local UPS Store and weigh them before I head to the Houston or Austin airports.

Once I arrive at the airport, I have my ticket, passport and drivers license around my neck, so that my ID can be checked with a minimum of fuss and my hands are free to carry bags. I try to select clothing of only one or two colors, so I can mix and match. I carry only two coats, one of which I wear; I have two pairs of shoes, always wearing my boots on travel day. This keeps the weight out of the bags and they’re easy to take on and off at security. I carry snacks in zip-lock bags, so that I have food on the flights.

After much internal debate, I’ve limited myself to one suit, two dress shirts and two ties, though I’m still not sure if dress clothes are necessary to carry any more. I now carry two family pictures, packed carefully among my clothing. However, I don’t stint on underwear and socks. I carry enough for 20 days without doing laundry. Outer clothing can be recycled, but not underwear. You can’t count on laundry facilities in hotels or being convenient.

Packing is on my mind a lot these days. I’m really tired of lugging my bags. One of the past-tense perks of traveling with a national tour, is that company managers were required to have porters carry our bags; no longer. Now, with the new security requirements, group travel has become even more stressful. I am always looking for ways to make a travel day easier.

I won’t be home for Christmas this year. I’m not going to put myself through traveling from Newark to Houston on Christmas Eve and then flying from Houston to Washington, DC on the 26th. I’m just not going to do it. I can’t depend on the weather or airline service. Instead, I’m taking Amtrak to DC on Christmas Eve. I’m already trying to figure out how to get my bags to DC, how I can minimize the amount of luggage I have. I won’t have an opportunity to make adjustments; once I’m home from 12-12 to 12-18, that’s it till the tour ends on February 12. Can I make it with one large suitcase and a computer bag while playing DC, Providence, Cleveland, Tuscon, Columbus, GA, Huntsville, AL, Kitchener, Ontarion and Waterbury CT? There’s a lot of potential climate changes there.

I’m curious. I do travel constantly, but I still look for tips on packing. Books ... my passion for reading ... is my constant packing challenge. I'm always mailing boxes home. Anyone out there have secrets they’re willing to share on fine-tuning, the fine art of packing? Anyone out there share my passion for packing perfection?