I'm leaving on a mission trip one week from today. I've purchased several new magic tricks, and am dying to get to Tampa, but I have a question to those of you who travel more than I do. I've only transported my Axtell puppets a few miles. They will be in the car for more than 9 hours next week. I have a black Seward Footlocker that my boys will be traveling in. I protect the faces with plastic grocery bags already. What else can I do to ensure that they arrive safely?

Heat is not an enemy of latex, it is an enemy of hot glue and plastics. Direct sun is only an enemy of latex if left in a window for months at a time with the sun beating in. We treat the latex with 303 Protectant and you should do that every 3 months. Remember cars can get intensely hot...and a black trunk can absorb even more heat from the sun, so a black trunk in a closed up car in the heat is H-O-T. The Magic Drawing Board won't do good in a hot car...off the meter won't and birds that have hot glue in their feathers will tend to soften the glue in intense heat, even though we use a special high temperature hot glue on our puppets.

Use the AC in the car and treat them like a friend. Take the trunk into the hotels with you and they'll be good. Ax

I fly with mine a lot and don't do anything too special. I just make sure their faces are not touching anything that would act like sandpaper. The plastic bags should help considerably. I have puppets from another company whose feathers have "moulted" due to the heat, and have lost an occasional feather from an Axtell bird. It was really funny one day, because I had a bird puppet out then followed it up with a cat puppet. I hadn't noticed that one of the bird's feathers had gotten into the cat's mouth. That created quite a stir amongst the children!

Tony,
That would be a great skit for Rick's new Cat. He could have a feather in his mouth. No bird. Say he was so tired (lazy) he only grabbed the tail feather as the bird was walking by or something silly. {:->
My Beck Er Bird looses a few of the long finer feathers once in awhile. I have attempted to glue them back in place. Not sure if it the exact place they came from, but it looked okay when I was done.
It is more dangerous for the latex bird.
You know.
Suzie, hot glue gun, tiny feather, plus latex bird.

Poor bird, just laid there lifeless with fear! {:->

Yes very good point. About the faces, the plastic bags reduce the friction so much. Here's a photo Capy posted on Facebook of two puppets ready to travel.

Personally, I would have put both of these puppets on the same side, keeping their faces from touching (even with the bags). That also allows room for soft clothes or another puppet on the other side. Plenty of room left in this bag should someone need it.

Just don't put any sharp objects like sword thru neck, needle thru balloon, or juggling knives in with them. Also, no liquids. Save all that stuff for your carryon! (smile)

Thanks for the tips.

Ax you should sell those kinds of cases.

Tony, you said you fly often with your puppets. Are you okay with checking them in? Or do you use a carryon?

I'm pretty sure the question of backdrops has come up here somewhere, but do YOU use one? If so, how do you travel with it when flying? I am planning on flying to Virginia in Sept. to perform at some schools, but am so used to having a backdrop, my vent stand, my case, etc.

Any tips for doing shows WITHOUT all the 'things' you're used to having on stage with you is greatly appreciated! I know Barry Mitchell likes the round, collapsable leaf bags (NOT laundry bags), because they would pack in a suitcase. However, I cannot find them here in Mankato, MN! I have used collapsable laundry baskets in the past, but they're flimsy. Also, what about your vent stand? I use a mic stand...can't take that with me!

Thanks, everyone!

Shari

Shari, I use a Jake aluminum tripod for the backdrop. When I fly I use a 30 or 31 inch suitcase. (Hard to find anymore. Check fleamarkets.) They are long enough to hold the collapsed tripods. The crossbars go into a large dufflebag. I put the magic into the suitcase, then puppets to fill. I then put the remaining puppet(s) into the duffle bag, along with the curtain.

Usually a school has a mic stand you can borrow. Then you can just bring the top.

If the backdrop is not used for anything but a backdrop I recommend that you just bring a nice tablecloth and hide extra puppets behind the covered table. You can get a nice one made with your name at Fast Signs.

My carryon is my personal luggage. Clothes, reading material. I don't fly with a wooden figure.