At one time or another, you are going to have to transport your equipment, even if it's only a half hour away to the local club where you contracted to play. Whether you transport your equipment in a truck, van, or SUV, the important thing is to make sure that everything is protected not only from the weather, but also from any bumps that may occur in the road. To do that, you want to make sure that you have everything protected with either a blanket or an instrument covering. You need to make sure that they don't bump against each other and don't have an opportunity to fall during the drive.



If your venue is some distance from where you live, and you need to fly or take the train, you may find that your equipment is not quite as subject to bumping as it is on the highway. That doesn't mean, however, that you should be any less cautious. You still want to protect your equipment, especially on a plane where you may be subject to turbulence. Even if your equipment is insured, you don't want to have to worry about it being damaged before you reach the venue, and have to make arrangements to rent equipment to use for your show.

For local venues, a van is much better than a truck or even SUV because of the size the ease of putting instruments into it. An SUV can be somewhat small for transporting a large drum set, and a regular truck offers no protection in case of rain. The latter may be find if you find yourself in a bind, but when it comes time to buy a vehicle for transporting band equipment, a cargo van is your best choice. In fact, you may want to put some cushioning in the back of the van ? perhaps carpet the sides, especially if you don't plan to use the van for any other purpose. This will save you from having to tote along extra padding when you travel with the equipment. The earlier you learn how to properly transport your equipment, the easier it will be later if you choose to go national with your act and have to move the equipment more frequently and transport it for longer distances.

Keeping everything protected and safe means that when you get to your destination, you know that everything will be ready to go right on stage for practice and performance. Take all of the precautions now, and you will reap many benefits later in the time savings and longevity of your instruments' lives. Don't try to cut corners with your protective equipment?buy the best that is on the market.