lacquer solutions and airline travel

[Tom Servinsky]

Bill,
I have been thoroughly talked out of trying to smuggle lacquer on this trip.
It's just not worth the hassle.
Your alternative solutions, though, are worth keeping in mind. I never
thought about nail polish and nail remover...basically similar stuff with a
different name.
Anyhow it's Bon Voyage as of this coming Saturday. Tour raps up Oct. 15.
Talk to y'all when I return.
Tom Servinsky, RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Ballard" <yardbird@pop.vermontel.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: lacquer solutions and airline travel


> At 8:08 PM -0700 8/27/02, David Ilvedson wrote:
> >Yeah, what a great idea...and if you get stopped I'd like to hear
> >your excuse to the Feds...
>
> I don't know about you, but at that moment the first thing out of my
> mouth wouldn't be a lie. The truth is not an excuse. The whole truth
> is the whole truth.
>
> With all due respect, David, this is a calculated risk, one in the
> "enormous consequences at negligible risk" category. On the one hand
> you have the clear need as a professional for this material.
> (Certainly you can't anticipate the number of pianos you'll arrive on
> this 6 week tour, which will need it. As a result, you can't
> anticipate the total number of fluid ounces you'll use during the six
> weeks. But let's assume that 8 oz. will get you through.) That
> professional need would include having the stuff ready to use, as
> soon as you first  hit the new piano.
>
> You weigh that against the chance of discovery, either because some
> sort of sniffer (canine or electronic) smells ketone vapors coming
> from your suitcase or because you fell on the wrong side of
> somebody's terrorist profile. Which if you go about your business as
> if it's nobody else's business.
>
> As I said, it's a situation of "enormous consequences at negligible
> risk". I live thirty miles north of an aging nuke, and should the
> event of negligible risk happen, I'd be just as bad off as the folks
> living right across the street from it (whose property taxes have
> been subsidized by it for 30 years). And not much better off than
> those living 100 miles away. But I face a greater chance of death
> when I climb into my automobile each morning. I'm sure you have this
> involvement with "enormous consequences at negligible risk" in your
> life.
>
> The facts of the matter should be no surprise to you or anyone. The
> solvents are flammable, and have been illegal on airplanes for years.
> And the chances of being caught have risen sharply since 9/11. So if
> you're serious in your need to have this material on hand at each of
> the many stops on your tour, and if the risk of getting caught is
> unacceptable, you don't even ask the question.
>
> Your alternatives are 1.) traveling with straight lacquer only (less
> flammable and less aromatic), and thinner it with from a pint of
> acetone bought and left at each stop, 2.) buying at each stop the
> largest quantity of clear nail polish and nail polish remover (most
> likely, 3 or 4 oz. in each material), or simply throwing a can of
> nitro-based hairspray into your suitcase. (Ben McKlveen has a great
> story on that one.)
>
> Are you doing the tour under contract with somebody's management?
> Write them a letter, explaining that this material is a necessary
> part of the service which they have contracted you for. (The letter
> won't go into how you intend to have them on hand for each stop, but
> you can make it clear verbally which alternative is the best,
> strictly from a professional standpoint of getting the job done.)
> Management will probably run it by legal, who will say concur that it
> is a legitimate part of your business.
>
> Again, I assumed that because you asked the question, you were
> considering the primary option. As for the summer of '67, I had a big
> smile on my face which lasted for 8-10 weeks. <g>
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Bill Ballard RPT
> NH Chapter, P.T.G.
>
> "Blessed are the cynical,
> for they hath made backups."
>      ...........anon
> +++++++++++++++++++++