Gong Bags Cases and Travel Tips: Protecting, transporting and traveling with your gongs!

Protecting, transporting and traveling with your gongs, by Barbara Cole Salmeron!
I have been all over the world with my gongs, and in this video I share lots of things I have learned along the way! I can also help you purchase gongs and all accessories, as well as other sound healing instruments, with free or discounted shipping! Find my contact info at ScienceOfStressRelief.com
Soft bag - great for in and out of the car
Hard case - airplane, train, or when someone else is handling your gong luggage! PROTECT!!!
Large Stand bag (for Paiste, Gibraltar, and Rambo stands) - can be checked onto an airplane as regular sized luggage (no extra fee). Use a blanket to separate each piece of the stand to prevent scratches. I like to do an accordion fold, back and forth. There are also hard cases for stands, but they are expensive!
Smaller stand bag is nice for smaller stands, but just has drawstring enclosure at the top, so not as secure for air travel. Good for Fruity Buddha or smaller Rambo stands)
Gong backpacks are now available, up to 32"! I made my first one from a Cymbal bag, before the backpacks were created. They open like a taco (only halfway). Always protect the gong with a sheet or a blanket to prevent permanent scratches!
You can also buy a large cymbal bag for small gongs.
Gong Bags - PROTECT your gong with a very soft blanket or a sheet. Lay the sheet/blanket in the bag, lay gong in face down and fold the blanket up around it. Each gong gets it's own blanket or sheet!
The newer bags are softer and more padded, a big improvement! I personally would STILL use a blanket or sheet to protect the gong!
You can pack your gongs in a soft bag, and then place that inside the hard case when needed. It is convenient to have both when you travel!
Don't pull or yank the bag handles in a way that fights the weight of the gong, the threads will rip... Use common sense!
Hardcase - my Humes & Berg Enduro case 32" case with my 32" Paiste and my 24" Paiste, 2 blankets and a soft bag is right at 52 pounds, and is also oversized! There is usually a fee to check it. Check on size and weight restrictions with your airline... I've never flown with bigger than a 32" case, and they won't accept baggage that is larger than their oversized maximum limits.
Sometimes hard cases are a special order and not in stock, so plan well ahead, it could take 6 to 8 weeks to get your case!
I have never been charged Overweight AND Oversized fee, and sometimes on International flights I've been charged nothing at all. ALWAYS mention that it is a musical instrument, because some airlines offer discounts or may waive the fee!
My rant on air travel and carrying on a gong...
24" gong is the largest size you can carry on to a "standard" sized airplane (one with 3 seats, and aisle, and 3 seats) or a larger plane, such as for international flights. I have heard a 26" might also fit, but I've never tried it!
At the security check-point, they may want you to take the gong out of the bag, so give yourself extra time for that. (Plus you want to board early, more on that below)
...24" gong will fit in the overhead compartment. DO NOT check your gong in a soft bag!! If they try to make you check it, argue that it is a delicate musical instrument that cannot be checked (there is a 2014 revised law about this, which you can read about at: www.federalregister.gov/docum... ...Print PDF and carry with you when traveling with a carry-on gong so you can educate airline staff if needed! Show them the federal law print out and stand your ground.)
If they are still giving you trouble, claim it is a religious ceremony instrument. I've never had to do that, but it might work!
They CAN refuse your carry-on if there is no space left in the overhead bins...so DON'T be the last person to board! Pay for pre-boarding if needed.

[@TeriWilder]

Such great info to share, Barbara! I'll add a few notes, since I've traveled with mine, too. I've added a thin carpet padding to go around the blanketed gong stand pieces, which protects it even further when checking it on a plane. And... 80% of the time a wing nut still breaks in the process, so I always have extras with me. I almost always fly Southwest Airlines when in the States, and I've never been charged an oversize fee for the gong/s in a hardshell case, as long as it's not over the 50 lb. limit. You do pick up that and the stand at the oversized luggage location. Yay for Southwest! I pack some mallets in with the stand, too, which saves me from adding their weight to my personal suitcases. Thanks again for sharing this, Barbara!

[@ScienceOfStressRelief]

Smart lady with good travel karma!! I just flew Southwest twice this week and it was $75 each time for my gong case! But it is 53 lbs.... Is yours a 30" or 32"?

[@TeriWilder]

@@ScienceOfStressRelief Ah, yes, I believe it's 30", so that would be the difference. A couple of times I was over by 2 pounds or so, and they let me slide. But I really focus on keeping it under that now, because that $75 each trip adds up. ❤️

[@HelensWillowWind]

Thank you!!!

[@primospiritlife9641]

thank you for good information. it helps me.

[@troyvalencia6864]

Is the hard case a 32” one? I am trying to make sure I can get this thing on a upcoming flight

[@LeoniaCunha]

The Gong behind you is it a Tam Tam or Chao? I'm having trouble to know if they are the same or if they are tow diferent gongs. And what i really wanted to know is if it's a Tam Tam, how do you keep it clean and nice specially when it's used in water ^^