How to Look After Your Instruments On The Road
* Written by Rory Oza - a freelance content writer on range of subjects including finance.
If you're a musician who travels with equipment, then you know the challenges you face in caring for your instrument for on the road. Having musician's insurance is an essential requirement to cover you in those situations where you need to replace or repair an instrument quickly. This is especially true for travelling musicians whose livelihood is entwined with their instrument.
Whatever equipment you carry on the road, here are the most important tips to remember to ensure you protect your instrument while on the move. Chances are, if you're on the road, you've had your instrument long enough already to know how to look after it at home. You keep it cased, stow it safely, clean it regularly and look it over for any marks or damage. The road though isn't a normal environment and looking after your instrument means following some additional safety procedures.
Protect against theft
The nightmare scenario is loss or theft of your instrument. When you're on the road, you can't always ensure that your guitar, keyboard, drums, saxophone or whatever you rock out on is always held in a secure environment. For this reason, and for peace of mind, musician's insurance is crucial for travelling musicians.
Before you hit the road, make sure to take a record of your instrument details. This is especially true if you travel with a few instruments. If you have more than one guitar for example, note the make and model and take some photos. Does it have any distinguishing features? Get a close-up shot of anything that makes it stand out. In the event of theft, these notes and photos can all help to recover your instrument. Having these details to hand is also very useful for musicians who must contact their insurer.
Be vigilant
Travelling by van, plane or public transport is an inevitable part of life on the road for a musician. These are the times that you instrument is at most risk of being stolen. Wherever possible don't let your instrument out of your sight. While this isn't always possible, you should always keep as close an eye as you can when using public transport. When you're at a gig be aware that a parked van in a venue car park is a prime target for thieves, so make sure the van is attended. Designating a trusted person when you can't be there yourself helps keep everyone's instruments safe.
Musician's insurance can provide you with cover for peace of mind. Though, whether you're hitting the road for a long tour or heading to a local venue for the night, be vigilant to ensure you get your instruments home in good condition.
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