If anyone really needs packing advice, talk to a touring jazz singer.
After years of refusing to check bags, I decided to check a bag on the way to Moscow and of course, it got lost. Seeing that I am in a new city every other day when touring, the likelihood of me getting it back before I get home is slim. Fortunately I did somewhat follow my own advice about packing and so it was not as disastrous as it could be.
- Do not check your luggage unless the flight is non-stop or you are on your way home.
- Make a packing list for every trip. If your luggage gets lost you know exactly what is inside it. Also, you use the list when you return to the same locale at the same time of year and remember if the items you brought last year was practical or not.
- Invest in a carry-on bag that is small enough to make it through the most zealous checkers, but also has an expansion zip for when no one is looking or in case you go shopping!
- Pack your carry-on as if your checked bag is going to get lost. That means:
— Basic toiletries, medications, makeup
— Bathing suit (swimsuit shopping is time-consuming and expensive, and a bathing suit is so small you might as well bring it every time to you can enjoy the beach, pool or hot tub)
— One outfit besides the one on your back. Unless you travel dressed up, make sure your second outfit is dressy. It is easy to shop for casual clothes (buy tourist sweats at the airport) but trying to find evening/stage wear is an all-day chore that gets expensive.
— Make sure you don't forget the shoes to go with that outfit. So you should have both dress shoes and comfy shoes: one pair on your feet, the other in your bag.
— Make sure the plugs to your phone, laptop, camera and converters are in your carry-on, not your checked luggage.
- Never check your jewelry or medications!! Bring all your medication! You never know when you will get a yeast infection, and brand names are different overseas so rather than trying to translate just bring your diflucan, Midol, Tums and anything else you might need. Prednisone knocks out a lost voice in a pinch and even though it is not recommended to sing on strained vocal chords, I keep it on hand so I have the option of not canceling an important overseas concert.
- Invest in a really good sleep mask, ear plugs, inflatable neck pillow and a small vial of lavender oil.
- If you are traveling across several time zones for example San Francisco to Moscow, ask your doctor to prescribe you 1 valium for the flight and 1 sleeping pill to take at bedtime when you arrive. The jet lag is killer, and if you are not on vacation it is imperative you sleep when you are supposed to. At the minimum take a Nytol or Benedryl.
- Bring some CDs/business cards in your bag. You never know who you will meet on a plane!
- When you are done with your magazines, always offer them to the flight attendants or swap with another passenger.
- Always have some transportable food in your bag in case there is no food when you arrive to your hotel or they run out of food on the plane. Trail mix, chex mix and dried fruit is perfect.
- Weigh your luggage before you take off (step on a scale holding your bag) and keep in mind the weight limitations are much lighter outside of the U.S. Don't pack too heavy! If you like to read, get a kindle to cut down on weight.
- Scan your charts. Upload them to your website or Google docs and print them out when you get there. Lugging around charts is an unnecessary pain.
- Keep a small umbrella in your luggage at all time.
- Don't carry a cute purse on the plane. Pack the small one and carry a big pocket book that can you can fit your food, magazines, laptop and whatever else you need into it. Large leather bags tend to be heavy so consider using an expandable nylon one.
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