Friday
Feb152008
Did You Do Your Idiot Check?
Friday, February 15, 2008 at 09:16PM I am in North Carolina, on the road with John Batdorf (www.johnbatdorfmusic.com). We’re doing our All Wood and Stones show here in the south; www.CharlesandMyrtlesCoffeeHouse.com ( a place as exciting as it’s name) in Chattanooga; www.EddiesAttic.com in Decatur (Atlanta, GA) and then off to Memphis and the National Folk Alliance for four days, followed by a solo show in Santa Cruz, CA on Sunday the 24th at the Attic ( www.theatticsantacruz.com ).
The reason I laid all that out was to that you would understand what I had to pack for. I knew that with the CD’s and the equipment and the clothes, the credit card swiper, forms, mailing list, pictures, posters, etc. that it was going to be a tight squeeze. I had to bring just the right amount of everything and make certain that I had it all squared away long before the ride to the airport.
I was smart. I packed everything the day before. Thought of things I’d forgotten; made certain that neither bag was over the fifty pound limit. A strange custom if you ask me. If one bag weighs 26 pounds and the other weighs 51 pounds, that is still 23 pounds under the allowed limit, but they require that no more than fifty pounds per bag. Or else it is fifty more bucks. But you know that.
In any event, I had everything packed and ready to go yesterday morning. While waiting for my ride, I decided to make a cappucino in our fabulous cappucino maker. While I was involved, my wife, who was out of town, texted me. I heard it come in but couldn‘t find my phone. It was already packed in my carry-on. I left the still brewing cap and dug out the phone, saw her text and called her. Then continued to make the cap with one hand while talking to her with the other (sign, no, just being cute). Then said my goodbyes, put the phone down and continued to finish making and drinking the cap.
I decided because I was getting picked up at 8:30, and L.A. rushour traffic sucks, so I put the suitcase and equipment bag out on the porch. It was then that I noticed that John had pulled up. I just stepped inside, picked up my carryon, my guitar, coat and hat, and keys and stepped back out. Loaded everything into the car as quickly as possible and then off we went.
It was at the airport that I realized that I had left my phone right where I put it down in the kitchen. I was now out on the road for two weeks without my treo, without which I can‘t do business. Enormously stupid move. And why did it occur? Because I did not do my all important IDIOT CHECK.
When you’re packing up to leave to go on the road or while on the road and after you have loaded up everything you must go back and do the IDIOT CHECK. This is where you already know that you are completely together and haven’t made any stupid mistakes. You go back, check the bathroom, the bed, the desk, everyplace in the hotel. And you go over in your mind everything that you need. Do you have it? Almost never. I always discover something on the IDIOT CHECK and when I don’t do it I always leave something. Even after all these years.
So this post is just another reminder. When you are going out there or are out there, every single time, DO THE IDIOT CHECK. Trust me on this. My fantastic wife came home from her business trip, called me and my phone rang in the kitchen. She immediately picked it up, turned it off, went on line, got the addy of the place we’re playing tonight, dashed to fed ex and shipped it to me. Fifty bucks for over night for a treo.
DO THE IDIOT CHECK…IT’S CHEAPER.
Reader Comments (5)
Hi James,
My husband does the idiot check whenever he travels, in fact he lists everything he needs on a little card that he keeps with his luggage. I find that making lists and putting them on the fridge helps alot. I even need a list when I go to Walmart. Must be another one of the joys of getting older or we just have too many things on our minds. Hope the rest of your tour was easy and fun.
Diane
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