The first time I took my modular synthesizer on a flight, I knew from the jump off at JFK it was a bad idea to be late. Flying on LOT airlines to Poland for the OFF fest, I was approached in the line by security who thought it was a pistol case. I, being someone who is pretty hard on instruments, decided to get the nice black travel case—approximately the size of a trumpet case—but with the very military style protective corners; I thought for once I would have a good case from the start. A quick look at the interior calmed the pistol expert. After being processed through the belt and shoe department of the TSA, I ran for my flight and made it on time.

In Europe, reactions to this caricature of an exploding box (as it seems to appear to people who have never seen a modern travelling musician) range from boredom (Berlin airport), to the usual "please sir, come off the line to the back room for the bomb swab." I quickly learned that to swab the panels and to keep it looking more commercial, I should travel with the synth unpatched. Cords make people nervous. The back rooms were not so stern usually though, with people getting a bit of musical info in exchange for some banter that would prove I am only nominally nefarious in a musical setting.

The worst was probably the reaction of the other passengers on a flight from Warsaw; running into a full plane, sweaty from running through the airport, brown skinned and all clad in black with this odd box. The passengers did not feel my look. I tried a laugh to assuage the vibe—even worse. Tension melted when I just then seemed like an American.

Sometimes I think of wearing an "Airport friendly" collared shirt, or maybe getting a pink case, but I doubt [I’ll do it].