What to pack for a great Flute Convention
Are you attending the National Flute Association annual convention this August? Flute World has thought up some great things to put in your suitcase – in addition to your flute, of course.
1. Free Space – You’re likely to shop at the flute convention’s exhibit hall. Think of what you might buy – accessories, sheet music, a new harmony flute (i.e. piccolo or alto flute) – and be sure to leave a little free space in your luggage to bring back MORE than you take. If you are flying, check with your airline in advance about luggage, carry on, and personal items.
Pro-tip: If you’re taking snacks, they can free up room for those things you buy at the convention.
2. Snacks – Conventions are busy, have long days, and can become costly without planning. Food is one of the bigger expenses at convention centers. Consider packing a few nutritious snacks that will keep well, like granola bars, dried fruit, or meal supplements. Having rations will keep your energy up, keep your costs down, and as you consume them, create more space for you to fill with great finds in the exhibit hall.
3. Layered Clothing – Phoenix is going to be hot, but it’s likely the convention center will be very air conditioned. Pack a light sweater or jacket that you can easily carry or wear. When you’re in a long concert, you will want to make sure you feel comfortable. If you are not performing, the convention does not need to look too formal. Your days will be long, but will likely include quite a lot of networking (and selfies).
4. Comfortable Shoes – Yes, there will be networking which makes us want to look our best. But with events covering 17 hours of the day, be sure to have footwear that will help you feel active. From walking to and from the hotel, to shuffling around the exhibit hall, to attending that standing-room-only event, you will be on and off your feet all day. If you’re performing, keep and extra pair of shoes handy for after your event. Your feet, back, and overall attitude will benefit from sensible footwear.
Also consider how many of this year’s events are related to Latin, jazz, and other types of dance-inspiring music. Consider a pair of shoes to wear on the dance floor of a late-night cabaret.
5. Ear Plugs – From the exhibit hall to hotel rooms, ear plugs are a great addition to your pack. The exhibit halls can get quite noisy, and wearing ear plugs can protect your hearing and your focus when browsing sheet music. One can only listen to the Daphnis solo so many times before one needs to block that out. Also consider the hotel might be full of flute players practicing in their room before a concert, or testing an instrument they borrowed overnight. Ear plugs might extend your rest and sleep.
6. Notebook – Keeping notes at conventions will help you remember important information. This information might be nuggets of advice from a workshop, words of wisdom from a masterclass, a list of the repertoire you heard in a recital and want to remember to purchase, or the specs of the instruments you loved when trialing in the exhibits. You might even section off the pages in advance to keep all similar notes in one place!
7. Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer – You will be touching a lot of flutes and products in the exhibit hall. You will be handling alcohol swabs to wipe the lip plates of the flutes you play. You will be going from extreme desert heat to extreme convention air conditioning. Your hands will be getting very dry. If you plan to bring hand sanitizer, bring a brand that adds moisture, or consider bringing a secondary lotion.
Please do not put lotion on your hands when play-testing instruments. It makes them hard to keep clean.
8. Water Bottle – We will be in a desert this year. Between hot temperatures outside and conditioned air inside, it will be easy to become dehydrated. There will be plenty of bottle refill stations to help quench your thirst.
9. Business Cards/Resume – There are so many networking opportunities at conventions of this size. Whether you are looking for a grad school assistantship or work in the flute retail industry, you will be able to meet leaders across the music spectrum. Be prepared and introduce yourself and share your information with business cards or a resume. It is both a community of professionals, and a community of friends.
10. External Battery – The days are long at the NFA Convention, from sunup to long past sundown. To get the most out of your experience, carry an external battery with you so that you can charge your phone. This is especially important if you are using your phone to communicate with friends, using the NFA Guidebook App, recording your trial flutes on your phone, or taking notes from masterclasses.
You get to decide what type of experience you have at the NFA Convention. From classes to concerts to the exhibit hall, there is so much to do. What are you planning to pack so that you have the best experience?
