KBKR's post reminded me of a nightmare, similar to Chony's.

A hundred years ago I was a drummer in a pit band that was part of a traveling troupe that did USO shows at military installations. What fun: singers, dancers, comedians, jugglers contortionists...a great mix of entertainment.

We traveled by bus and I always tried to be careful about counting all the pieces when packing for these jobs.

On one trip to McGuire Air Force Base I failed to put the one little piece of hardware in my hardware case that connects the snare drum to its floor stand. After discovering the piece was missing,I was mortified.

At the last minute I was able to prop up the snare by putting a book on a chair and the snare hanging propped cattiwhoompus on the book. I straddled the chair so I could still control the sock cymbals and bass drum. It was pretty funky looking...but got the job done.

Eddie