CREATING A CARNET
Once the decision has been made to travel with a carnet, the documentation process should begin as soon as possible. A carnet requires attention to detail, so the more time you allow yourself to create one, the better off you’ll be.
The first step in the process is to determine what gear you’ll hand carry. You’ll undoubtedly rent some gear locally at each show, the most obvious being drums given their size. Beyond that, you'll probably want to source guitar and bass amps because they're typically easy to find in most countries. Keyboards can be hit and miss, but most international vendors can provide industry standards.
Beyond that, it's important to figure out what is crucial to your show, and what you can be flexible on. If there is anything that you can't do without, I suggest carrying it with you. Once the decision has been made on what you’ll be carrying, it’s time to create your carnet.
When creating a carnet, I suggest working from big to small. First, list every case that you’ll carry. Assign each case a number for easy reference when speaking with customs agents. This also makes easy work of your piece count to ensure everything arrived when picking up your gear at the airport luggage carousel.
From there you’ll list what’s in each case, keeping in mind that the key to a good carnet is detail. Remember that customs agents do not work in your industry, they know next to nothing about production gear. Even items that may seem obvious or insignificant, like cables, guitar straps, and wireless belt packs need to be included in a carnet.
It’s also very important to include serial numbers for every item that has one. If the gear is already racked up nice and neatly in fly cases, or attached to a pedalboard, this can be a long, sometimes meticulous process. However, serial numbers are not just a good idea, they’re a requirement. Serial numbers ensure customs agents that the gear you’re entering a country with is the exact gear you’ll leave with.
Don’t forget the easy to overlook items like wireless belt packs, and pay special attention to items of significance like guitars or laptops. Customs agents will often want an overall sample of what you’re carrying, but they’ll pay particular attention to the high-value items.
On the topic of value, the price you’ll pay to obtain a carnet is based on the total value of all the goods listed. You should be honest when listing the value of the items on your carnet, but this is not the place to brag about how much all of your gear is worth. No need to pay a higher price for a carnet that could have easily been valued lower.
One thing that I always carry but don’t bother listing on a carnet is consumables, things like batteries, gaff tape, and guitar strings. Items that you will enter the country with, but more than likely not leave with, are things you should not include. It’s easier to omit them than explain why you’re no longer carrying them when departing a country.
I recommend never listing merch on your carnet. Whether or not you should carry merch at all, and how its handled internationally will vary depending on the country you’re traveling to, and is a topic worthy of a separate discussion. But as it relates to carnets, it is something that you should not include.
Once you have your carnet complete, you'll work with the cartage vendor that you choose to file the paperwork. They'll ensure you have enough vouchers for your trip and can help ensure a smooth customs experience in every country.