Orchestration for 20 tons of musical instruments

Customer Profile

Several US-based symphony orchestras regularly tour throughout Europe, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Symphony Orchestra. The delivery volume per tour usually amounts to about 20 tons of musical instruments – harps, cellos, violins, violas, etc. – plus clothing and other related items for the musicians.

Customer Challenge

Tight tour schedules and the check-in formalities upon receiving and sending of instruments need to be precisely coordinated with the tour manager, airlines and the trucking company. The first European concert is on the day after the instruments arrive at Frankfurt airport, and the last performance concludes barely 24 hours before the return flight to the USA. This is why it is crucial that the handling at the airport, the loading of the trucks and the customs clearance work hand in hand. Very often the last concert on the tour is on a Friday evening and the return flight to the USA is on the Saturday night or early Sunday. In order not to miss the flight, the trucking to Frankfurt and the handling and packaging in pallets need to be closely coordinated.

Agility Solution

For this task Agility relies on two experts from Canada, who are in direct contact with the tour managers and stage crew of the orchestra.

They work out the schedule with the utmost precision, in order to keep up with all the dates – be it for national trucking, international flights or the organization of charter flights.

Agility manages the tours with specialist expertise, flexibility and commitment to meet very demanding schedules.

Special Services For The Customer

• Import handling
• Customs clearance
• Palletizing
• Organization of charter flights
• Coordination with tour managers and stage crews