Gigging in Canada ‘23

[BASSDROID]

I think maybe one of the guys had one. This sounds like it could be an issue.

Definitely an issue. I personally know more than one musician who were on their way to a gig and got denied for this reason.

Unless you cross regularly or have a Nexus card, you can pretty much count on the third degree, both coming and going. Be prepared. Do your homework.

Your chances of success dramatically increase when you show up with proper documentation, a clean record, and a clear, easy to understand narrative about where you are going and what you'll be doing.

Boring, simple, and truthful...that's the recipe.

I've only once been asked for documentation of my gear.

There is a document available on the US side (at the customs office) that verifies the equipment you are bringing over is yours. You would have to take your gear inside for an inspection and they will issue a certificate. I believe it's called "Certification for personal items taken abroad ". I have several that live in my car for various pieces of equipment. I'll upload a pic later.

That said, I've been asked to show this cert exactly once.

 

[Barticus]

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary.html

This was useful, I filled out the form and this was the response:

 

[Jason Hollar]

Jeez they let those Wrestlers waltz right in eh?!

 

[BASSDROID]

 

[friskinator]

Ask to get paid in cash? Bring only your bass and a DI? If this is a one-off, no reason to complicate it.

 

[Jason Hollar]

It’s a weeks worth of gigs capped off with a concert type event.

I think they have a sound system but I doubt it’s bass-worthy.

I’d bring two basses and at least one combo amp.

 

[2112]

Start reading here:

Artistic and performing arts occupations – Authorization to work without a work permit (International Mobility Program) - Canada.ca

 

[MichelD]

not exactly related, but whenever I go into canada, the border guards ask me if I'm bringing any firearms into the country. when I come home to the states, the border guards ask me if I'm bringing any fruit.

I have been busted for bringing fruit into the United States. California oranges.

Had to pay a $100 U.S. fine. We were going from B.C. to the Oregon coast for a family camping trip.

After that episode, my wife said "Let's get out of this f**king country" so we turned around and went back tothe Canadian border.

"How long have you been in the United States" we were asked.

"About 45 minutes," I replied and then we went camping in the Okanagan.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Hard to say what type of rosewood I’ve got on a ten year old Fender & Lakland...

Actually, it's pretty easy- there hasn't been any Brazilian on factory instruments since the '70's.

Dollars to donuts, if you've got actual rosewood and not some other substitute on a solid-body bass, it's Indian, not Brazilian.

Long before CITES became an issue, the only people using Brazilian rosewood any more were small-volume luthiers, and even then, it was only on the most ornate and expensive models- typically presentation-grade acoustic guitars.

 

[DonaldR]

I've crossed usa/canada borders many times for vacations and for works (I leave in Montreal, Qc).
Seems as post #42 but I would have at least a paper declaring your equipment, with serial number, and the value. Have it signed by the Canadian border agent. Might be useful when you return to USA.

 

[P. Aaron]

I guess I'm still a rebellious punk. I read these posts and wondered what I'd say to customs on a bridge (if anything) about playing a gig in the border crossing English speaking country I live next to...
"Yes sir just coming up for a little R&R! What, the rig? Yeah my buddy is having a birthday and we're gonna play some tunes. Money? Heck no I'm not good enough to play for money. Ya might pay me to stop?"...
Rock n roll is about rebellion.
These are not the droids you're looking for...

Border guards, either side, are humorless and when remarked to in a non-informative manner have a tendency to ask you to "pull over there" detain you and completely search your vehicle without regard to any possible damage they may cause. They'll leave you with a fine, at best.

 

[P. Aaron]

Remember they use the metric system so the hihat will be on the right.

Canadian proverb: "Give a man a millimeter, he'll take 160934.4 centimeters.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Border guards, either side, are humorless and when remarked to in a non-informative manner have a tendency to ask you to "pull over there" detain you and completely search your vehicle without regard to any possible damage they may cause. They'll leave you with a fine, at best.

I've driven into Canada multiple times. I wasn't joking, I've charmed people in at least 6 countries and somehow never ended up in a foreign jail.
I find U.S. cops and other U.S. authority figures far more humorless and intimidating. And at least 3 times (as a very young man) found myself in handcuffs and holding cells in my native state of Massachusetts. No humor. Un-charmable. Massholes lol.

 

[Fender_Bender]

The air quality is very bad right now due to literally hundreds of forest fires raging in Quebec and Ontario. Something to think about. I can see the haze looking 50 yards down the street.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I guess I'm still a rebellious punk. I read these posts and wondered what I'd say to customs on a bridge (if anything) about playing a gig in the border crossing English speaking country I live next to...
"Yes sir just coming up for a little R&R! What, the rig? Yeah my buddy is having a birthday and we're gonna play some tunes. Money? Heck no I'm not good enough to play for money. Ya might pay me to stop?"...
Rock n roll is about rebellion.
These are not the droids you're looking for...

Never !#%#!!#% with the border patrol. They can make your life miserable. When I was in college, the university chorale did a tour through Canada, and one wise@$$ on our bus decided to get funny when asked if he had any drugs on him. That bus was detained for many hours.

 

[P. Aaron]

I've driven into Canada multiple times. I wasn't joking, I've charmed people in at least 6 countries and somehow never ended up in a foreign jail.
I find U.S. cops and other U.S. authority figures far more humorless and intimidating. And at least 3 times (as a very young man) found myself in handcuffs and holding cells in my native state of Massachusetts. No humor. Un-charmable. Massholes lol.

The US side is definitely worse. They seem to enjoy being harsh, accusatory, and excessively inquisitive. Like they enjoy it...and that's to us Americans.
Canadian guards are fairly relaxed by comparison.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

The US side is definitely worse. They seem to enjoy being harsh, accusatory, and excessively inquisitive. Like they enjoy it...and that's to us Americans.
Canadian guards are fairly relaxed by comparison.

Yeap. Seems Jack Kerouac was right about the cold absent American Cop Heart (and I'm pro men in Blue but have definitely been through the ringer).

 

[Alexis Duntov]

I guess I'm still a rebellious punk. I read these posts and wondered what I'd say to customs on a bridge (if anything) about playing a gig in the border crossing English speaking country I live next to...
"Yes sir just coming up for a little R&R! What, the rig? Yeah my buddy is having a birthday and we're gonna play some tunes. Money? Heck no I'm not good enough to play for money. Ya might pay me to stop?"...
Rock n roll is about rebellion.
These are not the droids you're looking for...

Yeah I had the same thought. It’s a one-off gig? Tell them you are playing a party. No money involved.

 

[DonaldR]

The US side is definitely worse. They seem to enjoy being harsh, accusatory, and excessively inquisitive. Like they enjoy it...and that's to us Americans.
Canadian guards are fairly relaxed by comparison.

I would say the same.

 

[corndog]

phew...good thing that short tour i did in the 80's was just a "pleasure trip"

Crossing was easy in the 80’s. No passport required. Canadian Agents were more concerned with how much you spent or how much booze you had than actual travel docs.
Miss those days.