At one time or another, you are going to have to transport your equipment, even if it’s only a half hour away to the local club where you contracted to play. Whether you transport your equipment in a truck, van, or SUV, the important thing is to make sure that everything is protected not only from the weather, but also from any bumps that may occur in the road. To do that, you want to make sure that you have everything protected with either a blanket or an instrument covering. You need to make sure that they don’t bump against each other and don’t have an opportunity to fall during the drive.
If your venue is some distance from where you live, and you need to fly or take the train, you may find that your equipment is not quite as subject to bumping as it is on the highway. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should be any less cautious. You still want to protect your equipment, especially on a plane where you may be subject to turbulence. Even if your equipment is insured, you don’t want to have to worry about it being damaged before you reach the venue, and have to make arrangements to rent equipment to use for your show.
For local...