In its current form, the income tax treaty has been in effect since 1980. Anyway, not to flog a horse about... just saying.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
Welcome to TalkBass! Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Gigging in Canada ‘23
- Thread starter Jason Hollar
- Start date
In its current form, the income tax treaty has been in effect since 1980. Anyway, not to flog a horse about... just saying.
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.
Altitude
An ounce of perception, a pound of obscure.
Again, I was working for a large public accounting firm at the time and did what they told me to do.
"On August 28, 2019, the Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in Geneva, Switzerland voted to exempt finished musical instruments, parts, and accessories from CITES restrictions on all rosewood species except Brazilian rosewood. The restrictions on Brazilian rosewood, whose endangered species status and restrictions predate those on other kinds of rosewood, remain in place."
CITES Rosewood Restrictions on Musical Instruments Have Ended
Well, both my basses have rosewood boards. Guess I’ll have to buy one with a maple neck then. Thanks TB lol
It's only Brazilian though...
On the plus side, I think short term music work is now visa free. Canada was looking at pretty draconian visa fees for musicians from abroad back in 2015 or 2016 (would have been $400-$500 per musician) but there was enough pushback that that was dropped. More of a problem the other way around with Canadians playing in the US.
Hard to say what type of rosewood I’ve got on a ten year old Fender & Lakland.
Yes from what cursory info I’m seeing a visa shouldn’t be necessary - but some type of employer permit might need to happen.
I appreciate all the advice - keep it coming.
Yes from what cursory info I’m seeing a visa shouldn’t be necessary - but some type of employer permit might need to happen.
I appreciate all the advice - keep it coming.
HIGHLY unlikely it's Brazilian. Nothing to worry about.
Remember they use the metric system so the hihat will be on the right.
Yep, happens every time. My favourite was when a U.S. customs agent asked me when the last time I was arrested was (not if I'd ever been arrested).
Yeah, American border officials are about as friendly as a colonoscopy. Treat with extreme caution.
While not directly related to playing gigs in Canada, a friend of mine years ago was detained at Canadian customs on his way through to Alaska to hop on a cruise gig. They held him overnight without allowing any phone calls and then put him on a flight back to the USA. In the mean time, the cruise band (led by another friend of mine) was freaking out that they hadn't heard from him by the time ship was leaving port. Needless to say, he missed the ship and the gig.
He had a prior DUI from many years before and incorrectly assumed he'd be allowed to pass through Canada on his way to Alaska.
So, make sure you don't have anything on your record that Canada would frown upon.
He had a prior DUI from many years before and incorrectly assumed he'd be allowed to pass through Canada on his way to Alaska.
So, make sure you don't have anything on your record that Canada would frown upon.
Legal admonitions noted. No criminal record to brag about.
I visited Toronto as a tourist in 2018 and no problems crossing at Niagara.
I visited Toronto as a tourist in 2018 and no problems crossing at Niagara.
I play in a cross border Symphony orchestra. We play concerts on both sides of the border.
For the last 25 years or so it has been possible for me to go back-and-forth to play paying musical engagements in Canada. Apparently this is fine as long as I am not staying for an extended period of time, I.e. Coming across to play the gig, getting paid and going right back home again.
To smooth the path I have a Nexus card which allows for expedited custom processing on both sides. It costs $50 for 5 years and it's totally worth it.
I don't expect you will have any problems, but as others have mentioned you should definitely do your homework beforehand.
For what it's worth, I cross regularly from Port Huron Michigan to Sarnia Ontario. I work regularly in the Sarnia Lambton area.
For the last 25 years or so it has been possible for me to go back-and-forth to play paying musical engagements in Canada. Apparently this is fine as long as I am not staying for an extended period of time, I.e. Coming across to play the gig, getting paid and going right back home again.
To smooth the path I have a Nexus card which allows for expedited custom processing on both sides. It costs $50 for 5 years and it's totally worth it.
I don't expect you will have any problems, but as others have mentioned you should definitely do your homework beforehand.
For what it's worth, I cross regularly from Port Huron Michigan to Sarnia Ontario. I work regularly in the Sarnia Lambton area.
Last edited:
And least I forget, Any kind of criminal record will be a no go. Even a drunk driving years ago will get you turned back around and denied entry.
Disclaimer; It's been some time since I've done this and things change. The following has been my experience when crossing the Canadian borders with groups. Have never done it as a solo so this may not apply. But your Canadian employer should walk you through what you need to do, or you may not show up.
For your gear; You'll need to create a manifest or carnet of the gear you're transporting to and from Canada; Item, brand, model, serial number, country of manufacture, value. When you enter Canada, declare your gear and present this manifest to the Customs agents. They'll eyeball your stuff (to some degree) and they should stamp the manifest, showing you entering with it. You have to declare that these are professional tools that you'll be using for the work you'll be doing while in Canada, then returning to the USA with them (not importing them into and selling them in Canada, tax and duty free.) You'll need to have the paperwork detailing your employment in Canada. Sometimes you'll be required to post a bond or deposit, depending on the amount, value of gear, duration of stay, etc. There are Border Bond companies that do this. They are not cheap.
Your Canadian employer should be well versed in this stuff, should be be able to walk you through it.
Also, there are work papers, likely withholding tax forms. This is stuff that the Canadian employer should be able to provide you with or help you with.
When you return to the USA, you need to get your manifest signed off on, showing that you did bring your gear back to the US, didn't sell it in Canada. If you have to post a deposit or bond, this is how you get your dough back.
US Customs can be dicks to musicians coming back from Canada. Be forthright and polite.
For your gear; You'll need to create a manifest or carnet of the gear you're transporting to and from Canada; Item, brand, model, serial number, country of manufacture, value. When you enter Canada, declare your gear and present this manifest to the Customs agents. They'll eyeball your stuff (to some degree) and they should stamp the manifest, showing you entering with it. You have to declare that these are professional tools that you'll be using for the work you'll be doing while in Canada, then returning to the USA with them (not importing them into and selling them in Canada, tax and duty free.) You'll need to have the paperwork detailing your employment in Canada. Sometimes you'll be required to post a bond or deposit, depending on the amount, value of gear, duration of stay, etc. There are Border Bond companies that do this. They are not cheap.
Your Canadian employer should be well versed in this stuff, should be be able to walk you through it.
Also, there are work papers, likely withholding tax forms. This is stuff that the Canadian employer should be able to provide you with or help you with.
When you return to the USA, you need to get your manifest signed off on, showing that you did bring your gear back to the US, didn't sell it in Canada. If you have to post a deposit or bond, this is how you get your dough back.
US Customs can be dicks to musicians coming back from Canada. Be forthright and polite.
