Okay folks, many of us are used to traveling to and from conventions. Artists and Dealers are usually traveling with several pieces of luggage full of inventory.

You get to the ticket counter to check in and realize you don't have a luggage tag with your name on it. Drat. Right. Fill out that paper tag and put it on the handle. That will most likely make it to the other end.

But what if it doesn't?

Here's some tips:

Print out your contact information including cell phone and emial on a large sheet of paper, slip that into a vinyl sheet protector and seal the top with tape. If all the tags are missing from the outside, the airline will be going through the luggage and if you have that identification right there as they open it, that's ideal. Sealing it in a protector also helps if the luggage gets wet. Yes, it happens.

Make your luggage easily identificable. The thing about luggage is that there's only so many colors it comes in and most people choose black. Many pieces look the same and while you know what your bag looks like on sight, someone else might pick it up at the baggage claim by acciident. So mark your bag. I use flouresecent green duct tape and add strips to all six sides of each piece of luggage my entire party is traveling with. Yes, it's not pretty, but it is easily spotted in a pile of luggage. Duct tape is cheap and easy to replace between trips.

Luggage tags. In the photo above is an example of some quicky laminated tags I made up. The flexible plastic straps come from Royal Soveriegn that come as a luggage tag lamination kit for $6 at Fry's. I've seen them at Office Depot and similar as well. I ditched the laminated sleeves they come with and use my own. Since I make several hundred badges before a con, I have plenty of supplies to quickly make up a double sided tag on bright eye grabbing color.

Be careful of what information you put on the outside. In this case the business name is used and an email address. I'm not sure I want to put my personal name and cell phone number on the tag that can be ripped off by a person with criminal intent. This is a good start.

Lastly, it just looks cool. Part of being professional is looking the part, and having your business name used in things like this help add credibility and name recognition.

You have time now before Anthrocon 2012 to make up your own. Let's see your desgins!