I had band practice yesterday, which meant I had to lug my saxophone to work and then to rehearsal. After playing the thing for 15 years, I’m fairly used to having to negotiate my way around with it (and playing the cello was another lesson in taking large instruments on the bus to school…people hate you) but it still annoys me sometimes when I get stuck going through the turnstile on the subway because I misjudged the width or I’m just really tired and don’t want to carry a 20-pound musical instrument around.

However, I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon recently, that you wouldn’t see unless you are [whispers] one of us. People who have to take heavy things on public transport seem to have formed a kind of silent community. We see each other – other musicians with large instruments, construction workers with lots of tools, people who set up street stalls and have to take all their stuff via the subway – and there’s a silent nod, a look of recognition and respect. I’m not talking about the fly-by-nighters here, people with suitcases on the way home from the airport or someone trying to bring a bookcase home from Target. I mean the real heavy lifters, us lot who have to do this on a regular basis. On busy rush hour subways, I’m often the target of annoyed looks by other riders as I take up more space with my sax case, but the upside is I don’t use up room on the pole needing to hold on, as it doubles as a handy stabiliser to hold on to. And I get that special feeling of being part of a select few, a unique group – we don’t advertise this bond, but we all know it exists.

You may want to join our little brotherhood/sisterhood, but remember – it comes with a heavy price. And yes, I just made that pun. You’re welcome.