Bag Handlers at the Airport

so I did a bunch of touring in my 20s - maybe 60 flights all over europe and some S. america and asia - the only incident i ever had was getting a CD carrying case taken out of one of my bags (Iberia Air, i think)

we traveled with lots of props/costumes and it was usually 7 of us so the weight was distributed - but one time i was flying solo going to Toronto to perform in some fashion show and the piece i had to travel with was about 250 lbs - it was WAY over the limit and I can't remember the exact number but it was something like the company gave me an extra $300 for baggage charge and the actual charge was maybe $700 - i was stuck (this was JFK and the company was in Connecticut) - ticket agent said, 'look, go over there, put the $300 in your passport book and then come back over here"
i did that and was on the plane in 20 minutes