Thanks, everyone. Please bear in mind (I didn't make it clear enough, I guess) that all of these things really are ready to go. I was really looking more for tips on setup, or customization. I guess my OP made this all sound hypothetical rather than pretty much gig-ready now. There are a few aesthetic touches I could make, but ultimately when I bought a lot of these odd instruments, I made sure that I got things that my kids would enjoy playing but that would be worth the purchase. Hence, my kazoos are US made and unbreakable, the aforementioned uke is actually not half bad (although it IS a soprano, which is too small for me to do much with except a few 1st position chords). As far as transporting or lifting the case, my wife is able to help me at home, and my van is very low to the ground, so I could easily boost one end of the trunk onto the back gate at a time. I could also bring along a piece of plywood to serve as a ramp to roll the trunk up and down. BTW, Crowhugger, you been stalking me? How'd you know I have steps to my porch on my house?!? ;) Seriously, I can make the entire thing much more portable if, after one or two tries, it's just not easy enough for me. A few days ago I found a cabinet, really a box with three small shelves in it, that has an old Columbia Washboard on hinges for a door. (It's different from the stand-alone washboard I also have). This little cabinet can hold my kazoos, spoons, harmonicas, noisemakers, business cards and more. I could have my guitar on my back, my uke in one hand and the washboard/box in the other. I plan on adding latches (instead of the door-type hinges) to keep the washboard/door closed, because I want the washboard to be able to completely separate from the back part. I'm also adding a luggage handle to one side to make it almost like a little suitcase. I've already got my bowler hat and my colorful braces (Americans call them 'suspenders'). I've got to get some hard-soled shoes so I can learn to play and soft-shoe at the same time like John Hartford used to do. I've got a couple of killer-diller polka-dotted ties... I just need to find a snazzy vest. That gets tough when the tags in your clothing are marked in acres. By the way, I got contacted by some people who host a TV show in my area... the open-mic program they run is televised regionally (in the greater Princeton and southern New Jersey region). I will be performing on their program in September. I know some people who have parlayed their appearances on that program into some decent gigs elsewhere. Stay tuned!
|