Transporting Busking Gear

Subject: Transporting Busking Gear
From: GUEST,Busker On A Budget
Date: 30 May 18 - 04:39 PM

So, I've got an acoustic guitar and a microphone stand. It's not for a microphone. It has doohickeys and whatzits and thingamajigs attached.

The stand has a tripod base and the attachment for the gizmos and geegaws is removable and collapsible.

What do you suggest as a mode of transport and storage for the thing? A rolling suitcase of some kind? A trolley (what we call a granny-cart or old-lady cart here)?

I have a decent bag for the guitar, and it has shoulder straps, so it can be managed easily, leaving my hands free to carry or move something light.

I have hernias, so anything I can do to minimize lifting and overall weight of the gear would be ideal.

FYI, I don't use amplification, so whatever I use to transport my gear doesn't need room for, or protection for, any electronic gear at all.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 May 18 - 05:16 PM

I have a modified shopping trolley (Two Wheel) that I have used for Jumbo Guitar and Resonator banjo , both in Calton cases , with the Mandoline over my shoulder

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 May 18 - 05:48 PM

Golf trolley? A local charity shop has them on special for 2 quid.

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: Mooh
Date: 30 May 18 - 06:05 PM

A folding two wheel trolley has worked well for me. Mine will fold down to a four wheel trolley as well. Got it at Canadian Tire. On it straps an old guitar hard case with the interior pocket/box stripped out to make room for a mic stand, music stand, instrument stand, music binder(s), and other accessories inside. It more or less stays on the trolley. Bungied on top will be whatever instrument(s) I'm taking. Basically this means I have two guitar cases on a trolley, one with gear, the other with the instrument. I don't like a lot of extra things to misplace so the fewer the things to handle the better.

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 31 May 18 - 04:10 AM

Check out Dave Harris in Vancouver. I think he must need a pantechnicon!
RtS

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery
Date: 31 May 18 - 04:34 AM

...Just a case for my melodeon,nothing else !!

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 May 18 - 03:46 PM

I've used all of the above. Now I think I'd use a duffel bag with wheels. I guess you could also rig a backpack-type shoulder bag and do the guitar on one shoulder and the mic stand/doohickey case on the other for balance.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 May 18 - 07:58 PM

I have seen people busking with full-sized upright pianos in several city centres around the world.

So - remove the insides of a piano and figure out how they did it. This is the standard strategy in mathematical proof of reducing your problem to a previously solved one.

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: The Sandman
Date: 01 Jun 18 - 03:19 AM

IM0 busking should be acoustic, , the problem with electronic equipment is that the volume annoys shopkeepers.

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: leeneia
Date: 01 Jun 18 - 09:45 AM

The strongest parts of your body are your back and legs. Collapse the stand and put it in a backpack. Carry the guitar in your hand, as usual but change hands occasionally.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jun 18 - 12:43 PM

The nylon case for a folding camp chair might do for the mic stand, depending how far it collapses and how bulky the thingummies are. Or an unused banjo or electric guitar case with backpacker straps. (Do they make cases that hold two guitars?)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: Raggytash
Date: 01 Jun 18 - 01:05 PM

A guy I knew a long time ago had a roller skate stitched onto the base of his double bass case.

Worked a treat !!

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 03 Jun 18 - 04:11 AM

Incidentally, Dave Harris that I mentioned above has written a massive book on One Man Bands: "Head Hands and Feet".
RtS

Subject: RE: Transporting Busking Gear
From: ST
Date: 04 Jun 18 - 02:59 PM

I was planning a three-wheeled cart and a hard case for my one man band gear. Hernias or not, the more you get tired getting to a pitch, the worse the act and the more of a pain is getting back or moving on. So far, however, it's a two-wheeler and a soft bag, and the things too big to fit, banjo and bombo, ride on my back.