I've played guitar for many years. However, recently I started a new activity. I joined a new church, and they want me to lead a song at offertory. I like to accompany the song with guitar, as that gives a referent to keep people in tune and in time.

But somehow my guitar got very big and very heavy over the last 35 years. While I sing best standing up, my neck can no longer take the weight. What to do?

I tried a holder (designed for cameras)that would put the weight on my shoulders, but it didn't work out. I bought a half-size classical to reduce size and weight.

I was fooling with the new guitar when my eye fell upon my belly-bag. That's what I call that zippered travel pouch that you strap around your waist and clip shut. 'Aha!', I thought, 'a shelf.' I stuffed the belly-bag with socks so that it stays nice and rigid. I strap it around my body (about hip-bone height and off to the right) and let the guitar rest upon it. I still use a neck strap to stabilize the guitar and hold it in case it slips. However, with a little adjustment of the neck strap, the belly-bag is taking almost all the weight.

After I had the spacing worked out, I took needle and white thread and sewed a line across the waist strap of the bag to show where to adjust it. Some change will be needed for winter vs summer clothing, but it's good to know where to begin.

If your instrument is bothering your neck, you might like to try this.
Now to practice for this coming Sunday...