Gig bags are just one of the important tools of the usable clown. You want to be able to get to a gig prepared because doing so will make you look professional leading to repeat business. One of the hardest part of clowning is making sure that you are ready for every gig. Here is what you need to do to make yourself a well organized gig bag.

A gig bag is a bag, suitcase, trunk or box that you store all of your props in. The basic idea is to have it all set up and waiting to leave before you even have a clown job. That way you don’t have to focus on getting your props together, you only have to worry about looking professional and being on time.

1. The first thing to do is to find a “bag” that fits you character. Go to a Thrift store and see what kind of suitcases they have available, keeping an eye out for older hard cases as well as carpet bags. If you use a lot of heavy props you might keep an eye out for something with wheels. Once you find the perfect case you are ready to set it up.
2. Most clowns find setting up a gig bag to be confusing since it is hard to know what you need to have in it and what you just think you need to have in it, here is the criteria that you should follow: do you use the prop every show, is the prop in good shape, does it fit in your case. If you are having a hard time figuring this out have a friend help you go though your props. Have them watch you during a performance and make a list a props that you use.
3. Once you have narrowed your props into a need to have and a have to have piles you need to place them into your bag. This is fairly simple, though I would suggest making sure that you put props that you use first in last so they are easy to find at the beginning of your show.

There you have it, the how-to’s of making a gig bag. You will find that your bag will be constantly evolving into the ideal bag of tricks. Remember keep it simple and you will be good to go.