[Harp-L] Gear Creep

[Elizabeth Hess <TrackHarpL@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I went to an open jam last night, and for the first time, I had real  
trouble finding an outlet to plug my amp into.  There was a small  
power strip, but it only had three outlets, and all were occupied.   
The short version of the story is that I persisted for the first set,  
and the host managed to effect a re-arrangement, and I let myself get  
skunked at the end of the evening when I got invited back up for a  
second set.

So, maybe I need to add a power strip to the stuff I carry.  But this  
raises a configuration issue.

I like to travel as compactly as possible.  I lock my purse (including  
cell phone) in the trunk of the car.  In my pockets I carry my car  
key, a modest amount of cash, and a small plastic pillbox with  
earplugs.  I walk into the bar with one thing in each hand:  My hard- 
sided harp case, which also holds my mic, and a small amp.  The amp  
has a cavity in the back where its cord goes, and into that space I  
also tuck the cable for the mic and an empty plastic harmonica case  
that I place under the bottom front edge of the amp to incline its  
projection angle a bit.  Even with that small amount of stuff, I worry  
about something rattling against the glass tubes.  I appreciate that  
my amp is not a suitcase.

If I add a knapsack to my kit, I could have a power strip and/or  
extension cord, a vocal mic, various spare cables, and a parrot.   
(Okay, kidding about the parrot.)  I don't love the way knapsacks  
look, and it's a third thing to keep track of in the bar.

I'd be interested in how others of you have dealt with this.  Thanks  
in advance.

Elizabeth (aka Tin Lizzie)