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Packing
Your Performance Bag
By Michelle (with updates!)
After years of performing, I think I've finally got my performance bag down to a minimum weight with maximum preparedness for any fiasco. Wishing I'd had someone prepare me years ago, I thought I'd share the contents of my tote.
The Bag:
I use a rolling duffel bag with the collapsible handle. (Bless the inventor!) This enables you to make it across a huge parking lot without pulling a muscle, rumpling your costume, or causing red marks on your shoulder from a strap biting into your skin. The duffel has a U shaped top so I can easily get big things in and out. The duffel is also a little longer than most carry-on suitcases, allowing easy toting of sword or cane. I like my bag because it only has one additional end pocket. I tried a bag that had one hundred pockets and could never remember in which pocket I'd put my music/zils/jewelry. EDIT: I now use a small rectangular suitcase—for me, the duffle bag just allowed too much stuff to shift around and clump at the bottom of the bag. I store my costumes in rectangular packing cubes made out of mesh that allow my costumes to breathe and let me see which one is which. Then when I need to travel to a show, I just drop the cube into the suitcase. Everything is in a separate bag (make up, veils, shoes) so nothing gets spilled, snagged or wrinkled.
Jewelry:
I NEVER take all my jewelry with me and then decide what I'm going to wear (even for tribal). You may not either, but I know plenty of dancers who do. Can you say confusion in the dressing room? And what if, heaven forbid, your bag was stolen? Would you want to lose all your good pieces? Plan ahead what you'll need. I have several pieces of jewelry that are specific to a costume so I keep them in a cloth bag inside the packing cubicle with the costume so I never have to remember it separately. I also, however, have a collection of rhinestone jewelry that goes with just about everything. This I keep separate in it’s own (silver to help me remember) jewelry bag.
Makeup: Major edit here! I used to advise having two separate make up stashes because the colors you would use everyday are insufficient for performance. However, I have since discovered that really good make up (I use MAC products) allows you to alter the color and intensity by how much product you use. So the same shimmery brown eyeshadow can work for daytime meetings as an evening performance depending on how much I put on. Of course, eyelashes and glue are a necessity and I always keep a spare set of both in the emergency kit (see below).
Veils:
I usually use silk veils and have found the best way to transport veils with minimal wrinkling is in a large ziplock bag. Gently fold the veil and slip it into the bag, then close the bag, but do not press all of the air out. The bag should then slip into your suitcase, on top of the skirt and will come out relatively smooth (it is silk, after all!).
Zils, Music, Accessories:
Zils are in their own small bag. In case your instructor hasn't beat this into your brain yet, your performance CD should ONLY have your performance music on it. You're asking for an eventual disaster if you hand the music person an artist's CD and ask for track 7 followed by track 4. If dancing at a party or restaurant, I will usually take a second set in case the need arises. If you are using an iPod, you should still take a back up CD—not everyone is mp3 compatible. You can also carry your own cord to plug your device into the sound system. But the rule about single song in a playlist is the same as the CD. Learn your device well enough to make an on-the-go playlist. You will present a more professional dance. DO NOT take your whole CD collection and then coyly decide what you're going to dance to when you get there. (yup, seen it done). No one is impressed and see note above about taking all your jewelry. Swords should be carried in sheaths and should slide into your bag/suitcase, even if the handle pokes out at the top. Same with canes. I leave a business card carrier in my back and try to have a ready stock of class fliers at the bottom also. (You can often set business cards or fliers at the ticket table.)
Emergency Kit:
One of my troupe members gave everyone handmaid velvet pouches with a dancer's first aid stuff inside. What a great gift that was! (I have since moved this to a small box to make it easier to find stuff.) The kit includes: Safety Pins from small to large;extra eyelashes and glue; band aids; a mini sewing kit complete with scissors; a comb; and hair clips. To this I've added Altoids (for pre-show nervous dry ); eye drops; peanut M&Ms (for after the show…it’s a troupe thing). I try to take a minimal purse-not my usual carry-it-all, but just a small bag that will then fit into my suitcase so I don’t have to worry about it laying out at a gig. In addition, you’ll have one and only one bag to keep track of and stash.
You should look as professional leaving the site as you did entering. Having what is necessary, but having ONLY what is necessary will ensure that you will walk on stage well-dressed, well made up and ready to devote yourself to your real assignment: Dancing!
By Michelle (with updates!)
After years of performing, I think I've finally got my performance bag down to a minimum weight with maximum preparedness for any fiasco. Wishing I'd had someone prepare me years ago, I thought I'd share the contents of my tote.
The Bag:
I use a rolling duffel bag with the collapsible handle. (Bless the inventor!) This enables you to make it across a huge parking lot without pulling a muscle, rumpling your costume, or causing red marks on your shoulder from a strap biting into your skin. The duffel has a U shaped top so I can easily get big things in and out. The duffel is also a little longer than most carry-on suitcases, allowing easy toting of sword or cane. I like my bag because it only has one additional end pocket. I tried a bag that had one hundred pockets and could never remember in which pocket I'd put my music/zils/jewelry. EDIT: I now use a small rectangular suitcase—for me, the duffle bag just allowed too much stuff to shift around and clump at the bottom of the bag. I store my costumes in rectangular packing cubes made out of mesh that allow my costumes to breathe and let me see which one is which. Then when I need to travel to a show, I just drop the cube into the suitcase. Everything is in a separate bag (make up, veils, shoes) so nothing gets spilled, snagged or wrinkled.
Jewelry:
I NEVER take all my jewelry with me and then decide what I'm going to wear (even for tribal). You may not either, but I know plenty of dancers who do. Can you say confusion in the dressing room? And what if, heaven forbid, your bag was stolen? Would you want to lose all your good pieces? Plan ahead what you'll need. I have several pieces of jewelry that are specific to a costume so I keep them in a cloth bag inside the packing cubicle with the costume so I never have to remember it separately. I also, however, have a collection of rhinestone jewelry that goes with just about everything. This I keep separate in it’s own (silver to help me remember) jewelry bag.
Makeup: Major edit here! I used to advise having two separate make up stashes because the colors you would use everyday are insufficient for performance. However, I have since discovered that really good make up (I use MAC products) allows you to alter the color and intensity by how much product you use. So the same shimmery brown eyeshadow can work for daytime meetings as an evening performance depending on how much I put on. Of course, eyelashes and glue are a necessity and I always keep a spare set of both in the emergency kit (see below).
Veils:
I usually use silk veils and have found the best way to transport veils with minimal wrinkling is in a large ziplock bag. Gently fold the veil and slip it into the bag, then close the bag, but do not press all of the air out. The bag should then slip into your suitcase, on top of the skirt and will come out relatively smooth (it is silk, after all!).
Zils, Music, Accessories:
Zils are in their own small bag. In case your instructor hasn't beat this into your brain yet, your performance CD should ONLY have your performance music on it. You're asking for an eventual disaster if you hand the music person an artist's CD and ask for track 7 followed by track 4. If dancing at a party or restaurant, I will usually take a second set in case the need arises. If you are using an iPod, you should still take a back up CD—not everyone is mp3 compatible. You can also carry your own cord to plug your device into the sound system. But the rule about single song in a playlist is the same as the CD. Learn your device well enough to make an on-the-go playlist. You will present a more professional dance. DO NOT take your whole CD collection and then coyly decide what you're going to dance to when you get there. (yup, seen it done). No one is impressed and see note above about taking all your jewelry. Swords should be carried in sheaths and should slide into your bag/suitcase, even if the handle pokes out at the top. Same with canes. I leave a business card carrier in my back and try to have a ready stock of class fliers at the bottom also. (You can often set business cards or fliers at the ticket table.)
Emergency Kit:
One of my troupe members gave everyone handmaid velvet pouches with a dancer's first aid stuff inside. What a great gift that was! (I have since moved this to a small box to make it easier to find stuff.) The kit includes: Safety Pins from small to large;extra eyelashes and glue; band aids; a mini sewing kit complete with scissors; a comb; and hair clips. To this I've added Altoids (for pre-show nervous dry ); eye drops; peanut M&Ms (for after the show…it’s a troupe thing). I try to take a minimal purse-not my usual carry-it-all, but just a small bag that will then fit into my suitcase so I don’t have to worry about it laying out at a gig. In addition, you’ll have one and only one bag to keep track of and stash.
You should look as professional leaving the site as you did entering. Having what is necessary, but having ONLY what is necessary will ensure that you will walk on stage well-dressed, well made up and ready to devote yourself to your real assignment: Dancing!
