What’s In My Gig Bag?
Arguably one of the most important things you can pack when you’re getting ready for a performance is your gig bag. Now, this doesn’t have to be a fancy bag or you may call it one of a number of different performance related names. The point is, you have a bag that is full of all of your essentials that aren’t your actual instrument or your equipment.
I first started carrying a gig bag when I did performances in middle school. At that time it was just one pocket of my backpack or a pocket in the tote bag that I was using to carry around my clothes for the performance itself. Over the years it has morphed into its current bag: its own full sized backpack. Now, I’m a sucker for backpacks in general, I think that they are an incredibly practical way to carry all of my necessities around in life but most definitely for gigs. I can be carrying all sorts of equipment and I almost always have room on my shoulders and back for a backpack. Since my gig bag also kind of doubles as my purse when I’m at a performance, I always like to keep it close for safety purposes as well.
So, without further ado, here are my most used items in my gig bag:
DISCLAIMER: This is just my personal list of items that I keep in my gig bag. This is meant for entertainment and inspiration and is not a prescriptive list. Each individual is different and what works for me may not work for you.
#1: Water Bottle
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate has become one of my most important habits as a person, nevermind as a musician, especially if I’m singing or playing a horn. I definitely notice a difference in my performance if I’m not adequately hydrated, but more importantly, I find that I feel better both on stage and off when I have had my usual amount of water. Obviously this water bottle gets used even more during the dryer, colder months to help keep my mouth and my throat not feeling like sandpaper. Also, any time I am under the weather or having my normal seasonal allergy symptoms I make sure that I always have a water bottle with me. I am a reusable water bottle person, and I also enjoy just plain cold water so that’s what I keep in my bag.
#2: OTC Medications
This kind of goes along with #1. At any time of year there’s always a chance of getting a cold, or some other illness that can impact how you feel from a general body perspective, but also, can impact your performance as a musician especially if you are a vocalist or play an instrument that relies on your breathing to power it. This is why I almost always have some sort of daytime (non-drowsy) cold and flu medicine just in case I’m sick and the effects of the last dose have worn off, or if I happen to start feeling sick that day. This keeps my throat feeling semi-normal but also helps with my energy levels so that I can perform at full energy for the entire length of the gig. As mentioned before, I also have seasonal allergies that pop up whenever it is least convenient, and though I do try to be as consistent as I can be with taking my allergy meds everyday…. That doesn’t always happen, so I also keep a few of my allergy pills tucked away with the cold and flu medicine. In all honesty, I don’t use this often, however, when I do need it I am so so grateful that past me was looking out for present me.
#3: Charging Cables
I am a classic Gen Z who pretty much always has some sort of electronic device on them, whether it’s my phone, my laptop, or a tablet. And, most of the time, I do use at least one of these devices while I’m performing to control sound or pull up music. Because of this, it is essential for me to have at least 1 charging cable per device in my gig bag just in case any of my devices need a little boost so they can be working when I need them most. I prefer very large charging cables so they usually have a home in one of the smaller pockets of my bag wrapped up as neatly as I can get them.
#4: Tea and Honey
I absolutely love tea, just in general. However, it is also my go to pre-performance drink if I need one. I usually have at least an option for a black or caffeinated tea to drink once the performance is over if I have a long drive home. But for the most part it’s some sort of herbal or throat soothing tea that I mix with honey and sip on before a performance. I find I can either get away with a very small jar of honey or the honey sticks so that I don’t weigh down my bag with a whole jar of honey.
#5: Oral Care Kit
A toothbrush, some toothpaste, and floss go a long way especially after a pre-performance meal or if you’re getting ready to mingle in the audience after a performance and get up close and personal with other people. For me, this little routine can give me a lot more confidence going out onstage and in general one on one conversations after performances. I put my toothbrush in a travel case and my toothpaste and floss go into an old makeup bag so that it’s easy to grab the entire kit when I need it and I’m not fishing around for anything.
#6: Changes Of Clothes
Whether this is gig clothes or drive home clothes, I always find that it is so helpful to have a few options for clothing. Obviously the gig clothes are non-negotiable, but even just having a different pants or vest option day of can give me an extra boost of confidence. And I know that in general, I do not want to drive home from a performance in the clothes that I just performed in. Usually those clothes are fancy and not as comfortable or free to move in. So, I like to pack a pair of loose fitting pants and a t-shirt or sweatshirt I know is going to be comfortable, along with some trusty sneakers or boots depending on the weather. It definitely makes the drive home and the pack-up process more efficient and comfortable.
#7: Skincare
I have incredibly dry skin so I always need some sort of moisturizer. I have my hand creams, body lotions and face moisturizer all in one spot in my gig bag so it’s easy to reach for. When you are on stage there’s so much you don’t want to have to think about, and for me, I don’t want to think about if my hands or the tip of my nose looks red and dehydrated. Before a performance you can usually find me with some sort of moisturizer making sure that I am adequately covered before stepping onstage.
#8: Snacks
Though many venues are incredibly kind and provide some sort of food before a performance for the musicians, I never count on it. Especially with having a semi-odd allergy, I always pack a few snacks so that I’m not going hungry at any point before, during, or after a performance. Even if there is food at a venue that I can eat, it also never hurts to have something quick to grab if you start to get really hungry on the way home.
#9: A Reusable Straw
I know what you’re thinking: what does a straw have to do with anything in a gig bag? Well, if I’m singing, it is one of my go to things I use to warm up. I love some straw exercises, and there are so many options. I can use it just as is for slides or scales or I can put it in my water bottle and do some warm ups that way. For me, a reusable straw just makes more sense since it has its own case and I can easily throw it into the bag and not worry as much about what it may have been touching like I would have to with a disposable one.
#10: Headphones
What a versatile product headphones can be backstage, at least for me. I can use them to noise cancel if it’s too loud or I’m trying to focus on something, to listen to the music that I’m about to perform for any last minute details, or I can use it as a relaxation tool to listen to some white noise or some sort of calming instrumental music to do some breathwork or general relaxation to. I prefer over the ear headphones whenever possible (I just think they work a little bit better for me, especially when it comes to lowering the volume of a loud room) but small earbuds can be really convenient and travel friendly if there isn’t a ton of space in the gig bag you’re using.
And there we have it! 10 things that are in my gig bag as a professional musician. Did any of these surprise you? Thank you again for sticking around as this website is going through a few changes. And remember, the world is better with you in it!
Sarah
