What's in your bag?

By Dana

Since it is now fast approaching the fall conference and touring season, I thought I’d write about one of my principal survival techniques:  my black bag.  Sometimes known as the “go bag,” “bag of tricks,” and most frequently, “The Battle Bag,” it's a black, rip-stop nylon Mulberry over-the-shoulder zippered carry I picked up in London a couple of years ago.  The nylon is tough as nails, lighter than leather, and more discreet than a backpack.  Not only does it hold a ton of stuff (if necessary), but it fits under a plane seat, and can be folded up to nearly nothing and stashed in my main suitcase.  I wouldn’t dream of going to a conference without it.  When this bag gives up the ghost, it will get a Viking funeral. 

In keeping body and soul together on the road, it comes down to what I need for a panel or signing, toiletries and first-aid, and a few iron rations for when the restaurant is closed and the candy machine is out of order.  In addition to whatever I would normally carry in a pocketbook, The Battle Bag contains:

In a 8"x10” zippered pouch (textured, so I can find it without looking):

• Wooden picture easel (for promo materials or books at signings)
• My most recent book (for readings)
• Sign-up book and pens (this also has list of emergency questions for panels)
• A 19^th-century whiteware pottery sherd (for demonstrating how archaeologists look at things)
• Bookmarks  for Ashes and Bones, and promo fliers for Sugarplums and Scandals, the New England Crime Bake, and The Femmes Newsletter (but of course!)

In the small side pocket: 

• Breath mints in a small tin from Mysterious Galaxy Books
• Bottle of aspirin/Advil/Tylenol
• Decongestant (helps prevent sinus infections while flying)
• Vitamin C drops
• Bandaids
• Lipstick, compact, lip balm
• Comb, hair ties
• Power Bars, change for the soda machine, and chocolate.  (Sometimes a Power Bar and a Coke will keep you going just long enough to make the hotel after a desperately delayed flight.  Sometimes you just need a little soul food in the form of theobromine.)
• Hand cream and Purell (I’m not germ-phobic; this isn’t about shaking hands but nasty gas station bathrooms.)

In the main compartment:

• Map of wherever I am
• Very tiny camera—for blog fodder
• Pens—I stick to one color, so if someone has a book I’ve signed in a store, I can personalize it in the same color.
• Post-it notes or small notebook
• Tissues
• Conference schedule

This looks like a ton of stuff, but it’s a really a long list of a lot of small things.  As soon as I’m done with my event, panel, or talk, I can ditch the zippered pouch and lightens the bag considerably.  Yes, I’m over-prepared, but I got int the habit working for years in the middle of nowhere and having a two-hour commute, both ways, in graduate school.  (Because of the airline restrictions, I no longer carry my Swiss Army knife, a Gerber Multi-tool, or miniature flashlight, which is a shame.  Just the corkscrew alone is worth the weight, and some time I’ll tell you about my “Swiss Army manicure” technique.)

Let me know what you can’t live without on the road.  For me, The Battle Bag is an ever-evolving, ever more refined tool of the trade.

Comments

[mary]

The textured zipper bag is a great idea. When I do events, sometimes I get a little scattered. Having a bag-by-feel would make it easy to locate those bookmarks, etc. when several things are going on around me and I can't think straight. My battle bag has gone from a nice leather one with compartments for everything to a canvas tote, the Left Coast Crime Bristol book bag. I spend less time finding stuff inside. With the other one, all the zipping, unvelcroing, flipping through dividers, and looking through pouches took forever since I can't remember where I put anything.

[Dana Cameron]

Yeah, leather is nice, but it's heavy. The textured bag works well in a darkened room, when you're hunting for something while talking, and, yes, on Day Ten of a Five Day Tour .

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Love it! I have a necessary bag, too (in addition to my purse, but that's another story.) I'm a tv reporter, and my bag is the topic of infinite derision from my colleagues. So a few weeks ago, my producer, my photographer and I were cruising down the Mass Turnpike, back to the station. Blam. Our tire blew, and the intrepid fotog, driving, carefully steered us to the breakdown lane. We called for the repair guy, since the tire was shredded and the rim was hideously bent. We're sweaty, we're cranky, we want to go home.
Grapes? I offered, pulling out a bag of fruit. Celery?
Everyone took some of everything. Salt for the celery? I had packets of it. Handiwipes so we wouldn't have to eat with dirty hands? Sure,got 'em.

Then my producer Mary, all slinky in high heels, had to go to the bathroom. And the only available bush was up a steep embankment by the side of the road. Flat shoes, your size? I offered from the bag. And off she went.
You know, they've never made fun of me and my bag again.
Carry on! (a little bag humor...)
Hank

[Julie Herman]

Dana:

I love the tip about the textured zipper pouch. I've shopped for years for the perfect bag -- one with just enough pockets to hold everything within reach but not so many that I can't find things easily. Perhaps the solution lies in using zippered pouches with different textures/shapes for help identifying things while excavating deep down at the bottom of the bag. Thanks!

Julie

[mary]

What a riot, Hank! You could start your own business selling stocked Emergency Bags. :)

[Dana Cameron]

I loved your story, Hank. Yes, it's hard not to purse one's lips smugly when necessity strikes and we're prepared. Again, a little bag humor.

Julie, I actually got the idea for the textured bag reading Gus Lee's excellent Honor and Duty, when the main character trains other cadets for night maneuvers. While stealthiness isn't an issue in archaeology (usually), it gave me a good way to distinguish tool sets without getting jabbed by something sharp. We occasionally work at night, and there are often low-light situations.

[Jen W]

I hardly ever carry a bag anymore. Now when I was in school I carried this medium sized purse with all kinds of stuff in it. Candy, money, a book, a bottle of Moutain Dew, pens, and bandaids (for the days I stupidly wore heels and wound up with blisters). I honestly do need to get into the habit of carrying a purse again because I'm always leaving home without my essentials!

[Elaine Yamaguchi]

Dana, you are indeed the modern day Sitt Hakim.

[Dana Cameron]

It's a tough call, Jen, whether to travel light or go loaded for bear. Clearly, I've come down on the side of overkill, but it's worked out okay so far.

And Gub...I'm honored beyond words.