OK, I seem to be in the market for a new case. I think that my current focus is being able to transport my face painting supplies, but suppose something that can carry a small magic show might also be needed.

First, I drive the smart fortwo, so space is limited. I don't have room for tables, chairs, big signs, etc. Really, it has to fit in the passenger's seat.

I have looked at various bins. Most are either too big or too small. Big, open designs are nice for the larger, bulky items, but cause you to pile everything in the same compartment. Small spaces are good for keeping things separated, but there is always that one item that just won't fit.

I was at Sears and saw their Craftsman Sit/Stand/Tote Truck. It seemed to be about the right size. It has the main compartment with a removable tray. It could double as a bench for face painting or doing balloons and has wheels to make it easier to move around. Anyone give this a try and have comments?

Sir Tony,
I too have been looking for something. So I checked this out online. It looks nice but the reviews were not very glowing. Of course they were from contractors carrying heavy stuff in it probably but they said it wasn't very sturdy that the handle came apart and the wheels position made it difficult to get it up stairs. I'm gonna keep looking. Anyone found anything that they truly love?
Sara K.

I absolutely adore my Stanley FatMax.... it holds everything that I ever use for parties, balloon gigs, face painting gigs... just everything. It is durable, it rolls and yes, it will fit into a passenger seat. I have painted from it without a table a couple of times, so it is doable depending on your preferred set up. I can easily balloon twist from it without a problem AND put out my business cards and colouring books on the top as well.

I to use a stanley tool box for storage for shows, parties, where I'm doing several things. But if I'm just going as a face painter or balloon twister, I have one of those colapsable milk crates on wheels, mainly for face painting, I load it so that I pull out what I need to set up. then repack same way, so far for me this has worked out well. It holds quite a bit, every thing but my chairs and table and tent.

Are you guys talking the four in one mobile work station by Stanley Fat Max.
I went on line that looks perfect. How big is the lower compartment.? I like the height as it looks about waist high and would be easier to twist from. Do you mind telling what it costs? The won't sell it online and I can't find a dealer within 150 miles. Sigh, such is the life when you live in the boonies!
Thanks,
Sara K.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/3012179334_e4836026a2_m.jpg this is mine, you can find it at home depot and lowes.

trailer hitch?

All you really need is your magic wand ... then once you get to the party, make everything appear and when you leave, make it disappear or at least shrink.

The one that Sapphire Sue posted is the same as the one that I've got.

The easiest way to describe the size of the lower compartment might be to describe what I keep in there...
a 12 ft parachute
balloon roll up
small plastic case with odd sized balloons
tip cup
large water bottle for face painting
cash box (large pencil box size)
balloon pump
3 - 1/2 in. music books
50 mini colouring books
small honker puppet
umm... I think that's it?

The middle "drawer" has little compartments where I keep my 3 packs of crayons for give aways, my nerf balls for parachute play, my ipod speakers, chalk, tape, markers, business cards... and there's still a little room.

The top holds all of my face painting stuff... paints in a bead organizer, wipes, water container, mirrors, sponges, dirty sponge container, sample photos, top tray has brushes, hair clips, other paints, glitter, etc.

Hope this gives you some idea as to how much this thing will hold. I don't have a magic show to pack in there, but I can put everything a that I ever use in there.

Thanks Sapphire Sue and Perry,
That was the one I was talking about. Just wondering if it would hold my large autoharp in the bottom? When I went online I searched for a vendor and they said there was none within 150 miles. I do have a Lowe's store about 50 miles away so I will check it out. If they don't have one in stock maybe they can order one?
Thanks,
Sara K.

probably... I think I got mine at Canadian Tire, but a Lowe's or Home Depot should have them too.

cool! good to know!! I've considered designing such a thing - Dad's an amazing craftsman - planned on drawers, wheels, sturdy for sitting, etc...

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried the Stanley website's link to see stores in my area that sell their cases, but it kept coming back with no stores... I would love to see it before spending money. The Sears one seems sturdy, but did notice the comments about it breaking (not that my stuff would be as heavy as hammers and drills)

Ebay has em!

Stanley at Lowe's: Rolling Work Station (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=174826-355-018801R&lpage=none)

I have three of these: one for facepainting/one for balloons/one for magic
At $20 each, they are a steal and are quite sturdy. They pack up alot of stuff and are easy to transport as they are lightweight and on wheels.

Whatever the gig requires, I can grab any to all of them effortlessly. Although I have more stuff for facepainting by choice (like a chair, etc) I could get away with facepainting out of the toolcart if I had to.

I will be purchasing one more soon for all my puppets.

I like having one toolcart per entertainment genre. To use one large trunk and have facepainting supplies sharing common storage space with balloons and magic would make me feel crazy unorganized.

When I do a magic show and balloons, I take the Balloon Cart and the Magic Cart. When I'm done doing the magic show, the box gets closed up and put aside. Done! Check that off the list! Then it's on to the Balloon Cart. Done! Check that off the list!

I also like this setup because it prevents little fingers and roving eyes from touching my stuff when my back is turned.

I also like this setup because it prevents little fingers and roving eyes from getting into my stuff when my back is turned.

Nothing worse then getting home and finding little fingers and roving eyes in your stuff.

Buy a 18 wheel truck, if can afford one....lol. Most of my tote and carry items obtained from either Target Dept stores or Wal-Mart Dept stores. other times have gone to Good Will Store because they carry luggage and large plastic totes occassionally.

First, I drive the smart fortwo, so space is limited. I don't have room for tables, chairs, big signs, etc. Really, it has to fit in the passenger's seat.
If you ever want to carry chairs with you, maybe the following will work:
GCI Outdoor™ Packseat Portable Folding Stool (http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_104406?cm_mmc=froogle-_-750-6-7-_--1-_-38-614-996-54&hvarAID=froogle&mr:trackingCode=286035A9-E881-DE11-B712-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA)

The following is good for a portable carrying case and table: Carrying Case & Mak Table Base-Silver in Stock - $107.46US : Kind of Magic!, KWMagic - Your Local Magic Shop (http://www.kwmagic.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87&products_id=2373)

I like the briefcase and stand. With equiptment like this people might take me seriously-well as seriously as a clown can be taken. By the way those roving little fingers and eyes are delicious with that sugary liquid on top!Thanks

My Contacts case works Great! :)

The one time I don't bring my autoharp last weekend it figures I would need it. I had a family wanting me to sing Happy Birthday to their kid and I didn't have accompaniment. I do think they would have been a potential birthday party client too. We have alot of Hispanic families that do big time birthday parties for their kids, cousins kids, great nephews, etc. . . . well you get the picture. I got to find a bigger case to carry all my hokey instruments.
Sara K.

Toony, I'll bring mine to the alley meeting and we can pose for photos with it. I just finished it this week and you can tell me what you think. It's basically a footlocker on it side with wheels and compartments on the inside.

would love to see the pics joey

I always wanted the kind of suitcase the professor had in the movie "Bedknobs and Broomsticks". Just open up your case and BAM you have a huge backdrop and a whopping amount of space to hold your stuff. Unfortunately, they don't sell his case and the cases/ stands that I did find were little things with big price tags. So, I made my own. Take one of those aluminum electrician's cases, and one of the all-wooden tv tables you can find at walmart. Remove the wooden top, then bolt it to the bottom of the case. It folds up, and holds your stuff, then folds out into a respectable table.

Thanks Artsy, I have been looking for a way to stay organized and keep all of my genre's separated. This is a great idea.

Just an update. The Fat Max isn't deep enough for my autoharp but the top compartment holds the easy chord which is the child's autoharp I sometimes use as more of a prop/laugh getter. Anyway it is perfect to twist from. I open up the whole thing take out my balloon roll and drape it over the top box and down to the bottom compartment. I can clip it on if need be but it usually stays. I park it behind me and turn around to get a balloon and just keep going that way. I hate wearing an apron and this works for me. I can roll it back up and put it in the bottom compartment if I need to move around. It is very heavy when it is packed full and I had trouble getting down a big flight of stairs to a basement birthday party one time. Good thing the father was buff! Other than that I love the Fat Max for is portability and storage. I got mine at Lowes. I had some scrapbooking teacher friend pretty envious when they saw it. It isn't just for carpenters.
Sara K.

I am still looking for the right container... I have one that can hold both my balloons and face painting supplies, but it is heavy when full. It just fits in the back of my smart fortwo (when it isn't already packed with other stuff).

I have a duffel bag that I can put my balloon stuff in when I am not doing face painting. I didn't have a bag/container a few times since I only needed my balloon apron, but round it harder to "shut down" when my balloons were still visible. Putting the apron in the bag hides them from the kids and makes it easier to say, "Sorry, I already put my balloons away."

I have a white board, small table, chair, and a few other items that don't fit in any of my current containers. I am afraid if I got something big enough to hold those items, it would be way to big and heavy to lift. I don't like making several trips, but don't know there is a way around that problem.

I am beginning to think that I need a small, medium, and large container available and pack the one that fits the day's plans.

The Container Store - The Original Storage and Organization Store® (http://www.containerstore.com/shop/storage/totes)

The container store has aplastic storage containers for everything.
I dont buy everything they offer, but the concept of clear see through containers is very inspiring.
At the present moment, I have a big ugly rubbermaid bin about 50 gallons or so, but I may move to the collapsible bins The Container Store > Round Striped Crunch Can by Umbra® (http://www.containerstore.com/shop/storage/handledBinsBaskets?productId=10024257&N=71233)
or really something like them. For my fabric props, and

I still like old fashioned luggage.
The tweeds and striped fabric covered stuff from the 40's and 50's. I endeavor to leave some silks and feathers hanging out of the sides, as I close them. I dont know if the audience appreciates the extra colors, but I love it, it makes me smile.

If you get a keyboard stand or a waiters tray jack you can elevate the storage container up high where you can work out of it without bending over.

Thanks Cortez,
Those rainbow striped containers are good to put used props in after use. Good dump container so to speak. They look clowny too.
Thanks,
Sara K.

YouTube - Captain Kangaroo-The Banana Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et6Jt2YX44o&feature=player_embedded)

After spending minutes per show digging through my rubbermaid bin, I started using clear meal savers/ shoe box's. To divide acts and make it easier to find them.

Resetting my act is important to me because I am a space cadet. I really need everything to be in it's place or I go crazy.

So enter the container store....wooooo! overpriced yet multiple sized solutions!
I can not afford most of the "solutions" but they do inspire me to seek other items.

One thing that comes to mind is regular cardboard boxes, with a little bit of paint and shiny paper, a card bopard box becomes a show piece! One could even line the box with felt and really have something pretty and useful.
In magic these kind of boxes are excellent dump box's (Duane Laflin will rock your world).

But the thing I wanted to mention was I never considered till this second that the act of searching through a clutter pile is a reputation making character piece.

Why did I never think to put a "throw bag" (my term) of silks and foam props and weird things, to make it quite interesting to watch as I went through my box.

I throw all the stuff in the "throw bag" all over. As I stall for time to find my next prop. There could be confetti, silks, tasteful laundry, flags, site gags, -anything- I think would be the criteria.

Next time something bugs me a lot I should reframe it into a clown gag.

Hello!
If you can look up? The Steel City Clown Brigade in Pittsburgh, PA
they have apparatus bags that they made out of denim wich holds juggling clubs, balls, scarves, sometimes juggling sticks,
packs of cards, balloons, and pump. The center compartment is large enough to hold large bags of balloons and a couple of one
subject notebooks,but it could be used to hold magic items as well I am going to get one made for myself When I have it Iwill
post a picture of it along with a picture of me in my new outfit.

I hope this helps in some way for you and anyone else looking
for an easy way to carry their equipment.

Jimbo.

Oh the stuff I have learned.
Thanks everyone.

At this time I am into bally cloths. I don't get the respect I deserve with
Just a rubbermaid bin.

Bally cloths in sideshow and circus are the cloth which look like circus tent walls.
It is draped around unsightly stuff like wagon wheels, concession wheel carraiges and stage bottoms.

You can have an authentic circus tent wall made cheaplyer then you think
At a nearby canvas and awning place.

But one could also just go to a fabric store and find some flashy fabric and drape t around the unsightly stuff. Like my rubbermaid bucket.

or to save money you could just grow more arms.

And think of the hand balancing act we could do!

I use a sewing machine bag on wheels that I found at JoAnn Fabrics...Since I am Mimi Bug I have a Large Lady bug velcroed on the top and elastic to hold the lid open while working out of it...holds alot and easy to get in and out of my VW bug.

tool boxes are always good for make up and some magical supplies. They also come in bright yellow and red.

Tool Boxes are really good for fragile items as they are made
sturdy and rugged.

Funny story story about the over priced container store. I went in and asked what the most rugged sturdy container was and they had to think about it and finally showed me one box out of 2000 items and that box was not very sturdy.
But you go to Home Depot (or hopefully) a local owned hardware store and they will show you 2000 sturdy boxes (slight exxageration maybe?)