I've bought a mans handbag or what you Americans would call a purse but here in the UK are now known as a Manbag.
When I went out, I'd get my keys, wallet, cellphone, eyeglass case, gum and walk out with my pockets at bursting point.
I don't wear the multipocketed cargo pants everyday and now that I have taken to taking at least one harp with me wherever I go, the load was just getting to be too much.
I take the harp because you just don't know when you may come across a group of people gathered around a camp fire, (rather unlikely in London, but you never know) pass through a rather large echo-y tunnel or need to do an impromptu busking performance to get the money to travel home.
Anyway, now I've got my "Manbag" I can carry all my personal bits in comfort and even carry a spare harp just in case there's a technical malfunction with the first.
It's a small shoulder bag not the sort where you need to keep your wrist against your chest to carry it. That would look a bit silly. You better get ready fellas because, if you play harp and you always want to be prepared to play at a moments notice, I guess you'll have to think about getting your own manbag.
I dunno about over in the UK, but at least in my corner of the US, most of us, guys and girls, do the messenger bag. I guess it's kind of like a manbag/murse, but a little heftier, and more space, and less resembling a purse. I carry my life in mine, including ALL of my harmonicas... just in case I need to perform an impromptu busking session in multiple keys... and multiple brands of the same key.
The manbag didn't really catch on here, but I see more and more people, of all ages and walks of life with the messenger bag.
Tooka and Jon, that's gonna cost you each a Man Point, but you gain a Man Point for finding a way to keep your harps with you, so you're still in good standing!
Just watch out for...purse snatchers.
----------
Crescent City Harmonica Club Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
No worries. I ride a motorcycle everywhere I go and I have at least two Manbags at all times. My wife is always getting on me about the amount of bags I keep around the house!! But I have to carry all m harps, my harp book of notes and lessons, and extra gear for riding in bad weather. ---------- -[][][][][][][][][][]- Learning is a journey, not a destination... -BL
Last Edited by on Jul 26, 2010 10:54 AM
Hey Kingo yeah Harp case sounds much better. You could have something there. Are you listening Hohner, Suzuki, Seydel? A nice lttle handbag Whoops! I mean Harp Case with your logo on the side could go down a storm with us harp playing (deep voice) men.
I'd carry harps and a couple of pens in the smaller zipped compartment, my journal and a book or two in the main compartment. This was a logical extension from my earlier life as a grad student, when the daypack was a bookbag.
Right now I'm reading Michael Chabon's memoir Manhood for Amateurs, his piece titled I Feel Good About My Murse should be a must read for all who've fessed up on this thread...
The army surplus bag sounds like a pretty cool idea.
I carry my bros old high school backpack to and from work everyday. I get minor grief from nosey co-workers which is kinda funny cause I work at a place that many of the employees have travel backpacks, just not in my department. It's actually quite like the jansport bag kudzu posted.
Side note, In Stephen Kings' Dark Tower series the bag that the gunslingers carry is considered a purse & that guy could kick some butt!
---------- ~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Just wear whatever you want. I rocked a "fanny pack" at SPAH 09.
I wear em on my side though. Easier reach. If you go for certain designs they can really make you look like you're carrying a sidearm and people actually do think twice before trying to pull shit on you. I think that's macho enough to me.
I even got stopped at the airport because they initially thought I had ammo clips (harps) in them. Haha
Man bags are pretty cool Tooka, i was thinking of getting one myself.
Primark do a cool line in man bags and they're really cheap. At one time man bags were only associated with gay men(not that there's anything wrong with that)but that seems to have all changed now, and most man bags kinda look like messenger bags anyways.
Just don't go around wearing on your forearm like a handbag.( if they're anything like my wifes handbag you should be able to fit a harpgear, 10 bullet mics and a full set of harps a full medicine cabinet and 2 hair brushes. Actually scrap the hairbrush idea!!!Grass doesn't grow on busy roads as we both know!!!) ----------
Last Edited by on Jul 27, 2010 1:08 AM
Do you carry your wife's lipstick in yours like Seinfeld did for his woman? I don't wear lipstick myself.
I depend on my man to carry keys, money, cell phone. I do carry my own music player. Usually all I need. Of course, when we get separated, I am a lost lamb. I wandered around hungry and penniless for 40 minutes at the farmer's market recently when I couldn't find him. But I haven't changed my ways. ----------
No lipstick Tin, just my strawberry flavoured lip salve. Oh no, it's getting worse isn't it? Think I better start playing guitar. But then I may break my nails.
i think elwood blues called it a brief case (full of blues)
sorry, i know that adam can't stand that cultural reference, but it was a satchel with harmonicas.. granted it was handcuffed on, so that added an additional manly element.
