The other day I heard a busy speaker talking about the classes and workshops she presents –often twice a week. She told me, “I present several unrelated topics and am always clipping articles, stacking books that pertain, etc.” Many genealogy teachers can relate to that. She continued< “When it’s time for the class, I would gather it all up, and then put it away again until next time around. So now I use great and inexpensive large tote bags. I have seen sturdy canvas tote bags offered by LandsEnd and from Harbor Freight their “Canvas Boat Bag” is another option. Of course you can recycle totes from nationa; conferences. Look for ones that are large and strong and have strong straps. My speaker friend concluded, “I keep everything for a particular class permanently in its own tote bag and can toss in things as I think of them.” Then she simply picks up the RIGHT bag and goes, with everything needed in the bag.
I’ll bet she even hangs them on pegs when not in use! What do you think?
Genealogy Education 
I’m teaching 2 (sometimes 3) classes a week, along with volunteering to help the 5th grade band (I take my mouthpiece and 3 different elementary method books to that one). I gravitated to this same system. Currently, I’m using canvas bags with activities in file folders within each bag, and it works great. If I were teaching the classes less frequently, though, I’d probably use clearly labeled plastic boxes with lids. That’s what I do with some of my other projects–each project is in a separate, clearly labeled plastic box. A couple of presentations that I only give once a year–a cemetery tour and a presentation on my Civil War ancestors–I file in my filing cabinet, although the cemetery tour is also filed in sheet protectors inside a 3-ring binder because I use photographs with that tour.
I use small overnight bags with wheels. I can find them around in garage sales and thrift stores for under $10. I like the ease of carrying materials, since I am not the strongest of mortals. Also the pockets allow me to store supplies etc that I can quickly access when needed. At the end of the day, these bags carry both letter and legal files and are closed so that I don’t have to worry about rain or spills.
Reminds me of the time I spotted Jim Warren coming back to the hotel from a lecture at FGS austin pulling a two wheeled luggage dolly with a plastic crate full of his tools and props: laptop, digital light projector, supplemental items like books, handouts etc shown, and of course extension cords! Now I too find I need a pack mule.first there’s the equipment: DLP, laptop, appendages and extension cords. then the show and tell stuff– usually books, sometimes supplemental handouts, give away items (books and software) Maybe the apprentice could do this?
Do men prefer boxes to bags?
Ken
I like Desta’s idea the best – sort of a soft box with zippers, big enough for the hardware and the soft stuff. Sounds like you would need a larger overnight bag, though.
One good feature of an overnight bag is that it doesn’t immediately scream “computer on board.”