Where can I find a good music bag?

Is there some reason you don't just use a large tote bag? You might have to carry a couple just to distribute the weight, rather than shoving everything into one gigantic satchel.

I typically use those canvas tote bags you can buy at craft stores in a variety of colors so I can put my own design on it. I've had musician friends make tote bags using the covers of old record albums and laminated pages of sheet music or music magazines (not really laminated--more placed between layers of clear PVC plastic (also available at craft or fabric stores).

I use iron-on transfers to decorate mine. These are special papers that are meant to be used on an ordinary home printer. You can use your own original design by scanning it onto the computer and then printing it on the paper. The design is then ironed onto the tote. You can also use pictures you find in magazines, on the Internet (these can be cut and pasted using a plain Microsoft Office or Word program).

Note on using copyrighted images--you can usually get away with it as long as you are making one or two items for personal use--not mass producing it for sale or something. I still tend to stay away from any Disney owed images because they will sue anybody for anything. I've used old photos of early opera singers, portraits of famous composers, picture of musical instruments, etc. There are also plenty of royalty free images available online and also in books you can buy (try Dover Publications).

I've seen tote bags for musicians in music shops...usually these are canvas bags similar to the ones I mentioned but preprinted with designs--typically some sort of musical notation or reproduced etching of a famous composer.

You can even put print the name of your church on your bag if you personalize it.

However, I did also go online and located several places where you can order a music bag if trying anything remotely "crafty" freaks you out. Hope the links work--some of them are stupidly long so you might have to just type in the general URL for the website and then search under "music bags" or "music tote bags".

http://www.cafepress.com/+music+bags?cmp=knc--g--u...

http://www.themusicstand.com/Cases-Luggage-s/400.h...

http://www.zazzle.com/emily_name_piano_music_tote_...

http://www.harmonyonline.com/musical-gifts-music-t...

http://www.christianbook.com/make-joyful-noise-mus...

http://www.amazon.com/Century-Novelty-Large-Music-...

http://www.themusicdepot.com/acatalog/Totebags_Bri...

There are more if you just google under "music bags" or "music tote bags". Or you can just go to any store such as Target that sells a variety of tote bags, cases, etc. in their accessories department. Wilson's Leather is another store that is in a bunch of shopping malls in case you want an leather bag of some kind.

I also know of choir directors who cart around music in big plastic tubs that can accomodate several binders of music as well as other equipment. You can buy these things at any Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and other places that have a section for storage and/or laundry supplies.

I use a nice padded laptop bag for this. I used to use a leather soft-sided briefcase/book bag/satchel.