POLL: bringing more than one tuba to a community band concert is...

[arpthark]

I had been bringing the big bell-front Reynolds BBb to outdoor concerts this season, but we play this up-front Dixieland thing and that tuba probably weighs 28 pounds or more, and is a pain to play standing up.

I ended up bringing the Flower Power 36K last night instead, along with my CC because there is some tougher stuff that we are playing that, frankly, I don't have the BBb fingerings down for. But the sousaphone was a big hit, and I'm glad I brought it.

Corollary question: how many tubas is too many for one gig?

candid shot:

[bloke]

I have successfully taken more than one tuba to a venue, but I've never been able to successfully take more than one car.

[Three Valves]

Outdoor gigs!

[bloke]

Outdoor gigs!

I really like them, other than the facts that there are no acoustics, no HVAC, and no convenient parking.

[arpthark]

Outdoor gigs!

We were the pre-fireworks entertainment at a beach here. Cool breeze, high 70s, beautiful sunset and an appreciative crowd—what more could you ask for? (Besides getting paid!)

[Mary Ann]

You said community band concert, which to me doesn't imply getting paid. I remember my summer in New London many years ago. I don't think we ever saw the sun!!

[bloke]

That type of weather - here - is from April - May and late September - November.

The "patriotic concerts" need to be moved to those date ranges.

If I'm going to use more than one instrument at a concert - and parking isn't just outside the stage door - I'm going to need the ensemble to hire me some bearers.

[arpthark]

You said community band concert, which to me doesn't imply getting paid. I remember my summer in New London many years ago. I don't think we ever saw the sun!!

Oh yes—this was an unpaid community band concert, to be clear. I've only been a part of one community group that paid—$50 per gig, sponsored by a local newspaper in KY.

We were right across the river from New London. It's been hot and muggy, but the heat broke and we got a nice sea breeze by downbeat.

[windshieldbug]

If I'm going to use more than one instrument at a concert - and parking isn't just outside the stage door - I'm going to need the ensemble to hire me some bearers.

Or get a cart!

[bloke]

If I'm going to use more than one instrument at a concert - and parking isn't just outside the stage door - I'm going to need the ensemble to hire me some bearers.

Or get a cart!

Good idea...!!! ...as long as they supplied the cart, and hired a bearer to pull it.

[bort2.0]

I think there's only one time in my life that I need the word bearers buttered alongside my name, and I'm in no hurry to get there.

I guess I'm somewhat of a purist -- perform on whatever you brought to the last couple of rehearsals. Better for you and the conductor won't flip out either.

Otherwise, suppose there are situations where you would need two instruments, like playing a solo not on a 6/4, or maybe some sort of call out performance like what I think you have. But then there are times when it seems like people have more instruments that they can decide what to do with them, and they bring things and switch just for their own fun. If it's a semi serious group, that seems ridiculous. But if it's a just for fun group, like the group that I play with that was 75% seniors... And this very old very cranky but very nice trombone player would always bringing switch stuff, you just kind of look the other way. He was 80 or so, and well, no disrespect, but you never know when it will be the last time, and you sure want it to be a good one.

[Mary Ann]

I needed two for Pictures, but that wasn't a band. CC and euph, as it turned out. I tried taking the F to a rehearsal and the conductor came by and said to play the CC. Hence the euph.

[bloke]

There have been PLENTY of church gigs, and more than a couple orchestra concerts where I played the rehearsals on one tuba, thought about the issues that I had dealt with during that/those rehearsals (at home on Saturday morning, probably fixin' horns or working out on the property), and took a DIFFERENT instrument to the performance(s).

...no play-throughs...I ALWAYS leave the sheet music on the stand.
Which is worse?
- barely scuffling through a passage
- not having ANY of the charts at the show

If I'm not satisfied with myself after the reading (or single) rehearsal), I take a picture or two of the difficult-for-me passages on my phone...
...and no, I don't have any of those amazing scanning-and-squaring-up programs on my phone...I just (and imagine this ) line it up, hold the phone still, and take a picture.

[Breavdah]

There is NO WAY, ever, that the gains of an "appropriate" tuba offset the intonation challenges of suddenly switching to a cold instrument. If you need to stand up for one song, just Captain Morgan on your chair with your normal tuba. If you have to do both light quintet to heavy-hitting ensemble, just do it all on 4/4 contrabass. That's why it's 4/4=1. That's why it's 95% of used tubas/tubas historically sold.

[Breavdah]

There is NO WAY, ever, that the gains of an "appropriate" tuba offset the intonation challenges of suddenly switching to a cold instrument. If you need to stand up for one song, just Captain Morgan on your chair with your normal tuba. If you have to do both light quintet to heavy-hitting ensemble, just do it all on 4/4 contrabass. That's why it's 4/4=1. That's why it's 95% of used tubas/tubas historically sold.

[arpthark]

There is NO WAY, ever, that the gains of an "appropriate" tuba offset the intonation challenges of suddenly switching to a cold instrument. If you need to stand up for one song, just Captain Morgan on your chair with your normal tuba. If you have to do both light quintet to heavy-hitting ensemble, just do it all on 4/4 contrabass. That's why it's 4/4=1. That's why it's 95% of used tubas/tubas historically sold.

Tuning slides do move if needed, ya know.

[bloke]

alrighty then !

[bloke]

alrighty then !

[matt g]

Warming up an instrument that’s been sitting out in the warm summer air isn’t usually a problem.

[Paulver]

It would depend on what music is being played, and if you might be part of a smaller ensemble playing for a portion of the concert. I personally, don't have that issue, but I can see where circumstances could arise that warrant doing so.