Playing for SA public meal 12/25/23

[Mary Ann]

You can see how happy we all were after having to fight with the ear-spitting amplified output of the "musicians" on the nearby stage that was being set up. Our leader had to go tell them to shut up while we were playing. I don't know how he accomplished that without creative social havoc, but he did.

SA Xmas 2023 33pct.jpg (180.59 KiB) Viewed 1835 times

[Three Valves]

“Social havoc” is a feature, not a bug.

[Heavy_Metal]

You can see how happy we all were after having to fight with the ear-spitting amplified output of the "musicians" on the nearby stage that was being set up. Our leader had to go tell them to shut up while we were playing. I don't know how he accomplished that without creative social havoc, but he did.

SA Xmas 2023 33pct.jpg

Aside from that, was it a good concert?

[Mary Ann]

Nope. I could not hear a damn thing and some pieces didn't even know if I was playing the same one. As opposed to last year, which was quite good. But we could hear ourselves last year and it was "just" a quintet. Definitely not a serious gig as the reason we play for them is as payback for giving the brass band free rehearsal space in a good room, which is highly appreciated. I think they likely cannot tell the difference between a total mess and something good.

[tofu]

[

[Mary Ann]

I was not referring to the SA band, but to the local SA organization (which has no band) and its response to our playing. They put us in the same category as the ear-splitting cacophony that was about to ensue from the amplified stuff on the stage, which was guitars and keyboards. I was glad to escape before that started, and I really can't imagine why they want to blast that at people who only wanted a free meal. We were just something else in the background, Christmas-type noise basically, like a radio playing.

[Three Valves]

...and I really can't imagine why they want to blast that at people who only wanted a free meal.

Cuts down on malingering.

[Mary Ann]

When the target population is the homeless, I'm not sure what malingering has to do with it. People arrive with grocery carts with their life possessions in them. People arrive with their dogs who are their only companions. I believe the proper response is compassion.

[bloke]

I get paid (not much) to do this sort of thing, every few months.

If I knew - and was certain - that those who have me do this were not given any money for me to do it (as well as me knowing that there weren't other non-designated available funds for me to do this), I would do this for the same remuneration as Mary Ann's ensemble... $0

For the amount of driving that I do - in order to be able to do this, I suppose I'm "paid" (??) for the driving and the playing is sort of on me.

These people are not homeless, but are in nursing homes.
The difference between the nicest of those nursing homes and veterans nursing homes is stark.
The veterans (who can stand and who barely can stand, and even those who can only sing, and EVEN those who are only capable of making emotional expressions with their faces) clearly demonstrate that they are very patriotic and respond to the Banner, their branches' hymns, and other related music.

Even though I don't do this sort of thing enough, I need to do it - and with or without my expenses being covered.
I believe it keeps me grounded, and more aware/real/etc.
I try to make a lot of eye contact (including with those who seem to be the most disabled), so as to show that I'm available to talk.

[anadmai]

I think they likely cannot tell the difference between a total mess and something good.

I’m sure there is a wide variation in the SA across the nation, but I have to tell you here they would definitely know. The Chicago Staff Brass Band is one of the finest brass bands any where in the world. One of their yearly gigs is an annual free (donation) Sounds of the Season concert they perform near me the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Always excellent and they always have an exceptional guest artist every year. Just an example of names over the last 10 years - Pat Sheridan, Steven Mead a couple times including his wife, Sam Pilifian and the Boston Brass, Opera singers from the Met and this last concert Wycliffe Gordan - an absolutely exceptional trombonist and long time member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet but he’s played with a lot of names like Dizzy Gillepsie, Doc Severinsen, Lionel Hampton, Ricky Scaggs, Arturo Sandoval, Paul Simon etc. My gosh that guy can play - just phenomenal and he’s a really nice guy to boot. Well worth hearing if you have the chance. And the directors have been very talented as well and the prior one Heims - just a fantastic arranger for brass band. These guys aren’t afraid to play jazz and they play it well when they do.

As a former member of the New York Staff Band, I would say the Chicago Staff Band is a very good band. I've known the past couple bandmasters and they're solid people.

[Mary Ann]

I hope you understood I was not referring to any SA band but to the people running the meal, who were not band people. I can't imagine that band people would have also had that extreme-volume electronic stuff getting ready to go.

[anadmai]

I hope you understood I was not referring to any SA band but to the people running the meal, who were not band people. I can't imagine that band people would have also had that extreme-volume electronic stuff getting ready to go.

I kinda figured. Some corps officers are tools. My parents included. LOL.