First REAL sousaphone gig last night

[BopEuph]

So I finally acquired a sousaphone during the lockdown. It was an old Holton 122 from 1948, with high school band abuse and needed a lot of work.

Turns out the horn, once it was fixed, is really great. It needed a new gooseneck receiver, neck and bits, and a minor valve cluster overhaul, and now it plays amazingly well. And we had to get a horsehair shoe brush out that was wedged way up inside the bugle somehow--high school kids can really make the impossible happen.

And then I got called to do a 3-hour brass band gig.

I've done sousa gigs in the past; but it was usually some kitschy 20 minute thing, like a NOLA pep band for fans getting on a bus, or a marching gig where I got paid good money to play 2 songs. In those situations, the play time was short and I always borrowed a horn.

For the rest of the night, my shoulder was in a LOT of pain...now, the morning after, it's just sore, but I have full use of my arm.

Would a pad help this? I've read mixed reviews as to whether or not they work.

Also, because it was an outdoor gig and I didn't want my good white dress shirt abused, I bought a cheap shirt from Goodwill. The shoulder is stained yellow, so it was good that I bought this shirt anyway. Though I'm guessing if nothing else, the pad would help protect my clothing in general.

So, is the pad worth the purchase?

The gig was a NOLA style brass band. I know a lot of tunes, but the bandleader called tunes I didn't know and there was no chordal instrument to figure out which chord progression to use. Anyone have a good list of tunes that show the progression relationships (like Rose Room is In a Mellow Tone, etc.)? Bandleader likes my playing--when I know the tunes. If he called a tune I didn't know, I pulled out my phone to glance at the chords but he quickly stopped me from doing that. So I need some tricks to know all the tunes better.

[bloke]

A sousaphone weighs the same with or without a pad, and it still puts the same amount of pressure on the same small area of the shoulder. The pad actually adds a tiny bit of extra weight. (Pick up a 500 lb. dumbbell.. Now pick it up with a piece of foam rubber protecting your fingers. )
When I deal with intense/extended sousaphone use, it takes me about three days for that shoulder muscle to get strong enough to not ache from supporting a sousaphone. The thing to avoid is resting the sousaphone on your neck instead of your shoulder. You would really be sorry if you did that.
You make me wish that I had my Pan American (Conn 14K) all fixed up and put together. The sousaphone that I borrowed for my Mardi Gras gig was very leaky (more than I realized when I borrowed it), and (particularly with the decibel requirements regarding this type of music) it worked me to death.

[BopEuph]

Yeah, it definitely wasn't on my neck. There's a red "bruise" following the shape of the horn on my shoulder, going to the blade, and there's a bit of bruising on the right rib area--I guess from my right hand resting on the valve block?

The lacquer isn't bad, but the horn has a bunch of scratches, which I guess is how it stained the shirt yellow. I might wrap a towel around the shoulder area for just that, at least.

Yeah, I don't want to waste $50 on a pad and realize it's basically useless. Music gear is way overpriced--I wouldn't even pay $50 for a pillow for my bed!

[bloke]

Some people obviously think those pads work (because they sell a whole bunch of them). If you end up being convinced by one of them that a pad does work, I'm sure you can find a ruined old pair of jeans and sew some foam rubber inside the bottom 18 inches of one of the (cut off) legs.

[BopEuph]

Similarly, I have a cushion for my bass stool called a "Butt Cradle." Was $40 when I bought it, it's now $60. After four hours on the stool, it still hurts. If I could play bass on a La-Z-Boy, that would be better. I guess it still beats sitting on hard wood, but not by much. I imagine the shoulder pad isn't much different.

[arpthark]

and there's a bit of bruising on the right rib area--I guess from my right hand resting on the valve block?

You just unlocked a forgotten marching band memory -- I remember this feeling!

I also remember being a miserable 8th grader, approximately 5'4"*, trying to marching with a friggin' Conn 20K.

I agree that the pad doesn't do much. I spent seven years in marching band between high school and college, and I only used one the first few days as a puny 8th grader. After that, I just got used to it, and it does suck for a while, but you adjust.

*I had one more growth spurt after that, and am now an imposing 5'6". I have a short torso, the sousaphone always hit my thigh, and I was often (rightly) accused of "waddling."

[bloke]

In the eighth grade, I got the leftover super thick walled 1950s King sousaphone.

The 9th grader got the 4th 36k that the high school didn't need.

[Kirley]

The best thing that the pad does is to add friction between the horn and your clothing. This can help if your ideal playing position throws off the balance in any way or if you move a lot while playing/marching.

FWIW, I only use a pad on my lightest horn, Conn 22K (fiberglass). I use the neoprene one and it's really just for the friction.

Tell the bandleader that if he has a problem with you looking up the chords on your phone, then he should put together a set list and send it to you ahead of time. I always try to be perfectly frank with bandleaders regarding repertoire. "I know what I know. But I'm happy to do my homework and learn more."

Maybe make your own song list of tunes that you know that he can pull from.

Anyway, welcome to the world of sousaphoning!

[BopEuph]

Tell the bandleader that if he has a problem with you looking up the chords on your phone, then he should put together a set list and send it to you ahead of time.

Lol, he didn't send me a setlist per se, but he did send me a list of tunes that "I'd like to play tonight so learn them if you can." Picked like 2 out of around 8 that were on that list. And I stressed about memorizing Panama. Easy tune, but long enough form to memorize in a day.

As it goes with just about every bandleader that says "I don't have prearranged sets, but I want you to know these tunes," then calls completely different tunes.

[BopEuph]

The best thing that the pad does is to add friction between the horn and your clothing. This can help if your ideal playing position throws off the balance in any way or if you move a lot while playing/marching.

At that point, I feel like just an old towel wrapped around the tubing where it rests on my shoulder would do a good enough job and save me $50. Which is what I'm probably going to start with, anyway.

Anyway, welcome to the world of sousaphoning!

Thanks! Played too many "sousaphone" gigs on the Conn 12J. Musically, it made sense, but wasn't loud enough, nor did it look the part. And if I continue to get calls more often now that I have a sousa, the <$1k I spent on it would be well worth it!

[edfirth]

Sounds like Dutch. When I first got here he couldn't get arrested. Amazing what time and attrition brings about. Hang in there man. Ed

[bloke]

I've never played Panama Rag for a Mardi Gras party.

It's a great piece of music, though. Several strains. Sort of play themselves.

I have more trouble memorizing the particular funky bass lines and repetitions related all the individual brass band tunes that don't have that many chord changes. The older songs with more chord changes sort of auto-remind me of how they go- via their chord progressions.

[BopEuph]

Sounds like Dutch. When I first got here he couldn't get arrested. Amazing what time and attrition brings about. Hang in there man. Ed

Shhhh.

Definitely not complaining, but I definitely want to be able to immediately know the tune he's calling with minimal in-depth study of the genre. I know tunes, just play in so many genres because that's how a freelancer survives. Currently shedding around 60 country tunes for a gig for tomorrow...at least I'm allowed to read my notes on that one!

[BopEuph]

I've never played Panama Rag for a Mardi Gras party.

It's a great piece of music, though. Several strains. Sort of play themselves.

I have more trouble memorizing the particular funky bass lines and repetitions related all the individual brass band tunes that don't have that many chord changes. The older songs with more chord changes sort of auto-remind me of how they go- via their chord progressions.

Yeah, I'm sure if I knew the tune better it wouldn't be difficult, since the melody definitely dictates the harmony in these genres much more easily than bop does. But it feels like memorizing tunes is easier when you're dedicated to only a few genres, which doesn't seem an efficient way to be busy as a live musician in the 21st century. So much easier when you can write down the tunes so you never forget them!

[bloke]

They're all sorts of goofy memory triggers...

In the intro to Panama Rag, the bass line begins with - duh - the tonic, I guess you could go to three - and then flat three, and then the tail end of the intro is the melody - but in contrary motion.
After that, you're off to the races.

... but in a few more years, everybody my age and older will be dead, and nobody will even know that there was a Panama Rag.