stage deportment

[John Banther]

Bloke,

in my experience it is:
1/3 of the brass players tune backstage,1/3 don't tune at all, 1/3 are busy practicing the opening slurs

a combination that seems to work great, or fail great

John

[TUBAD83]

Bloke,

in my experience it is:
1/3 of the brass players tune backstage,1/3 don't tune at all, 1/3 are busy practicing the opening slurs

a combination that seems to work great, or fail great

John

Totally agree--Having played "Fanfare" more than a couple of times, I know that if the brass section has any intonation issues, this is NOT the piece to play, especially not to be used as an opener. Either you play it WELL or you will crash and burn--there is no in-between.

JJ

[Uncle Buck]

Noodling around when the tuning note is given. Also "tuning up" your major thirds, minor thirds, major seconds, etc. Tonal centers and your place in the chord are all relative - if the group is tuning to an A and you tune up your C# based on that A, it won't necessarily be in-tune in C# major tonality, and so on.

I usually play "nothing at all" when an "A" is given...even if "for the brass". If I play anything at all, it will probably be a "D".

I like to play a pedal A. It gets my chops all loose and ready to go.

When I played in university orchestras I usually did the same thing as bloke - just sat there playing nothing.

I remember one day the violinist got indignant. He waved everybody to stop and made some stupid comment about how lots of the wind players didn't take the tuning seriously. The conductor looked at him, just said "yeah, please tune."

Whatever. I picked up my horn and played a short A, then put it down.

When I was playing seriously, I took intonation seriously. "Tuning up" at the beginning of a rehearsal NEVER played even the smallest role in that.

[bort]

My tuba was tuned at the factory. I've usually interpreted that "tuning" as less tuning and more:

-- telling the audience "pipe down, we're getting ready to play"
-- a chance for the musician "reset" and clear your ears of all the other pre-performance noise
-- a chance to play a quick note in the performance space (which can often be a new space) to see how your horn is responding at that moment, in those conditions, for a quick on-the-fly adjustment if necessary

[J.c. Sherman]

Noodling around when the tuning note is given. Also "tuning up" your major thirds, minor thirds, major seconds, etc. Tonal centers and your place in the chord are all relative - if the group is tuning to an A and you tune up your C# based on that A, it won't necessarily be in-tune in C# major tonality, and so on.

Neither will A.

I tend to tune the "open strings" quickly... make sure I'm still "in the neighborhood".

Bloke, for recital and solo performances, I do believe it's important to "dress for success". Look professional, and as my wife likes to call it, "polished." You should look successful; if you look shabby, even if in tuxedo, you'll bias your audience in you disfavor. This isn't always tux. But it's always formal in some manner, and elegant. I've also seen some weird outfits on women... that distracted as "WTF?!?" Only once have I seen that overcome with "Holy $%@# that's incredible playing!!"

For Orchestra...

1) While I'm not overly concerned with the histrionics during numbers (I fidget, can't help it), there is an obvious point, even to a clown like me, where you're suddenly the center of attention while not playing, and that makes you boorish.

2) Women's outfits. I'm in formal attire. So should you be. Dress, slacks, whatever, a black long-sleeved t-shirt and black... “pants” are crude. And (this is weird to have to say, but I've seen it too often), wear a bra, keep the thong in your pants, and make sure your shirt and/or pants cover your bottom. Sheesh.

Best thing to happen to one of my orchestras was switching to white jackets for men and white tops for women. First concert, lots of complaints from the women. Next concert, the women were incredibly well dressed! Wonder why

4) Men, get a real tux. Please. Get one that fits. Get high enough socks and long enough pants. Tux shirts with steamed pleats. Um... shave (unless you're actively growing a beard - I've caught flack for that, admittedly and deservedly). Polished shoes... no flip-flops or black tennis shoes. EXCEPTION - percussionist shoes need to be silent - in whatever manner possible.

5) Belching. <<BARF>> YUCK!

Those are the biggies. I've said other stuff before (play the ride and fountains at home), but most of that stuff's been said. But I've learned to ignore an awful lot over the years.

J.c.S.

P.S. - I tell anyone who asks, "I don't spit in my $X,000 horn." How would I ever get it into the second coil of my fourth valve anyway?

[Bob Kolada]

2) Women's outfits. I'm in formal attire. So should you be. Dress, slacks, whatever, a black long-sleeved t-shirt and black... “pants” are crude.

I see no practical or "aesthetic" reason for a dress or skirt.

shave (unless you're actively growing a beard - I've caught flack for that, admittedly and deservedly).

Another peeve of mine- socially mandated face scraping. I never shave outside of the Army (sometimes not even in, profile for the win!). Why would I?

[J.c. Sherman]

Bob, for the same reason you do it in the Army. And your older peers appreciate it.

Dresses are certainly not necessary... but formal attire... well, it certainly is more congruant to the tuxes.

J.c.S.

[Bob Kolada]

Bob, for the same reason you do it in the Army. And your older peers appreciate it.

You're going to have to explain your thought.

[J.c. Sherman]

Bob, for the same reason you do it in the Army. And your older peers appreciate it.

You're going to have to explain your thought.

My older pears have noticed when I don't shave. Perhaps it's generational, but I'm in a business where getting along and being recognized for my performance and my comportment in all respects is important. It makes my life more profitable, more facile, and more pleasant. When I do grow a beard (annually), I catch flack. But it's shaped and manicured instantly, and I'm well enough known that it's more of a ribbing I get than anything else. But my neck is shaved.

Perhaps the answer is the same as in the military. Because. At one time my father (Navy) had to shave from a beard he'd had my whol life (January 1, 1985). By god he didn't ask why

And we're listing peaves... and a polished appearance shows that my co-performers care as much as I do.

Just my opinion... contrary ones are fine... but I do hire groups, and hire those who represent ME well. In all respects.

[TUBAD83]

One pf the big things that is missing in today's society is the teaching of manners, etiquette, and the social graces. As a child of the 60's growing up in the South, I was taught the following:

Every adult male should own a well made black suit that is appropriate for any occasion.
Every adult female should own a well made black dress that is appropriate for any occasion.

If you can come up with several thousand dollars for a tuba, surely you can come up with a couple of hundred for a decent formal outfit. How you are dressed and how conduct yourself onstage IS part your musical presentation and it reflects on you, your ensemble, and your art. Please show respect for all three.

JJ

[Bob Kolada]

Bob, for the same reason you do it in the Army. And your older peers appreciate it.

You're going to have to explain your thought.

My older pears have noticed when I don't shave. Perhaps it's generational, but I'm in a business where getting along and being recognized for my performance and my comportment in all respects is important. It makes my life more profitable, more facile, and more pleasant. When I do grow a beard (annually), I catch flack. But it's shaped and manicured instantly, and I'm well enough known that it's more of a ribbing I get than anything else. But my neck is shaved.
Perhaps the answer is the same as in the military. Because. At one time my father (Navy) had to shave from a beard he'd had my whol life (January 1, 1985). By god he didn't ask why

As to military shaving, I only do it because I'm paid to do it. When I go on orders or am active for more than a week I go see the medic and get a shaving profile. Shaving messes me up, bad. I had one most of the way through basic and advanced training.
Frankly, I think shaving is only one step away from crossdressing.
As for what old people think, when they stop lecturing me on every/anything I'll start caring what they think.

[J.c. Sherman]

To which I'll only respond "Older People Hire Me; and I want them to," so in essence, I am paid too

Oh - and nothing wrong with beards... not at all. Just the better maintained, the better your comportment in the eyes of others.

How old's that photo? Amish Bass trumpeters!

[bort]

Am I the only person that has had to look up both the words "comportment" and "deportment" over the course of this thread? Uh, thanks for the vocab lesson, TubeNet?

[sloan]

There's a word for people who perform certain acts "only when paid to do so".

[Bob Kolada]

Yes, a conscious person with a mind and thought of their own. lets try to keep the jokes a bit more in line with what a supposedly intellectually trained person might offer, shall we?

EDIT- underlined stuff is new, curse writing on an average intelligence phone

[TubaRay]

[As for what old people think, when they stop lecturing me on every/anything I'll start caring what they think.

Please accept my gratitude for leaving more gigs out there for us old guys.

[Mark]

I have a leg up on Bob; He isn't particularly old, and I already don't care what he thinks.

Game, set, match...

[Bob Kolada]

I have a leg up on Bob; He isn't particularly old, and I already don't care what he thinks.

Bad back, permanently injured shoulders, bad eyes, loathes kids,... I'm already old by default.

[As for what old people think, when they stop lecturing me on every/anything I'll start caring what they think.

Please accept my gratitude for leaving more gigs out there for us old guys.

That's just part of me giving back to the community!

[Timswisstuba]

How old's that photo? Amish Bass trumpeters!

Mr. Sherman certainly knows these players, but for those who don't, that's the Los Angeles Phil. brass section in the 1970's. Roger Bobo is cut-off from the picture but you can see his F contrabass trumpet on the right.

Players of this quality certainly had to do things, without question, they didn't want to do to get to where they wanted to be. (For Bob, I'm sure they were all cleanly shaved for their auditions.) I'll see Roger Bobo on Saturday and ask for more details.

[J.c. Sherman]

There's a word for people who perform certain acts "only when paid to do so".