Tuba Income

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:22 am

My first tuba job was playing tuba for elementary school bands when I was in Junior High School. I went from that to playing in a professional concert band (also for money) and a local symphony orchestra. I always keep an eye open for anyone who wants to hire a tuba player for anything worthwhile.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:06 pm

I already have a job.

Rick "who doesn't need the stress" Denney

LOTP · Post by **LOTP** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:13 pm

Thus far we have 132 responses to the poll . We had 137 last year . A few more and I'll do a comparison.

LOTP

Tubaguy56 · Post by **Tubaguy56** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:16 am

wow, this has been a very uplifting post, I thought I was getting too few gigs, but apparently I'm fairly well off....I go through my youth symphonies though, and they hook my brass quintet up with gigs around our area, along with people who call me periodically to fill in for them or to play on easter sunday (75 bucks this year!)

SÃ¸ren · Post by **SÃ¸ren** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:38 am

Funnyâ€¦

I study Molecular Biology/Chemistry as my primary occupation. And instead of taking a pizzadelivery job (as often suggested on this board) I play tuba. Mostly street parades and jazz concerts. And thatâ€™s add up nicely to place me well in category number 4.
Everything is made by playing my sousaphone. I always wondered why that is (apparently) not possible in USA. Maybe there are more tubists in America than Europe?

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:02 am

SÃ¸ren wrote:... I play tuba. Mostly street parades and jazz concerts. And thatâ€™s add up nicely to place me well in category number 4.
Everything is made by playing my sousaphone. I always wondered why that is (apparently) not possible in USA. Maybe there are more tubists in America than Europe?

The majority of Americans under the age of 60 only want to listen to rock/rap/country "pop" music. Actually, I suspect a lot of people really DO enjoy dixie/polka/jazz music very much, but the people who stage events where music is provided don't seem to think so -- and they're the ones who hire the entertainment.

FWIW, the most money I ever made playing was after I dropped music as a major, and was just playing trombone in a junior college jazz band. One day I was playing a euph I found in the corner of the band hall, and the symphonic band director heard me. He came over, said they didn't have a euph player, and asked if I'd be willing to play in the band. Not really being interested, I said "no, I need that time to work." He came back with "suppose we paid you $50 a week for two rehearsals". That was more than three times what I normally earned per hour, for much easier work (individual practice time was borrowed from my trombone practice time).
_______________________________
Joe Baker, who recalls that about 100 people came to that band's concerts; approximately the number of parents of the band members.

LOTP · Post by **LOTP** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:52 am

OK----Time to summarize. (2004 vs. 2005)

Total votes: 04-137, 05-149
Zero tuba/euph income: 04-19%, 05-28%
$1-$500: 04-16%, 05-14%
$501-$5000: 04-31%, 05-20%
$5001-$50000: 04-24%, 05-25% (two categories combined)
Over $50000: 04-8% , 05-10%

What does this all mean?

I dunno----you tell me!

LOTP

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:55 am

SÃ¸ren wrote:...Maybe there are more tubists in America than Europe?

Yes. There are.

Yutakatuba · Post by **Yutakatuba** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 3:15 pm

Do we include what we made from teaching tuba/euphonium also? Or, is it strictly for playing only?

LOTP · Post by **LOTP** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:56 pm

Playing only.

LOTP

TubeNet

Tuba Income

How much did you make in 2005 playing tuba or euph?