The way we(tuba players) look

[Doug@GT]

Next time you go to a store that sells men's suits, ask about the "athletic" cut and you'll see where I'm coming from.

Got two of those. Best suits I ever wore. Everything else fits "tight."

Doug "not very athletic, though"

[ThomasDodd]

Then the real question for an in depth sociological study is whether a specific personality type is attracted to the instrument or whether the instrument has some influence on the personality of the player.

I vote for the horn influencing the player.

Sure, here's an initial infauation most of us had with the bass, and it's power. But I've seen too many people that were forced to play tuba at first that aquired the personality. Even trumpet players cannot withstand the force the horn has.

[manatee]

Re: "Never met an unfriendly tuba player". It is so odd when you do. There is this one fellow I know who speaks to no one. He is a great player. I assume he has a lot going on in his life.
Along those same lines, women low brass players can be be quite stand offish, as they are used to be getting hit on ALL the time. Big fish in small ponds, they sometimes grow very large egos.

Re: trumpets. I was playing at the UNLV trombone thing a few years ago and I took my bass trombone to the back row, where it became clear I was not part of the gang. I recognized a friend sitting in the fourths and joined him as this is a two day affair and no place to be unhappy for that duration. I mentioned it to the facillitator in an email afterwards and he apologized for the bass trombonists, "acting like trumpet players".

[MaryAnn]

I could fit in my gig bag, but couldn't most people?

Speak for yourself, sweetie!

Doc (Who, for better or worse, is not "most people")

Ha ha! I hadn't thought of it, but I could perhaps squeeze into my CC gig bag. Funny!

New contest: how many tiny women tuba players can you fit in a BAT gig bag?

MA

[MaryAnn]

Then the real question for an in depth sociological study is whether a specific personality type is attracted to the instrument or whether the instrument has some influence on the personality of the player.

I never, ever fit in as a violinist; couldn't figure out why those people were so damn competetive and stuck up. Then I switched to horn and found a whole raft of people I liked; then when I started tuba I swear I found my niche....tuba players are just flat out the nicest people I've ever found. I think the person is attracted to the instrument, and those who fit, stay.

MA

[TubaRay]

All the tubists I have ever met, have been really nice people - they are always the first to help out at concerts, etc. You could never mistake a tubist for a violinist!

As long as we substitute "most" for "all," I can agree. MOST of the people I talked with at the Army Band Conference were really nice people. There was this one jerk, however....

[Chuck(G)]

I never, ever fit in as a violinist; couldn't figure out why those people were so damn competetive and stuck up. Then I switched to horn and found a whole raft of people I liked; then when I started tuba I swear I found my niche....tuba players are just flat out the nicest people I've ever found. I think the person is attracted to the instrument, and those who fit, stay.

MaryAnn, I don't think it's being stuck-up; I think it's more of a case of insecurity. Violinists get genuine solos and are judged ruthlessly on what comes out of their instrument and face the prospect of jillions of Suzuki kids making their way up through the ranks, waiting to take their job.

Not the way I'd want to make a living, that's fer sure.

I note that they warm up quite a bit iif you toss 'em a compliment or two on their playing.

[Rick Denney]

There is a bit of self-selection, but more likely there is some selection by the beginning band director. I'm sure mine saw me walk into the 7th-grade call for band recruits, and immediately perceived someone who could sit in that Wenger tuba chair and reach the mouthpiece using only two bits.

Rick "who passed 200 pounds in the 8th grade" Denney

[ahowle]

I'd fall under the beanpole type...

[Captain Sousie]

Doc (still waiting for the Tubenet thong model and the hot chicks tuba calendar )

The real problem is that it will be Joe and Wayne modeling the thongs or butt floss as we prefer to call them.

Thanks for that.

Dave "going to poke out my mind's eye now" Martin

[Kevin Hendrick]

great idea, we can have a gig bag modelling contest on TubaNews!

click here for Hot Chicks in Gig Bags

I'll probably win the modelling contest though, I'm sort of in with the editors.

Just curious how many out there tried to click on "Hot Chicks in Gig Bags"?

Looks like about 23, at last count ... or was that 10**23?

How about that male calendar of tuba players?
You know, strategically placed mouthpieces? (Not trumpet ones I hope )

Cap'n Sousie's Wife

G&W Bayamos from first page to last, I'd bet!

[Kevin Hendrick]

Looks like about 23, at last count ... or was that 10**23?

Nope, that was Avagadro's number: 6.02*10 to the 23rd power. Sorry, that was the chemistry student in me having a say, but it was an open invitation.

Glad you picked up on it!

[jaredsan]

Tuba players are definitely more, uh, excited than other players in band.. at least in high school and apparently in this forum. So, being Mormon, I've never quite fit in with the low brass society, in a certain social aspect.

But the fact is tuba players are the nicest people around. I've met a few showoffs, but I've never met a jerk tubist.

Trumpet players, on the other hand...

[hurricane_harry]

How about that male calendar of tuba players?
You know, strategically placed mouthpieces? (Not trumpet ones I hope )

Cap'n Sousie's Wife

G&W Bayamos from first page to last, I'd bet!

What, no clear Kellyburgs?

Cap'n Sousie's Wife

*goes in corner starts shouting*
CLEAR KELLYBURGS CLEAR KELLYBURGSCLEAR KELLYBURGSCLEAR KELLYBURGSCLEAR KELLYBURGS