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This is based on the thread about the West Virginia Symphony where there was some talk about the great distances musicians have to travel for a paying gig. It got me wondering about how mobile we Tuba/Euph players are. How far have you been willing to drive for a gig? Be it principal tuba of X per-service orchestra, or a one-time Easter gig, or jazz band, or whatever. Feel free to share stories of your travels.

I would add to ST's post, the quality of the people you are performing with.

At 50¢ per mile, and given enough time to drive, recover, play, recover and drive home, I can travel some distances. Mileage charges kick in at over 50 miles round trip.

I have had to travel thousands of miles for some gigs--of course, air transportation was provided. Driving to a gig, I think the longest I have had to travel is 250 miles (Riverside to Vegas) and cartage + mileage really added up. I think I earned more in driving than I did for the gig!

Roger Lewis wrote:I would add to ST's post, the quality of the people you are performing with.

Agreed! "Who" and "how much" are important factors.

Is that one-way or round trip!?

...Also what the music is. If it is Wagner Siegfried a long way - if it was Dvorák New World Symphony, not very far.

I would drive that far to play the "New World Symphony." You get paid the same and you don't nearly feel so tired after the concert!

Just don't ask a soprano, "How far would you go for a gig?"

MartyNeilan wrote:Just don't ask a soprano, "How far would you go for a gig?"

(She probably already has, and will wonder if you were watching... )

For 8 of the last 11 years I've driven 100 miles to my kids' university (all 3 went to the same school) to help out the band and brass ensemble at graduation and baccalaureate services. The university houses and feeds me but I get no financial remuneration. For the more usual gigs, I rarely have to drive more than 30 or 40 miles.

Paul

bloke wrote:bloke "Didn't Al Baer ride his motorcycle from NYC (or, at least, Milwaukee) to Denver to play with the NYPO?"

Yes, but weren't they in residence in Denver? Is this one of those questions that is not supposed to be answered? If I got the opportunity to play with the NYPO, I would drive WHEREVER they wanted me to!!

Ralph

TexTuba wrote: If I got the opportunity to play with the NYPO, I would drive WHEREVER they wanted me to!!
Ralph

I've gotta agree with Ralph on this one. There are those opportunities one does not turn down.

In the 70's we carpooled 80 miles each way to a nice club gig 5 nights a week.
We drove straight thru from Alabama to Caseville, Michigan and back to play three times in five days at a fun music festival. They put us up on a nice boat in the harbor and we got to wander the town and enjoy the great music and cheeseburgers.
Have tuba will travel.