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[TubaRay]

I believe 5'x5' is an adequate amount of space. In the situations where I usually perform, I am in a wind ensemble(usually 5'x5' or better), a concert band(that size or slightly less), and our church orchestra(rarely that large).

This is a significant issue to me in our church orchestra. Our church is large enought that the music director doesn't have to set up the chairs. They have custodial staff do this. That would be OK if the director would make the necessary adjustments. She doesn't. The tuba player gets the same amount of space as a clarinet or trumpet player. There are times I have less than 1 sq. yd.(3'x3'). This tends to really affect my attitude. It leaves me with no room to manuever, and psychologically no room to breathe. We performed recently for an Ash Wednesday service which I barely had time to get to my seat before it was time to play. The entire orchestra had already gotten there when I had to lug my tuba into the middle of the setup. I had only enough room to hold the horn on my lap the whole time(in playing position). This happened because I had no opportunity to cheat on the amount of space I am given. If this were to occur every time, I would have to give serious consideration to quit playing with this group. I don't want to do this, but I consider the situation to be unreasonable.

So to get back to your original question(you can see this is a real issue to me), I believe 5'x5' is about right, although I would agree with Doc that 6'x6' is just about ideal.

[TubaSteve]

I would think that 5 X 5 is plenty. I would love to have that much space. I also have the situation where the director in one band I play in is a trumpet player and doesn't think that we need any more room than anyone else. I rather value my horn and I hate to have conditons that place me so close to others that I risk having my horn damaged because there is not enough room. We had one concert last fall where we were given 2 1/2 X 3 for us to play. There was certainly no place to put the horn down, and hardly enough room to take a good breath. They first had it so that the folding chairs that we sat on were touching the one next to it. We complained and ended up taking one chair out, but there was still no more than 4" between the chairs. Fortunately one of the other bands I am in, we can have close to that 5 X 5 space.

Steve

[Rick Denney]

We get at least 5x5 in our group. That's enforced by me. I'm the band president, and the music director is a tuba player. We get what we need, heh, heh.

Tuba players must have room to perform a complete spin of the instrument to get water out. Some instruments don't require this, of course, but you can't predict who will and won't in the future when making these plans. My instrument is 39" tall and has a turning diameter of at least four feet. That leaves only 6 inches on each side for clearance in a 5x5' square.

And tuba players must have a way to put their instrument on the floor--expecting them to change music between tunes with one hand is inviting disaster. Again, some seem more than able to do that, but I've seen a lot of music hit the floor in my years.

A demonstration of the required spin might illustrate the need to the decision makers.

Rick "who also provides much more depth for the trombone section, but who wishes the trumpet players would leave their cases outside the band area" Denney

[USTuba08]

In my band, I'm lucky to get 4'x4'. Real crowded sometimes.

[windshieldbug]

If you go for less, how soon will it be that the drummers squeeze that space down, too?

You've got your director's support, run with it!

[GC]

With horns like mine (see picture at left), I really need 3 ft. or more just on the right to keep from walloping whoever's there when I turn the horn on its side.

[Mark]

I think that 5 x 5 is the minimum and that Doc's 6 x 6 is ideal. Unless the bass trombonist is "Stinky" Peterson.

[Wyvern]

In my experience in brass bands, it is not unusual to only get 3' x 3'. I remember one in a church when it was more like 2' wide with a ding if tuba moved 3 inches either way! (thankfully before I got my new tuba)

Even in the orchestra, less than 4' x 4' is not unusual. I would think 5' x 5' wonderful


Jonathan "who always likes to sit on the end of row"

[Dan Schultz]

5 x 5 is OK for a tuba player. Of course... there are trumpet players who will think they need that much space, too!

[trseaman]

I hate to put limits like that on anyone unless of course there is a reason. Let's face it, we've got big horns and we need room. We don't want to bump the stand, our neighbor or that trumpet player in front of us... (there are exceptions!) So if there's room and you've got cooperation from the director or facilities that might be in charge of setting up the risers, then go for it! Give yourself all the breathing room you need!

Tim

[tbn.al]

[In brass bands (in the UK), quashing as close together as possible seems to be encouraged. Even on a large concert stage this will be done - I believe to encourage tight ensemble playing.

Tell the conductor that in order to encourage the players to listen more closely to each other you need to spread out. That will at least allow some breathing room. My orchestra plays on a rather small theater stage and the back row sound always goes up into the black hole never to be heard again. In order to avoid this the drummers come in before rehearsal and push everyone forward until it is untenable. We did the Glazounov Finnish Fantasy last week with two tubas. Boy was that tight. $@^%$&*$ drummers! Not to mention trying to hear the violins with a cymbal crash 8 inches behind your head.

[windshieldbug]

Well, you're right, Dan...but the 5X5 they need is head room, not floor space

5x7 if you include the horn...

[LoyalTubist]

I usually had to settle for 4' x 4'.

[tubatooter1940]

The three of us Creekers were on a stage the other day I considered small. It made me think of a smaller stage at an Atlanta Holiday Inn that our seven piece road band crowded together on. We had two girl singers out front who danced when they were not singing. I am still amused to remember how the drummer's wife cussed him while maintaining that big smile when she frequently backed into his cymbals.
"My head's in the bedroom, my feets in the hall. Every time I smile, my teeth hit the wall."

[WakinAZ]

there are trumpet players who will think they need that much space, too!

Some trumpet players need that space just for their heads (these are usually the ones whose entire skill set consists of various high, loud squeals)

Eric "who arrives early and sits at the end of the row" L.