Tooting Tuba at Wal-mart

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:14 pm

I believe I got the idea from a post by Elephant on this forum. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.
He played tuba carols while the Salvation Army bell ringers took a break. It was a positive experience for him and a lot of fun for those who got to hear him.
I got inspired by this wonderful Christmas spirit. I did it too. It was so cool. I had 10 or 12 carols ready to play by ear if I could remember what key they were in.

I made a list and checked it at least twice.
I called the Salvation Army guy and he is a tuba player too.

He was happy to have me play any time I could make it by Walmart on the agreed Friday and Saturday.
I lugged my tuba and a drum throne to sit on. I left my Tuba Tamer at home. I thought the bell ringers (one at each entrance) would break when I showed up but they both preferred to hang out and ring bells along with me. We had a great time and I understand contributions spiked up during our performance. Customers and employees alike stopped by with nice things to say and I was glad I came.
I get so many great ideas from reading Tubenet.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:57 am

Been there, done that, the local head of the Salvation Army called a reporter and got me into the local paper for it:

http://www.christiancountyheadliner.com ... 3534&rfi=6

It's better if you call in advance and schedule, so you can really give a bell ringer a break.

I don't know which was more rewarding: seeing the children giggle when you played "Jingle Bells" or "Frosty," or when people actually stopped, and instead of just change, they reached in their wallets and peeled off bills for the kettle.

Good job!

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:03 pm

iiipopes, Did anybody try to put money down your bell? They asked me if they should put it in there and I warned that if they did nobody might ever see it again.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:55 pm

They didn't actually try, but oh, they did comment on that! When such a comment would be made, I would just grin and look at the kettle. They got the hint.

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:25 pm

I did something similar about 12 years ago. I was coming home from college with my horn in the back of the car, and went to the grocery store with my mom to pick some things up on the way home. On the way in, I heard a guy playing carols on the tuba, and stopped to chat with him. I went and grabbed my horn and we played cornet duets for a half an hour or so. This led to the two of us playing duets at a few church gigs that Chrismas. That was a really great Christmas.