Duct Tape Saves the Day!

The bulk of the musical talk
Post Reply
Jess Lightner
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:06 am

Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by Jess Lightner »

Tubenetters-

A few weeks ago, I had a gig at the pentagon. Air Force Pentagon awards ceremony, or something of the sort. It's an air force brass quintet job- play some pre-game, maybe the anthem, and the air force song at the end. A routine, everyday sort of affair for those of us in the service bands.

Earlier that day, when I gave the mouthpiece pouch a pre-departure pat (to insure there actually was a mouthpiece present in my case), everything checked out. Mouthpiece-shaped item was indeed there.

At the gig, however, this proved to be the only mouthpiece-shaped item I had...
Image

Oh dear! A suggestion from the trombonist, and some borrowed duct tape from the sound guys.... Voila!
Image

How did it sound? Eh... not great. But not so bad, either.

Whew.

By the way, if I don't have enough skill to take an actual mouthpiece to a gig, don't count on me posting pictures that work...
TubaRay
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 4109
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:24 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact:

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by TubaRay »

Impressive improvisational skills, though!
Ray Grim
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
User avatar
TubaBobH
bugler
bugler
Posts: 123
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:26 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by TubaBobH »

Someone needs to ask, so I will be the one. What is the story behind the "partial" mouthpiece that you inadvertently took to the gig?
Bob Horuff
King 1241UB
MF-2B / Conn 120s / Kelly 18

If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music."
[Kurt Vonnegut]
Jess Lightner
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:06 am

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by Jess Lightner »

The cut-out mouthpiece is just a practice tool- a cross between a BERP and a rim. You can buzz on it with it inserted in the instrument and finger at the same time, or just hold it in your hand.

I think I stole- oops, borrowed- this particular one from Scott Watson ten years ago.
User avatar
bearphonium
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1077
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Making mischief in the back row at 44, 1' 49"N, 123, 8'10"W

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by bearphonium »

Adapt, improvise and overcome!
Mirafone 186 BBb
VMI 201 3/4 BBb
King Sousaphone
Conn 19I 4-valve non-comp Euph


What Would Xena Do?
User avatar
windshieldbug
Once got the "hand" as a cue
Once got the "hand" as a cue
Posts: 11516
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:41 pm
Location: 8vb

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by windshieldbug »

Other uses... http://www.ducttapeguys.com/diner" target="_blank
Instead of talking to your plants, if you yelled at them would they still grow, but only to be troubled and insecure?
User avatar
JHardisk
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 439
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:46 pm
Contact:

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by JHardisk »

Ha! Thanks for sharing that Jess!

Not only did I laugh my butt off, but so did the people in my band who were eating breakfast with me on tour!
~John Hardisky
User avatar
iiipopes
Utility Infielder
Utility Infielder
Posts: 8580
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:10 am

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by iiipopes »

I don't know whether to laugh heartily or look around warily as it could happen to me!
Jupiter JTU1110
"Real" Conn 36K
User avatar
David Richoux
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1957
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:52 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, mostly. Also Greater Seattle at times.

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by David Richoux »

I only have had one "forgotten mouthpiece" experience - playing in the Churchill Street Jazz Band for a "Gatsby Night" party at UC Berkeley - about 30 miles from home. I was more than half way there when I decided to recheck my gig bag for mouthpiece, nothing! Since it was 7 PM already, I knew all the music stores would be closed, so I headed over the Bay Bridge to San Francisco. Turk Murphy's jazz band was playing every night at Earthquake McGoon's and I knew Bill Carroll was there on tuba. Luckily he had an extra mouthpiece I could borrow, so I got it (and arrived at the gig just in time for the downbeat.) This was long before cell phones - I had no assurance Bill would have an extra mouthpiece...
User avatar
imperialbari
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 7461
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 3:47 am

Re: Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Post by imperialbari »

Anybody tried to make such visualizer/buzzer on basis of a Kelly plastic mpc?

Klaus

PS: I know who will be back in 5 minutes after a visit to the garage and tell: Yes, I have!
Post Reply