Livability?

[imperialbari]

Without being too specific a not so metropolitan US orchestra has had its members experience the opposite situation. Teaching positions associated with the status of being core members of the orchestra and been held for a decade or more were puff gone with less than short notice this last summer.

Some years ago a southern US orchestra had a young tubist winning an audition and moving down from a state bordering on Canada. Whereafter the orchestra very soon folded its activities.

I think orchestras should think of their members being humans who need to pay for a normal life.

On a similar note a Danish pop-rock-star, king of our dance halls, 200 concerts a year, only some months older than me, died unexpectedly hours within 2011. Very sad in its own right, but a disaster for his band members through a whole lot of years. There is no way the band can continue, and these musicians have had no chance to do parallel careers. But it is hard to blame a man for dying. That’s kind of human too.

Klaus

[Tom]

Here is a hypothetical situation: (or not, NJSO *cough*)

How much commitment* ie rehearsal time would incorporated in that week? 2 four hour rehearsals and warmup Th, Fri, Sat, Sun performances? more less? Does the orchestra go out of its way to provide the fledgeling tubist (with no connections for gigs and a family to feed) with additional contacts for giging / teaching / university gig?

I doubt that they would have more than 3 rehearsals at 2.5 hours each per concert cycle of 3-4 performances. This is more-or-less "industry standard" and is basically how we set the schedule up at the orchestra where I work (in management---not as principal tubist).

I would be shocked if the orchestra put forth any effort to line up outside work for it's members. This is definitely not typically done. It's on you to hustle for your own money/outside gigs/students.

Te job is what it is...no more, no less.

[bort]

Would it be possible to do freelance/contract work related to your "real" job?

In my industry, there are quite a few people I know who make a good living from freelance work (I realize that's not exactly a usual situation). But if possible, do that 20 hours/week and do the orchestra gig the rest of the time, and see where that leads you.

Lots of if's in there, I know.

[BAtlas]

Would it be possible to do freelance/contract work related to your "real" job?

I actually know a Bass Trombonist who makes his living playing in an orchestra who picked up a second job as a waiter simply because he had extra time and it was extra money.

[jtuba]

Don't forget you can collect unemployment during the off months, unless you can find seasonal work.

[Stefan]

I have not read the other responses, but I will say this. The prospective candidate needs to take into consideration all of these variables and decide if this is a job they want to try out for. I looked at it briefly and realized that financially I could not do this job. Other people will do the same. If you fly out from California to audition, win the job, and move your family out there - I would hope you considered your finances.

For this job, it makes a lot of sense that someone already established in the area would be the most likely candidates. Someone who already is available for rehearsals and has other work going on.

Stefan

[JHardisk]

Here is a hypothetical situation: (or not, NJSO *cough*)

Let's say an audition is on the radar that pays a base salary of 30K (+min 20% for principle = 36K min)/ year with a 27 week commitment*. This hypothetical orchestra resides in one of the most expensive urban areas of the country. Tubists will come from all over the country to gun for this one position where the salary is not livable. Let us presume the position is won by an individual who has a family and moves to the large metro area.

Ben,

I have to question your math, and try to offer a different perspective. On my count, this particular job pays quite a bit more than $30K base. The weekly base salary multipled by 27 weeks is $35.4K. Add the MINIMUM of 20% for a principal position, and you're looking at $42.4K. This is the absolute bare bones pay for this position, which does not include the REACH engagements, which are indicated at a higher scale.

For 27 weeks, and 20 hrs/week, that's decent scratch. Granted, it's not the end all of jobs.

That being said, hustling in a major metropolitan area is not as tough as one might imagine. You've got colleagues in the orchestra who very likely play local gigs. That's hook-up number 1. Then, you call the local tuba "big wigs" (And there are many in that metro area) and shoot the breeze, have a beer, take a lesson, etc... They get familiar with your playing. You only work 27 weeks, and that makes you have far more free time than they do. You can start taking the gigs that they cannot. Additionally, being the "new guy" who just won a job usually means that students will flock to tap your audition/playing "wisdom".

All this is assuming that the selected auditionee has zero ties to that metro area already. The income opportunities are far more if the winner actually knows people in that area. (And by area, it can be NYC, NJ, Philly).

Since you're speaking in terms of someone with a family, one can't assume that a spouse can't get employment relatively quickly. It is not uncommon for an orchestral musician (especially one who is auditioning) to have a spouse with a portable career.

Am I arguing that this is a VERY liveable job? No way! But, it is a possibility for even someone with a family. Consider the tubists in the past year that just lost employment, when their orchestra folded, or went on strike. I'm sure that $42K salary sounds pretty good.

I'd guarantee that there will be 70-100 aspiring tubists audition for this job. It's the only US audition in the past 12 months or so, and there are a lot of hungry tubists out there. (No pun intended)

[Matt Walters]

Ben and/or whomever wins the NJSO tuba job,

The answer is "You do without to do what you want". 17 years ago I moved to New Jersey and accepted a salary of half what I was making as an Aircraft Mechanic in West Virginia. I now make just over what I made back in West Virginia. Financially that income for the NJSO job is not a good living in New Jersy, but it can open doors for many other money making opportunities that could come out better than what a schlep like me makes. The thing is, I have always loved tubas more than I like to play so this is what I do. Before I met my wife and had a second household income, all I could afford was a clean, neat, trailer (so no neighbors above or below me to complain if I practiced), visiting family and friends on the cheap as a vacation, Sunday lunch out was the free samples at Costco, and entertaining myself doing personal tuba projects in the off hours that made me more valuable to Dillon Music which earned me a few pay raises. I wanted to repair and be around tubas. Yes, most of my local (non-musician) friends make 2 or more times what I make and complain they can't make ends meet. They also have a lot more "toys" sitting in the driveway they don't use much because they are working overtime to make the payments.

If you want to play professionally and get enjoyment from it, you'll find a way to make it work and be happy most days doing it. If you just want to make big money, then do something else and play the tuba for fun. Yeah, I wish I got payed more but just chasing dollars wouldn't have brought me to New Jersey where I do a job I like (most days) as an instrument repairman, and I met the love of my life. Not saying I would turn down a pay raise or two.

Without being stupid, chase your dream while you can. Reality will catch up soon enough.

[Tubaryan12]

Without being stupid, chase your dream while you can. Reality will catch up soon enough.

Truer words have never been typed. You have your entire life to work a job that sucks. Most of us only get one chance (if any) to do what we really want to.

[bort]

What, the paychecks from the BSO and GVO wouldn't make up the differnce?

The other (maybe) unfortunate thing is that it's in New Jersey... I don't mean that as a cheap shot to New Jersey, but rather that it's across the river from Manhattan. Depending on where you live and where you're going, that can take a bit of time, will cost extra $$ for transit, etc. It's really not far away as the crow flies, but if you're constantly taking side jobs/gigs in both NY and NJ, all that back and forth might be taxing. Then again, I've only done that commute a few times and never got used to it. Maybe it's not actually that bad, and I'm just be talking out my br*** right now.

[Bob Kolada]

Is selling/ditching (part of) the family an option?

How do you think I live the "high life" at noticeably under 20k a year?

[bort]

Ben, I will never complain about my commute ever again. Hope you can clock some time (or sleep) on the train.

[GC]

Good to hear from you again, Matt. Please don't be a stranger.

[Tundratubast]

An ovation for Matt; A great technician and Philosophically Sane, well said. Their is more to life than the paycheck!

[awaters]

There are very few second chances in life. If you've got a shot take it..."regrets...I've had a few" good luck