4th of July gigs: c. 90° - 97°

[k001k47]

Take the brass sousaphone and install a grill - to keep fried burritos on (they'll stay toasty) - in the throat of the bell: it will produce that oft-jested tuba tone. (toot)

but I would imagine the metal one feels warmer, even if it is a placebo. Also, really hot mouthpieces are no fun at all

[toobaa]

One better: a little rigging, a little polish, and i bet the metal one could be turned into an awesome solar cooker. A little extra money on the side.

[imperialbari]

Deafness in the horn section will save them from much selfinflicted pain.

Klaus

[Mark Horne]

Got 2 gigs on the 4th - forecast highs 100-105. First one starts during the hottest part of the day. We've been promised a canopy this year. Still expect to need about 3 inches more tuning slide than I have.

[Mark]

Deafness in the horn section will save them from much selfinflicted pain.

Klaus

It doesn't save the rest of us from horn-inflicted pain.

[iiipopes]

Got 2 gigs on the 4th - forecast highs 100-105. First one starts during the hottest part of the day. We've been promised a canopy this year. Still expect to need about 3 inches more tuning slide than I have.

You could always go the other way: shove & transpose down 1/2 step! (As he runs and ducks for cover )

Yesterday evening I played with a regional community band for their annual evening celebration accompanying the fireworks. Being a small community band with the city having a decent fireworks budget, there were times when we were drowned out by the fireworks. A friend of mine who is a retired Army warrant officer helicopter pilot sits in with his perfectly restored 1929 Conn Bass BBb saxophone. He sounds great on it. There is as much or more brass in that beast as in a lot of new student tubas. So he is an honorary member of the tuba section. As there are no bass sax parts anymore, he has to basically (pun intended) write his own part for everything from a combination of tuba parts, the string bass parts (which are being much maligned right now in another thread), bari sax, bass clarinet and bassoon parts. Sometimes, though, he just doesn't get the correct octave and he's occasionally lower than we are. Oh, well....

[bearphonium]

With respect to bloke's original question, I have no clue, nor a basis for comparison. I, too, think that the sparkly sousaphone is a winner all the time. I know that hot weather makes the sousaphone player cranky, and not have too good of heat exchange. I will play 3 gigs on the Fourth, one with the Tuba Ensemble in the park at 8:30 a.m. the parade with the marching band, and a concert after the parade with the marching band. Then, for fun, I'm going to the symphonic band's concert in the park in the evening. To listen.

[Outawind]

Latrobe, PA is the birthplace of Arnold Palmer and Fred Rogers, and the home of Rolling Rock beer. Latrobe holds a very large parade every July 4th, and my King BBb Sousaphone and I were there, along with the rest of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department Band (organized 1935). About 90 degrees, with humidity to match, and pretty sunny. Ten-march parade. The King likes warm weather - notes seem to come out faster, and no bell echo. My buddy on the fiberglass horn and I were going to compare notes on sousaphone performance after the parade, but the beer guy came along - - -

BTW, the gentleman 3rd from the left in the back row is my dad - still playing 1st cornet at age 84 - pretty cool!

MPFVD Band 04 Jul 11 A.jpg

[opus37]

I played with the Two Harbors City Band on June 30th it was 52 with a wind off the lake (Lake Superior that is). I played on the 4th (mostly Sousa Marches) it was 80. We have a band shell built in 1937 (WPA money I think). This band has been continuously uniformed and been playing since 1897. Some members have been playing for over 50 years. This band is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. But it is great fun and the crowd loves it.

[toobagrowl]

I was to sub for a local orchestra to play last night for the big 4th of July gig.....but it was rained out We all got there and waited an hour and a half and they finally told us it was cancelled due to weather. Sucks cuz I was really looking forward to it as we programmed about 25 or so pieces to play. At least the storm lowered the temp down to the low 70s last night...

[sloan]

Rained out. Bummer.