recital - several instruments - temperature/intonation

[bloke]

There's a brass quintet recital (ok...they're calling it a "concert") Sunday afternoon.
For various reasons, I've chosen to play diverse pieces on diverse instruments:
(NOT in the order of the recital)

C tuba - a boisterous fanfare and a typical multi-strains march
cimbasso - some trombone/bass trombone duets
rotary baritone - a Renaissance-era work and a Baroque era work, both with parts in the "bass-baritone" range - in-and-well-above the staff
F tuba - everything else

I would like to be able to pick up each of these instruments and have them be warm when I need to play them - to avoid amateurishly delaying the program and (not particularly nice to watch) blowing air through them to warm them up to pitch, and would also obviously like to avoid having to "lip" their pitch 10c or more during the first minute of the first piece after an instrument change.

This will be in a church...probably not in the sanctuary...I'm thinking probably in an attractive big-windows / high-ceilings fellowship hall. The outdoor temperature - at the time the recital commences - will probably be in the upper 50's. Even if there is a nearby HVAC vent, I really can't rely - due to the fairly warm temperature (and the glass windows) - on it consistently blowing heat.

I have these things that I could look around blokePlace and round up:
> heating pads
> an old NO FAN round electric radiant heater with a heating element within
(like this: http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/272020281989-0-1/s-l1000.jpg )

I don't want to use anything that has a fan, for obvious reasons (noise).
I'll be smart about this; I'll show up early, set things up, and figure out how to avoid getting an instrument too warm, but "too warm" - in my experience - cools down FASTER THAN "too cool" warms up.
I probably can get by with only ONE heating device (pad or the old heating element round thing), because I only need to be heating up the NEXT instrument to be played...as long as I think ahead.

Are there better suggestions from the TNFJ - that will demonstrate the folly of my ideas ?
I just don't want to ask the personnel manager to hold my "next" instrument.
I'm thinking the old round heater (no fan / heating element / HD extension cord) is the best thing I've come up with so far...(??)

[BHawk]

You need a roadie to stand off stage gently blowing air through your various axes. Then they just bring them out on stage to you. It'd be just like the guys who bring out the guitars to the big rock stars. I'm sure if you offer a 6 pack you could get some college tuba player to do it.

[timothy42b]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HHWSV1S/?c ... erieats-20

Just add water. And, if desired, steak (can't remember if you're a vegan or not.)

[bloke]

You need a roadie to stand off stage gently blowing air through your various axes. Then they just bring them out on stage to you. It'd be just like the guys who bring out the guitars to the big rock stars. I'm sure if you offer a 6 pack you could get some college tuba player to do it.

As silly as this is, my son would be willing to do it, but I'm pretty sure there is no "backstage". (yeah...I considered this as an option, and he said he'd do it, but I'm trying to decide which would be more distracting...the no-noise radiant heater, or him keeping an instrument warm.)

[Three Valves]

I have my wife breathing thru mine off stage.

She’s a trooper!!

[Three Valves]

BTW~What does the bloke-O-scope say the instrument actually warms up to??

If the tuba is room temperature at 72, and you put your 96 breath thru it, does it warm up to 80??

[LibraryMark]

Now there's an idea for an invention - a machine that blows warm moist air through a horn when not in use.

[cjk]

Lay the standby instruments on an electric blanket which is spread out on the floor, plugged in and on?

[bloke]

Lay the standby instruments on an electric blanket which is spread out on the floor, plugged in and on?

yup...My two mainly-considered choices are electric blanket and radiant heater.

I'm just weary of cold instruments...10c - 15c flat...lip them up...tend to crack pitches...

[ScotGJ]

I have not tried it but what about chemical hand warmer packs in the case or bag? I use these when I backpack and they can really warm up a sleeping bag when it is below freezing out. Just a thought...

[nworbekim]

The electric blanket or hand warmers with the instruments covered with a comforter thingie... (My wife keeps one of those on the bed and it burns me up...) were the first things I thought of.

[bloke]

It’s all set up with the antique radiant heater with the heating element built into the middle of the dish. It’s going to work out quite well. ‘ now lunching at waffle house, into the electrin purple shirt, and it’s onward and upward !

[Oldschooltuba]

what you needed is someone to keep things "up" to temperature. I am thinking a puffer can keep things up.

[bloke]

The radiant heater was silent, wasn't noticeable (glowing heating element faced away from the patrons), and kept the grouping of instruments (to my best judgement) a few degrees above room temperature.
None felt cold to the touch, and - regardless of which of the four instruments, when picked up - I wasn't cracking notes attempting to "lip them up", so I rate this as a "win".

I wonder when this thing was made. The cord is cloth-insulated, so there's no way that I would plug it in and walk away from it. Of course, being from the era from which it came, there's no "safety tip" shut-off feature. That having been said, the back side of it doesn't get particularly hot, and - past the cage - it's not fire-starting hot, either.
This factory was in business in Cape Girardeau, Missouri from 1938 until 1982.

[Tubamaphone]

Just throwing in my two cents after the fact. A silicone rubber heating mat could work. Like the one here:
https://www.briskheat.com/srw-standard- ... .html#tab2

You could put the bell on it and the heat would conduct, it is invisible to the audience (mostly), totally silent! Oh and the grippy material is good for your horn not falling over.

[swillafew]

A musician on tour calls what you are looking for a "roadie".

[MaryAnn]

Joe, I have three of those of the modern version, called the Presto Heat Dish. My heat source for years now. Much cheaper than running a furnace since we rarely go below freezing here.

[bloke]

It very effectively kept a baritone, bass tuba, and contrabass tuba - all resting on their bells, and a cimbasso - on its stand, warm-but-not-overheated for me...and - with no fan - no whirring noise.