If you want to make a lot of money then do something else for a living and be a tuba player on the side. The best tuba players in the world make 100k-150k a year, but that's not a lot of money when you think that if you were one of the world's top Doctors, Lawyers, Businesspersons, or just about any other profession, you'd be making a heck of a lot more.
Success as a tuba player cannot be defined by money. Was Alan Baer not a successful tuba player until he got a job that paid more than 80k (the New York Phil)? I don't think so.
Being a successful tubist
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bigboymusic
- 3 valves
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:54 am
- Location: Independence, MO
What has helped me tremendously over the years is the big word from bloke. VERSATILITY! I try and teach my kids that you can be an orchestral tubist, or you can be a tuba player. i prefer the tuba player 99% of the time. Know the difference between Chicago Dixie and N.O. Dixie as well as Dvorak and Brahms. Also don't forget the biggie.
Being at the right place at the right time! I was at the U of A in Tucson when there were really just three of us to handle all the big playing. It was not ASU or Indiana, but I played a LOT of literature WITH the ensembles rather than in the studio to my instructor.
Oh yeah, shmooze like a big dog....
Paul 'practice, patience, and who you know has helped me' Weissenborn
Being at the right place at the right time! I was at the U of A in Tucson when there were really just three of us to handle all the big playing. It was not ASU or Indiana, but I played a LOT of literature WITH the ensembles rather than in the studio to my instructor.
Oh yeah, shmooze like a big dog....
Paul 'practice, patience, and who you know has helped me' Weissenborn
Paul Weissenborn
St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra (MO)
Spirit of Independence Band
SJSO Quintet
Alex 163 CC
YEB 321S
St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra (MO)
Spirit of Independence Band
SJSO Quintet
Alex 163 CC
YEB 321S
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TubaRay
- 6 valves
- Posts: 4109
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:24 pm
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Contact:
Being a successful tubist
I agree with your comments, Paul. To be a tuba player allows one to have a better shot at making a little money. In my case, I work as a school band director and play as much as my job will let me. I have been somewhat selective of the jobs I have taken. It is important that I not take a job which demands ABSOLUTELY ALL of my life, time, and energy. In addition to this, I have made money playing the following types of gigs: brass quintet, tuba euphonium quartet, polka band, orchestra, etc. In fact, I rarely rule something out. Versatility and reliability are quite important.
Ray Grim
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
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Dylan King
- YouTube Tubist
- Posts: 1602
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 1:56 am
- Location: Weddington, NC, USA.
- Contact:
Tommy Johnson once told me that he thinks he may be the most successful tuba player in the world. I believe it. All of those first call double and triple scale gigs for so many years. And the royalty checks that just keep rolling in.
But don't forget. Tommy himself taught Jr. high school here in Los Angeles for twenty years before he could make enough money in the studios to do it full time. All the while he was principal tubist in the 20th Century Fox orchestra.
But of course when it comes to studio playing there are only two tubists in Hollywood who make their living doing it. And now with all of the great samples that we composers can use, and smaller and smaller budgets for music, even Tommy and Jim Self don't get nearly as much work as they used to.
But don't forget. Tommy himself taught Jr. high school here in Los Angeles for twenty years before he could make enough money in the studios to do it full time. All the while he was principal tubist in the 20th Century Fox orchestra.
But of course when it comes to studio playing there are only two tubists in Hollywood who make their living doing it. And now with all of the great samples that we composers can use, and smaller and smaller budgets for music, even Tommy and Jim Self don't get nearly as much work as they used to.