How many musicians can you squeeze in a small space?

[Rick Denney]

Yes, but I'm getting less and less tolerant of it. Horns cost money as does maintaining them. I'm to the point that if they can't provide the minimum space needed to not trash my gear (this includes space for horn or trumpet players to pass thru my area without stepping on the bell of my horns) then I don't need the gig.

What is it about trumpet players (and everyone else, for that matter) that just can't walk through a band without touching every thing they pass? I don't get it.

Our trumpet players feel compelled to put their cases right behind their chairs, making it impossible for me to put my tuba down when I need to. I ask them to leave their cases over by the side like everyone else, and they say then they'd have no place to put their trumpets. I tell them that I'll find a place for their trumpet if they don't watch their damn feet.

Rick "who thinks trumpet players consume the highest ratio of instrument size to floor space of any band musicians" Denney

[Dan Schultz]

I'm to the point that if they can't provide the minimum space needed to not trash my gear (this includes space for horn or trumpet players to pass thru my area without stepping on the bell of my horns) then I don't need the gig.

This could easily be another thread Why is it that folks are hell-bent to leave their cases, purses, knapsacks, etc. behind the back row (where I am) and then think they have to clamor over everyone to get to their damned valve oil

[jmerring]

While the space wasn't too terribly confined (a medium sized meeting room in a hotel); we had 135 players packed with 13 tubas. What is funny is that we were really crushed at the performance venue (Fort Lauderdale Performing Arts Center - or some such).

The thread before is true - the trumpet players do seem to be the 'prima donnas' as far as space is concerned. The volume level is another major consideration in a small-ish area. The directors, both from the U of Miami, were asking for more and more volume in that meeting room and even more on the stage. I thought Dr Alfred Reed was going to have a stroke, asking for so much. Even though I can't hear; I FELT THE VOLUME. Every tuba part in the concert was unison and all parts marked 1 or 2 tubas was completely ignored.

Sorry to have digressed...please forgive the rant.