Manny Laureano

So, apparently, I tempted the devil by claiming I don't get sick.

I'm not sick but my stomach has felt less than stellar for about a week now and it's messing with my sleep and making me feel a bit achy. Y'all know the feeling... "under the weather" is how most folks describe the feeling. I've been drinking chamomile tea and only having one meal a day that you describe as normal. Otherwise, it's toast and other light fare.

The reason I'm writing is that I've been rehearsing and playing. We had a show today and it went just fine. I'm playing 2 out of the 4 programmed pieces (Suite from Threepenny Opera and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story).

I've been warming up a little lighter than usual but I think, given how much pllaying there is on those tunes, I would have done that anyway. While I'm playing, I'm into it and fine but when I'm done, I'm done. Not a whole lot of energy left for post-concert carousing with the boys. I have to drive about 90 miles for the next show which is in a town called St. Joseph. So, it's on to a nap and a drive later on.

That was the question, right? How do pros handle sickness? Well, like that. You do what you can to keep functioning and do the gig. I can't, in good conscience, make Doug play this program unless I really can't move. Athough, I did enjoy watching his face when I told him I wasn't up to snuff! Let's just say the prospect of sitting in for me wasn't something he was looking forward to.

Hey, Wilmer... watcha doin' tonight...?

ML

Pedal C

Just divide your part up among the Minnesota TM members! I'm sure you have any shortage of volunteers! The stagehands might have a little trouble...

Jason.

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"The oboe's A is to make sure we still play it 1 and 2" - Bud Herseth

"One way or another, every patient stops bleeding." - Scrubs

Chris Houser

I would tend to agree with the others here, if you can play - you play, and play your best. In all the years that I have been jobbing I have only had to miss one gig (knock on wood). That happened as the result of a death in the family and I had to catch the red eye out to town to make the funeral. The fist thing I did was to get in touch with the best possible sub I could think of to take my place. The contractor of the gig understood my situation, and was very, very happy to find out that I had taken the time and effort to get him a sub of equal or better quality at the last minute. It left a very good impression with him for future jogs.
I would always do everything possible to play the show.

Jimi Michiel

I think I read somewhere that Vacchiano never missed a day of work during his 38 (?) years with the New York Philharmonic.

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CJH

As far as staying healthy goes, remember what Mom always said: wash your hands before you eat! Especially if it's finger food. I only started making a real habit of this a couple of years ago, and, lo and behold, I haven't caught anything more than a mild cold since.

Common courtesy but oft-forgotten: when you do show up to the gig feeling under the weather, do you best not to get the rest of the band sick. It's ok to politely decline a handshake because you don't want to get the other guy sick... It will be appreciated.