Eeviac

Toobz - I need to get out once the weather warms up (is there snow on the ground where you are? There is here in Chino) and get sketchin' folks. People out here are so NICE, and won't give me a "ration" if I get their nose wrong, just look disappointed.... then I'll try again. I need to get out to the rodeos, farmers' markets, downtown, etc., and get the experience in. There's Bucky's Casino too, don't think I haven't thought of maybe, once I have some sketching time under my belt, seeing about setting up there. And also, my grapevine tells me that there *was* a caricaturist at the St. Michael on weekends, but he got old and died or something. So there's a gap there, he was doing good. So once the weather's warmish again and the tourists are afoot, I can work on that, and that's probably going to be my bread and butter for the near future. It's a "parlour trick" sketching faces, but hey, it beats washing dishes!

I don't think trumpet will be something I can command much respect with for a while, it simply takes time to build up and get good. It's just that I really want to do it. But I'm not expecting it to be a money maker any time soon.

Now, once I have the known-proven ability to make money on the street here, then I can consider moving to SF. I'll be able to rent a room to live in, so I won't actually be homeless, and I'll be where there are lots of people playing and teachers and stuff.

This area is great I guess but a 4-month shut-in winter, blah. Not much in the way of jobs, blah. And it's really not any cheaper than the Bay Area. In fact I'd have to say it's more expensive because I've not been able to make dollar-one out here and in the BA even rather bad caricatures at any of the suburban farmer's markets would do OK, not great, but OK.

The one single thing I do like out here is, I can practice without getting yelled at.

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Conn Pan Am made in 1950 silver + Bach 7C
King American Standard cornet made in 1940 + Olds 3C
Striving for a Touchy Tone, rather than obnoquious

Toobz

Hey Eeviac, Yeah we got a couple of inches here, nothing to worry about. When I lived in Tahoe, where they get 30 feet or so annually, we bought a Subaru, and a P/U. So we get around fine.

So you can sketch too. You have artistic talents for sure. I can't draw at all. I wish I could. Downtown will be a goldmine for you when the weather improves. Lots of events and markets to jump in on.

Don't get so down on your playing level. I have played on and off for around 30 years. When I lay off for awhile, I sound like garbage.
If I lay off the sax, it suffers too, but not nearly as much. The trick is to enjoy playing, it's kinda hard when your playing sucks, but attitude is everything.

Your right about the job market here. I'll stay long enough for my daughter to finish school, and then we'll sell the house and move back to the Tahoe area. The tri-city area is nice enough, just not everything I want for a permanent home.

Hang tough !

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Conn 10B New Era trumpet
Martin Committee cornet
And lots of other old and smelly stuff !

Eeviac

Toobz - Yeah, I was kind of "expected" to become an artist, not given any training mind you, that would have cost money. And there's very very little art that's not BS. Norman Rockwell and those guys who draw for MAD are far more deserving of the title "art" than the makers of this weird modern stuff. yuk.

I've painted the odd sign, done a bunch of stuff but to me I can only stand art if it's useful - useful is a "WE AIM TO PLEASE SO PLEASE AIM" sign for the bathroom, or yeah, a caricature that someone will keep and it will remind them of a certain time, fun at the fair, etc. The thing is, it's just a job, better than dishwashing or a bunch of other crappy stuff I've done. There are no jobs in tech any more and busking pays more than them anyway, so might as well use this odd talent, even if I don't think it's one millionth as cool as music.

Now, I'm not down on my playing. I have nothing to gauge against so I don't know if I'm a slow student or a fast one, but I am improving each practice, and am on pages 12 and 13 of the Visual Band Method and also have fun picking things out, I can play anything by ear as long as it's in my range. My range isn't that high yet, low-G to that C just above the middle of the staff. But I'm doing long tones, making sure I do lots of low notes as well as high, etc. Bring it up gradually. I'm just not good enough to busk yet, but as soon as I am, I will get out there and do that too.

Another month before the weather warms up. Sheesh. I mean, in SF yeah it's cold in the winter, but not shut-you-in cold. The turistas come around all year. I won't have the hassles of having to own a motor vehicle at all (if we meet you'll see the Awesome Rebel, aka the Angry Lawnmower lol) and while the price of a room or small apartment is up there, there's very little in the way of other expenses. I just have to be sure of being able to bring in a certain flow of money first before I can escape here. Oh, and once I'm good on the horn, practice won't be the hassle it normally is in a crowded area, I'd think, who cares if I warm up with some scales, if the scales sound good?

__________________
Conn Pan Am made in 1950 silver + Bach 7C
King American Standard cornet made in 1940 + Olds 3C
Striving for a Touchy Tone, rather than obnoquious