Kenzo

"Be a jack of all trades." Boy does that sound familiar. You are so right. When I first started working I was doing mostly legit gigs. Then I branched out to do mostly shows and jazz/commercial things. Pretty much forgot about the symphonic work. Times do change. Show work is becoming more difficult to find and so, like Trent, the C trumpet is back in action.

If I might add to the thread, the willingness to travel for work helps a great deal. My old Honda is racking up the miles. But, I can still pay the mortgage and eat. Although with gas prices...

Best to all,

beartrumpet74

Tony
- I couldn't agree more...When I lived in L.A. - you had to do everything to make it. My rent was $1550 for a one bedroom in the desert just north of the city....It was nice, but not $1550 nice! I wish somedays that I could say no to the "function" rock/jazz band that calls, but it really does pay the bills, and I find that the more I open my mind to it, the more I am able to get "into" what is going on... I have had a blast playing the classical stuff...I play with a brass quintet for things, and WE SUCK!!!
i.e. - bunch of jazz dudes trying not to swing Gabrielli ( God I can't spell!!)
anyway I did a gig the other night with a band and ended up singing a couple of rock tunes....I used to sing for a living back in the day, and doing that ended up getting me the gig long term with this new group....The things that will help you get by!!!
anyway back to Stamp, the elusive dubba Bb, trying to figure out how the heck to play triad pairs of every song I know and fighting off the cat my girlfriend thinks is "really cute"

Peace
Matt

B15M

This post really changed direction.

I just wanted to sub for a show.

As far as the work I do, I'm a part time player who plays a lot. I don't have the pressure of having to play to pay the bills because I have a day job.

My day job is sales so I can practice or take a playing job during the day.

I play for anything. Tonight I am playing with a "for free" band.
As said above, I got a lot of gigs from playing with this band. There are a lot of High School teachers in the group and they hire me to play shows for there schools. Friday I'm playing with the local Union band. Just a concert on the green for about $60.00 but again I get a lot of weddings and other gigs from that band.

I play with small orchestras that accompany choirs, Church or community. I don't know how much they rehearse but they hire us at the end to do their concerts.
I'll play for parades or Church processions. The local contractor calls me a lot because I'll play for anything and I never complain. I play any part for any occasion. I do a lot of subbing for big band stuff. There seems to be a shortage of trumpet players that can read the part and have enough lip to last the gig.

So I am playing just about all I can handle without making trumpet a full time job.

MJ

I have really enjoyed reading this thread. Alot of great ideas! B15M what were you hoping for when you made this post? Did you want someone to throw you a Broadway gig or ask you to come and sub for them

B15M

I'll take the gig.

What I really was asking was; how do you know when they are looking to hire a trumpet player.

bnbtrpt

Rehearsal bands are also a great way to meet people. I dont know if that was mentioned in all these posts. They dont pay anything even when there is a gig usually the pay is VERY low. Its a great way to let people hear you play. Some great players do these bands

Schwab

People don't take subbing lightly, nor is it done without knowing the person who is subbing for you (and their playing) very well. Usually other top call guys are the first guys to get called to sub, it is unlikely they would call a player from outside the city if someone is in a pinch.

kadleck

B15M -

Sorry if we strayed from the original question.

The short answer is that one knows when there's an opening until they get the call. There are no auditions.

Longer story: There is a great brass player in town who is lobbying hard to have the union set up broadway auditions. (This player can play anything, but is not well-liked by some.)
I think that what this person doesn't realize is that there is more to doing a show that playing the instrument. You are basically living with these folks 8 shows a week, sometimes for years. Contractors understand that hiring a great player is a given (there are hundreds), but they also know that these people must get along with each other. Setting up auditions may get you the best players, but not always the best personalities. My example would be the major symphony orchestra. I would bet that every one has tenured players who are constantly complaining about this or that. Don't get me wrong ... broadway has that too. But , I think the idea is to keep that to a minimum.

Sorry for the rant.

Tony

ptynan

Do any other players in the City think this is a good Idea? Does this person feel short changed in the Broadway gig department? Maybe since he is a great player he feels like he should get more of that work and this is his way to make that happen.

Just my 2 cents....

PT

kadleck

Paul -

Absolutely. You're right ... I'm sure that this is what the player is thinking. However, I think that the player is missing the big picture: that he/she will not get hired until they have proven that they can get along (socially and musically) with others. The pool of great players is way too big to send in someone who is a drag, regardless of ability.

I'm not aware of anyone else who is in favor of the audition idea, but I'm sure that there are many out there.

TK