Comments on: Where’s my trumpet? http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html double bass news, stories, downloads, podcasts, and more! Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:37:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Matthew Radspinner http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html/comment-page-1#comment-5438 Matthew Radspinner Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:55:58 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html#comment-5438 First of all, I have just become familiar with your blog and it is great. Thank you so much for doing this. I have had a few gigs where I have forgotten things and I must second the idea of having every cell number stored in your phone that may be handy. I had a gig about 2 hours from my home and I got everything unpacked and realized I had forgotten my bass guitar. It was a 50/50 gig and I really didn't want to cover the rock stuff on my double bass. So, I called a friend from college who I knew had a teaching job about 15 minutes from where I was and he dropped what he was doing to bring me his bass. I know that if that phone ever rings from me to help out someone I will come running... First of all, I have just become familiar with your blog and it is great. Thank you so much for doing this.

I have had a few gigs where I have forgotten things and I must second the idea of having every cell number stored in your phone that may be handy.

I had a gig about 2 hours from my home and I got everything unpacked and realized I had forgotten my bass guitar. It was a 50/50 gig and I really didn’t want to cover the rock stuff on my double bass.

So, I called a friend from college who I knew had a teaching job about 15 minutes from where I was and he dropped what he was doing to bring me his bass.

I know that if that phone ever rings from me to help out someone I will come running…

]]> By: Stacy McMichael http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html/comment-page-1#comment-5366 Stacy McMichael Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:16:57 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html#comment-5366 A note for all of you forgetfull jazz players: I packed (what I thought was) everything into my truck & left Chicago for a random "Elk-Park-River-Village-Forest-Grove-Heights-Burg-Ridge" wedding cocktail hour. As I unloded into the venue, I went down the list: double bass: check formal attire/heels: check books: check amp stand: check 40 lb cabinet: check amp head: ummmm..... ummmmm..... boo. Now, I suppose I could have re-set my bridge super-ultra-high, and taken my chances on projecting... Nope - I have played with this drummer before, and I needed to act fast. Luckily I remembered a certain national-guitar-superchain's supposed "no-questions-asked" return policy. I flew to a nearby store, hoping not only that they would have something in stock that might not sound like <b>two pieces of wet amplified fish slapping together repeatedly</b>, but that there was also enough room on the only credit card in my purse for the transaction. Ran in, grabbed the first (what I thought would be workable) high-end amp & ran to the counter. I made it back perilously close to the downbeat. It didn't sound good, but it was just fine for this event... and it SAVED my butt! Note: The return wasn't as smooth & no-questions-asked as it could have been. Perhaps I will chalk it up to the lack of exposure to upright bass, but they simply didn't understand how this top of the line amplifier could possibly have sounded bad. It also took almost 2 weeks for the credit to be applied, but if you find yourself in a similar situation, I highly reccommend this work-around. See you on the bandstand. A note for all of you forgetfull jazz players:

I packed (what I thought was) everything into my truck & left Chicago for a random “Elk-Park-River-Village-Forest-Grove-Heights-Burg-Ridge” wedding cocktail hour. As I unloded into the venue, I went down the list:

double bass: check
formal attire/heels: check
books: check
amp stand: check
40 lb cabinet: check
amp head: ummmm….. ummmmm….. boo.

Now, I suppose I could have re-set my bridge super-ultra-high, and taken my chances on projecting… Nope – I have played with this drummer before, and I needed to act fast.

Luckily I remembered a certain national-guitar-superchain’s supposed “no-questions-asked” return policy. I flew to a nearby store, hoping not only that they would have something in stock that might not sound like two pieces of wet amplified fish slapping together repeatedly, but that there was also enough room on the only credit card in my purse for the transaction.

Ran in, grabbed the first (what I thought would be workable) high-end amp & ran to the counter. I made it back perilously close to the downbeat.

It didn’t sound good, but it was just fine for this event… and it SAVED my butt!

Note: The return wasn’t as smooth & no-questions-asked as it could have been. Perhaps I will chalk it up to the lack of exposure to upright bass, but they simply didn’t understand how this top of the line amplifier could possibly have sounded bad. It also took almost 2 weeks for the credit to be applied, but if you find yourself in a similar situation, I highly reccommend this work-around.

See you on the bandstand.

]]> By: Simon Little http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html/comment-page-1#comment-5362 Simon Little Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:11:55 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html#comment-5362 Possibly the most embarrassing occasion was when I turned up at a theatre gig having left my suit hanging on the back of my bedroom door. I only realised this as I was unloading my bass and amp. I wound up doing the show in my jeans and trainers with a luminous green linen shirt borrowed from one of the backing singers. Not really the right look when the rest of the band are in black suits... I did also mix up my diary once and drove over 180 miles into the deep north for a gig that wasn't until the following day. Could have been worse if I'd have been sat at home having a cup of tea, receiving that dreaded "Are you nearly here yet? We're about to go on" phone call from the singer. That happened a couple of months ago, but luckily the gig wasn't too far away.... Possibly the most embarrassing occasion was when I turned up at a theatre gig having left my suit hanging on the back of my bedroom door. I only realised this as I was unloading my bass and amp. I wound up doing the show in my jeans and trainers with a luminous green linen shirt borrowed from one of the backing singers. Not really the right look when the rest of the band are in black suits…
I did also mix up my diary once and drove over 180 miles into the deep north for a gig that wasn’t until the following day. Could have been worse if I’d have been sat at home having a cup of tea, receiving that dreaded “Are you nearly here yet? We’re about to go on” phone call from the singer. That happened a couple of months ago, but luckily the gig wasn’t too far away….

]]> By: Eric Hochberg http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html/comment-page-1#comment-5359 Eric Hochberg Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:52:51 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html#comment-5359 I decided to get a bite to eat at an Evanston restaurant before heading into Chicago for my gig. I had my bass guitar with me. When I got downtown, no bass! I called the restaurant, no bass there. I then called the Evanston police and they had it! A lady in a house across the street from where I was parked saw me lean the bass against my car, open and close the trunk, and get in my car and drive off without putting the bass in. The bass fell in the street, she went out and got it and turned it in. What a relief. I found a quick sub and she got a reward. I decided to get a bite to eat at an Evanston restaurant before heading into Chicago for my gig. I had my bass guitar with me. When I got downtown, no bass! I called the restaurant, no bass there. I then called the Evanston police and they had it! A lady in a house across the street from where I was parked saw me lean the bass against my car, open and close the trunk, and get in my car and drive off without putting the bass in. The bass fell in the street, she went out and got it and turned it in. What a relief. I found a quick sub and she got a reward.

]]> By: Christina http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html/comment-page-1#comment-5358 Christina Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:18:04 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html#comment-5358 :shock: I'll admit it, once I did forget my trombone on the way to a gig! I had just moved, and I was so concerned about getting the extra boxes out of my car that I didn't think to put the trombone in. Fortunately, one of my good friends (also a trombonist) was playing as well, and the gig was in her hometown. I called her in a panic, and she laughed and brought two trombones to the show. I also knew a guy who was going on a European concert tour, who in the process of transferring his trombone into a travel case somehow forgot to pack his slide. Imagine his horror as he opened his case before the first concert to find only a bell and a mouthpiece! He had to search several music stores (and quickly learn how to speak a new language) to find a slide that fit his bell. Because of him, I always check to make sure I have my slide! :shock: I’ll admit it, once I did forget my trombone on the way to a gig! I had just moved, and I was so concerned about getting the extra boxes out of my car that I didn’t think to put the trombone in. Fortunately, one of my good friends (also a trombonist) was playing as well, and the gig was in her hometown. I called her in a panic, and she laughed and brought two trombones to the show.

I also knew a guy who was going on a European concert tour, who in the process of transferring his trombone into a travel case somehow forgot to pack his slide. Imagine his horror as he opened his case before the first concert to find only a bell and a mouthpiece! He had to search several music stores (and quickly learn how to speak a new language) to find a slide that fit his bell. Because of him, I always check to make sure I have my slide!

]]> By: Darlene http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html/comment-page-1#comment-5357 Darlene Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:24:54 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/07/wheres-my-trumpet.html#comment-5357 I just played a concert yesterday that was held at a high school about 1/2 hour from where I live. I decided not to use the directions provided on the group's website, because I had my trusty ADC map for that county! I drove to where the high school was according to my map, and there was a school there all right, just not the one I needed! I drove up and down that road 3 times, took side streets to search, all to no avail. I finally stopped at a gas station to ask for directions, and found that just two years ago a huge new high school had been built about 5 miles outside town, and the old school rebuilt into a new middle school. My map was about 5 years old and of course didn't show it. The high school was in the middle of nowhere; I would never have found it on my own. I hated that panicky feeling driving around thinking, "What's going to happen if I just plain can't find this place?" Thank goodness I always leave myself plenty of time to get places for just this reason! Another story is just this past weekend; my quintet is rehearsing for a wedding next week and I left a critical piece of music behind. I live an hour away from the house where we rehearse. Fortunately, I could call my daughter at home and get her to scan the music and e-mail it to me, so we could print the music right there. I have also forgotten music and had to get my husband to drive it to me, which did not make him very happy. I just played a concert yesterday that was held at a high school about 1/2 hour from where I live. I decided not to use the directions provided on the group’s website, because I had my trusty ADC map for that county! I drove to where the high school was according to my map, and there was a school there all right, just not the one I needed! I drove up and down that road 3 times, took side streets to search, all to no avail. I finally stopped at a gas station to ask for directions, and found that just two years ago a huge new high school had been built about 5 miles outside town, and the old school rebuilt into a new middle school. My map was about 5 years old and of course didn’t show it. The high school was in the middle of nowhere; I would never have found it on my own. I hated that panicky feeling driving around thinking, “What’s going to happen if I just plain can’t find this place?” Thank goodness I always leave myself plenty of time to get places for just this reason!

Another story is just this past weekend; my quintet is rehearsing for a wedding next week and I left a critical piece of music behind. I live an hour away from the house where we rehearse. Fortunately, I could call my daughter at home and get her to scan the music and e-mail it to me, so we could print the music right there. I have also forgotten music and had to get my husband to drive it to me, which did not make him very happy.

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