Auditioning is a Rotten Pastime

I have taken many auditions over the last decade. I have flown, driven, and taken the train to them, and I (like all bass players) have had my share of inconveniences. There is one audition in particular that stands out, however. I auditioned for principal bass of the...

Careful What You Bring Into an Audition

Be careful what you bring into an audition—you may end up getting yourself into an embarrassing situation. A friend of mine once told me about an embarrassing experience he had auditioning for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. This friend of mine (I did not do this, I...

You play solo…I dance!

In the summer of 1998 I played bass for the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. This festival takes place in the extreme northern part of Germany very close to the North Sea. It was an absolute blast to play in this festival. The bass section was filled with a bunch of...

Extreme Gigging – All Night Drives

I have had the unfortunate experience of doing many all night drives over the years to get from one gig to another. This is never fun. The main problem is that I work in Memphis, Tennessee and in Chicago and Wisconsin. IRIS Chamber Orchestra concerts will start in...

Interesting Gig Story – Chicago Master Singers

I had an interesting Chicago Master Singers performing experience that I’d like to share. A couple of years ago I was hired by the Chicago Master Singers (see previous post) as the only instrumentalist for a couple of their concerts. The concert program was...