[Dixielandjazz] Gigs & suffering

[Jim Kashishian]

Taking the risk that you all will be bored with seeing the first 3 posts of
the day coming from me, I will expound on a matter that always concerns me.
Perhaps some will have noticed the 3 weeks between gigs on our March
calendar (if you followed the link to see the pictures recently).  
 
Although we often have private gigs in between clubs that I don't post on
the web calendar, we don't in March.  Not a problem, and a break is nice,
particularly for the wife so we can go out on a weekend trip or have friends
over on the weekend.  
 
Really, really bad for the chops!
 
That is a major concern for (particularly) brass players.  Anyone that
doesn't play a brass instrument can not imagine the difficulty in playing a
gig after several weeks break.  Ok, I practice every single day I don't play
a gig, but it just isn't the same.
I play along with CD's (last nite was Bob Roman's Cellboys!), I drag out the
old practice books, I play scales, I try out new songs.
The chops are just not the same when you hit the stage again.
 
That is the one driving force in getting gigs for me.  That, and the fact
that I start humming songs all the time (I even annoy myself) after about
two weeks with no gigs.  
 
I know you string guys are going to leap on me and tell me about your
calluses softening up, etc.  You reed guys can't say a word!  I've heard
reed guys lay off their horn for a year, grab the thing...and play a gig.
Reed guys always complain about the muscles at the side of their lips.  Big
deal!  All you other honkers & bangers & strummers can at least get a note
out, even if it hurts.  But, a brass guy can end up with just air coming out
of the horn if he's not on top of the horn.
 
Jim (suffering) Kash