Where is the best place to live in US for a trumpet player?

BGinNJ · Veteran Member Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 380

You've all seen those (secretly sponsored) "Best Places" lists, to retire, find a job, etc.

Where's the best place for a trumpet player? Playing opportunities, bands, schools, places to hear music, etc.

LaTrompeta

WxJeff

kehaulani · Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2019 6:57 am Post subject:

In Texas, that also means a lot of competition. A lot of work at little or no pay unless you're a top player.

That doesn't mean that you should be negative about it, but it will take an adjustment. I know guys that had full-time work elsewhere that were practically penniless when they moved here.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

Brad361 · Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 1:03 pm Post subject:

My only real frames of reference are Chicago and Houston (moved here in 1995), but I don’t see Texas as being much different from Illinois regarding gig opportunities. As far as this being a “killer” place for retired or semi pros? While I’ve been fortunate enough to stay fairly busy as a part time pro player, I don’t see Texas as being any sort of Mecca for gig opportunities.

Brad
_________________
When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval

Rod Haney · Heavyweight Member Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 937

I would very much think the answer to the question would depend greatly on how well you play and what your desired income should be. I would think LA, NY, Nashville, Vegas would be the place to be if you were on top of the game, and a much smaller town where you could be 1st call if not at the top.

I have known only one person who could play and read anything - and he worked wherever he wanted when he wanted. 1st call LA studio, Woody Herman and Stan Kenton lead. And then there is someone like me who is struggling to play 1st in a community band after a Loong lay-off. To somebody in between us ... if I lived in LA I probably couldn’t play 4th in any band there. That’s the way I see it, if you think you got it shoot for the biggest town with recording activity and do it. I knew a country boy from Ohio who did.
Rod

kehaulani · Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 8:26 pm Post subject:

Just curious, Rod, but are you talking about Larry Ford? Larry was a friend of mine and played first trumpet in the North Texas One O'clock Band, and also was a 1st call LA studio player and lead with Woody Herman and Stan Kenton Bands.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

Rod Haney · Heavyweight Member Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 937

Yes, Larry was playing with Kenton when my band director introduced me to him and told me that that’s the player I should be if I wanted the big time. I was in the 10th grade. There was a regional band Mel Gillespie orchestra, and when Larry visited his home in Iornton, OH he would sit in with us when my age wasn’t a factor. I also knew his himschool band director who was one of the best ride tenor players I’ve ever heard. I never talked with Larry about his approach to trumpet but just tried to copy what I could and watched him like a hawk. Never heard him make a mistake and we were playing some tough stuff and he never broke a sweat. Mel knew the guy running the NT State program and called him to say Larry was coming and would shortly be the new lead in the 1 o’clock band. The guy was a bit taken aback as no freshman had ever grabbed that seat. Later in the year Larry was indeed playing lead. I was working on Czardas for an all state audition and was having issues with the cadenza at speed. I asked him to play it for me and he did it 1st time read and played it better than Mendez. Since reading was my weakest issue it added to the shock and awe of sitting beside him. He let me climb on the bandstand at a Kenton concert and rifle thru the lead book and introduced me to Stan the man. He was always so nice and encouraging to me, I liked him a lot and think I hear him play on a lot of albums. Tell me your side of Larry.
Rod

kehaulani · Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:12 am Post subject:

Thanks for such a nice memory. I really like Larry. His playing was flawless and he was a great guy.

I knew Larry from North Texas and played in a band with him as well in playing in rival soul bands, but in a mutual big band at the same time. I worked with him steadily for about two years. His loss was profound.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

LaTrompeta · Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:39 pm Post subject:

As I undestood the OP's question, he wanted to know what a good place would be to hear live music or play semi-pro/amateur. Just a couple visits to Texas and I found that there were something like 4 or 5 professional/semi-pro orchestras in the DFW area. That, of course, doesn't include all the community groups that are around. I think of where I live and we barely have a few amateur groups.
_________________
Please join me as well at:
https://trumpetboards.com

O00Joe · Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 1:07 pm Post subject:

I imagine any big city in the US has good opportunities. Though, my bet for the very best spots would go to New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston.
_________________
1981 Bb Bach Stradivarius 37/25 ML raw - Laskey 60C
2003 C Bach Stradivarius 239/25A L silver - Stork Vacchiano 4C25C
2006 Bb/A Schilke Piccolo P5-4 silver - Reeves A adaptor - Stork SM SP6
Akai MPC Live II
Roland JD-Xi
Casio MT-68