Posted by David Wilson on October 14, 2003 at 03:33:42:
In Reply to: President's Own audition posted by Ryan on October 13, 2003 at 22:02:23:
I think it a good idea but we are trained to not trust the other guy.
Music is truly one of the most cut-throat businesses in the world. We are trained to believe that time spent in a practice room is the most important time in the world. I've done it too!
The fear is that someone else will know what you know and turn around and use it against you. Repair techs have done this for years. Each of us has secrets that we are afraid to share because we think someone else might do it better and thus take business away. Sorry, the best customers come back because of YOU and not what the other guy professes to know. You, and we, don't want people as customers who flit from one store to the next. Here's a secret: we usually charge more for customers who we can figure out do this. Figuring out is the easy part!
Tuba players of today don't hire someone to sit in and learn the business like Harvey did or Mr. Bell. Yes, they many times hired someone to teach them the business. Other times they just had someone sit in so they could teach them. What a concept!
Taking that same fear to an audition or the audition preparation makes the audition process a nerve nightmare. No longer is mentorship valued, although in business it is.
What you propose is contrary to what most are taught. Keep with it, perhaps you will turn a few heads. Sharing of information is the best way to get better so keep at it.