Is it time for 60 Seconds?

[ploughboy]

Evening good folk,

I've spent a good deal of time at the Nationals this weekend and thinking about contesting (yes I am a geek before you ask). I believe we need to add on stage warm up time on the contest stage. Looking at the amount of time that our percussionists need to arrange and set up, then we could allow each band a 60 second window to loosen the lips, blow a few notes etc . . .

A good friend of mine who conducts a North East band, had some help from an Orchestral player for the area contest earlier this year. The Chap started warming up back stage and had to be asked not to, speaking with my mate he explained he couldn't play there, so the player said oh, I wait and warm on stage then?? Nope! you start when my hand comes down was the reply. Is this part of the reason we are looked at as "old fashioned".

So, What harm would 60 Seconds do? I don't believe it would slow down a contest. From a personal perspective, I wouldn't mind the band playing whilst I was setting my section up. Or I would like the opportunity to play a few loosening phrases to get a little loose on stage. How many 2nd section bands like mine would like the opportunity to play for 60 secs before starting Resurgam next year?

Thoughts?

[johnmartin]

Its a good point Garry. Every orchestra or theatre job I've been to the musicians always warm up in full earshot of the audience. I'm not sure about it in a contest environment though. The adjudicator may still be collating his thoughts about the previous band and wouldn't necessarily like the interruption.

[nethers]

We tend not to in concerts as well, so maybe that is why this hasn't been fought hard for much before.

True, orchestras do, but that doesn't necessarily make it a good idea for us to.

But in contests, which is a fairly 'orchestral' setting (a major work, for the ear not the eye etc.) I think there could be a valid argument to improve the listening experience.

Perhaps a contest organiser will be brave enough to give it a try?

[bassmittens]

Evening good folk,

I've spent a good deal of time at the Nationals this weekend and thinking about contesting (yes I am a geek before you ask). I believe we need to add on stage warm up time on the contest stage. Looking at the amount of time that our percussionists need to arrange and set up, then we could allow each band a 60 second window to loosen the lips, blow a few notes etc . . .

A good friend of mine who conducts a North East band, had some help from an Orchestral player for the area contest earlier this year. The Chap started warming up back stage and had to be asked not to, speaking with my mate he explained he couldn't play there, so the player said oh, I wait and warm on stage then?? Nope! you start when my hand comes down was the reply. Is this part of the reason we are looked at as "old fashioned".

So, What harm would 60 Seconds do? I don't believe it would slow down a contest. From a personal perspective, I wouldn't mind the band playing whilst I was setting my section up. Or I would like the opportunity to play a few loosening phrases to get a little loose on stage. How many 2nd section bands like mine would like the opportunity to play for 60 secs before starting Resurgam next year?

Thoughts?

Completely agree. At the areas (well certainly Bradford) you can be 3 or 4 hours between blowing a note and going on stage. EG - This year we had the dreaded last draw in the Championship section. We did not go on stage till after 11pm. But we could only use the reheasral room in the hotel next to the hall (can't remember the name) till about 7pm! (not through poor booking, but they didn't want playing after this point) With nowhere to warm up backstage, what are you meant to do?? (PS this is by no means an excuse for a poor result - we were still not good enough!!).

Our timp player (new to brass banding at the time) was shocked when he was told off for double checking the tuning of the timps onstage! Quite a logical thing to do you would assume?! Can you imagine an orchestra starting playing someone elses instruments without checking tuning etc?!

All other groups seem to warm up on stage before playing. Why shouldn't bands? Why don't we do it at the start of our own concerts?

Surely the idea of contests is to hear how well bands can play a piece of music/pieces of music, not make it as difficult as possible for each band to do their best .

I know the rules are the same for each band in each contest, and there will be a plethora of 'conspiracy theorys' bounded around after results and the adjudicator was listening for an Eb from the 2nd Baritone as a signal during warm up etc etc

As a "compromise" what about alowing the waiting band the chance to warm up and blow while the previously band dismantles and gets off the stage?

Good post ploughboy, although i'll be surprised if anything changes.....sadly!

[MoominDave]

I know the rules are the same for each band in each contest, and there will be a plethora of 'conspiracy theorys' bounded around after results and the adjudicator was listening for an Eb from the 2nd Baritone as a signal during warm up etc etc

It would be the death of closed adjudication, that's for certain. So bring it on...

[lynchie]

You'd have to overcome the natural suspicious nature of the brass band conspiracy theorist, but I think it's an excellent idea. Warm the instruments, a final check on tuning, and the band get to hear the acoustic of the hall. It probably wouldn't even take a whole minute. It won't happen though, because Oldpit Colliery will tune to A=446 and the masses will take that as proof of a rigged contest.

[bassmittens]

Does anyone think it is worth doing a poll on this?

Who wants it?
Who does not want it?
Who is not bothered either way?

[Jan H]

why not play a hymn tune or something?

In wind- and fanfare band contests ove rhere, all bands always get to play a "warm up piece" before their main contest piece. They are not judged are adjudicated on the warm-up piece.

[MoominDave]

But you wouldn't want to make a bad impression in it, would you?

[ploughboy]

why not play a hymn tune or something?

My thoughts were something that we could fit in during the usual set up time, so as not to prolong the contest. If you say a hymn - how many verses, short or long, slow or fast? it could be more complicated than needs to be. One chap with a stop watch telling the band when to begin and end their minute, If you insist on ignoring him/her and going over time, you get a penelty point!

Surely there must be a forward thinking contest that will take this and give it a try. Butlins?

[stevetrom]

Why not simply allow players to warm up until the percussion is ready (and tuned).

No group/ensemble playing should be allowed just to ensure this does not become part of the performance (Band A always 'warm up' with a certain Hymn tune/section from the piece)

[Lucky Beaver]

The warm up facilities for the lower section finals are brilliant so I'd be more in favour of other venues trying to match up to that standard rather than encouraging warming up on stage.

I guess bands could be 'allowed' 60 seconds if they wanted to take that risk but I would've thought tuning up on stage is only going to help the adjudicators spot any issues in advance of the performance.

If the players are allowed to warm up on stage, MDs are going to want to start doing push ups and thrusts to get themselves prepared Or was that going to be your next question, Garry

[worzel]

Why not simply allow players to warm up until the percussion is ready (and tuned).

No group/ensemble playing should be allowed just to ensure this does not become part of the performance (Band A always 'warm up' with a certain Hymn tune/section from the piece)

There could still be give aways arranged in the warm up, I guess. Maybe the adjudicators tent should be on a platform that's lowered into a sound proof chamber while the band warms up.

[worzel]

What about being allowed a quick blow before coming out on stage after the other band has finished.

[ploughboy]

The warm up facilities for the lower section finals are brilliant so I'd be more in favour of other venues trying to match up to that standard rather than encouraging warming up on stage.

I guess bands could be 'allowed' 60 seconds if they wanted to take that risk but I would've thought tuning up on stage is only going to help the adjudicators spot any issues in advance of the performance.

If the players are allowed to warm up on stage, MDs are going to want to start doing push ups and thrusts to get themselves prepared Or was that going to be your next question, Garry

I'm too old and slow to 'pull' anything whilst conducting!

I wouldn't alter any tuning that close to the performance, but just to get the lips loose and tounge working would be good, I don't disagree with the "no hymn" suggestion earlier either. Just a chance to play a few scales etc.

The Scottish Open venue at Perth has brilliant warm up facilities too.