Saxophones I'm a believer--playing sitting down

[skeller047]

I played standing on the bed of a moving pickup truck once. Once…. Maximum speed 5-7 MPH. Luckily there was an upright piano to grab if I lost my balance. I’ve never been asked to do that again, and would insist on a 4X fee if asked. And not a jazz club fee… Plus extra for a rented horn…

 

[Ivan]

I've been asked to " carry on the party" on the coach...arghhhhh...it's only a 20 minute journey and after initially being scared shoootless I think I have a way that this can be achieved which requires playing sitting down which I have never done

I'd play standing in the aisle facing the passengers... Elbows against seats can steady you in the corners

If you sit down you will face away from your audience, which worked for Miles Davis, but in that coach, with nothing to see, the passengers will not join in with any more gusto than they would to piped music

The health and safety advice that predicts you'll lose teeth, fly out of a window, or be the first to shatter the windscreen in an emergency stop is all very well... but either you are willing to risk the 0.0007% chance of your death by misadventure, or you entertain, stand up, face the party and enjoy their enjoyment

 

[mizmar]

A sweet Norwegian tradition

Norwegians are sweet.... When drink.
Otherwise they're taciturn

 

[Ivan]

Norwegians are sweet.... When drink.
Otherwise they're taciturn

Such is the power of 'Sweet Caroline'

I've heard it badly trotted out in an "Irish" pub in Liverpool to an ecstatic multitude of 20-somethings raising their arms to the ceiling and bawling out the lyrics in an Evangelical style

Our local pub congregation in the Scottish Borders receives the tune in much the same exuberant way, no matter how badly we play it as a reluctant, final, finale

In the face of the universal ecstasy of the Brits who hear 'Sweet Caroline', it's ironic that Norwegians will swear at it...

Douze points Norvège

 

[Dr G]

Too bad that it’s not on a boat where you could be lashed to the mast for stability.

 

[eb424]

I'd play standing in the aisle facing the passengers... Elbows against seats can steady you in the corners

If you sit down you will face away from your audience, which worked for Miles Davis, but in that coach, with nothing to see, the passengers will not join in with any more gusto than they would to piped music

The health and safety advice that predicts you'll lose teeth, fly out of a window, or be the first to shatter the windscreen in an emergency stop is all very well... but either you are willing to risk the 0.0007% chance of your death by misadventure, or you entertain, stand up, face the party and enjoy their enjoyment

Thanks youve put my faith back..

 

[eb424]

Too bad that it’s not on a boat where you could be lashed to the mast for stability.

Or anything else for that matter...lol. I read a great appraissal by you on another forum. Could you listen to it and give an honest opinion..its not great but a good oppo to learn..

 

[eb424]

@eb424 Are you still playing from some form of written music? How is that going to work on the coach

Yes @Dr G. I don't play enough to get away from that. Starting to play a few passages..Sisters going to sit in front and hold it couple of magnets should be ok..

 

[mrblackbat]

Too bad that it’s not on a boat where you could be lashed to the mast for stability.

Well my time on the ships was the only time I’ve had major damage to my tenor….

 

[mrblackbat]

No way I’d be playing on a coach for a wedding, stood or sitting. Stood is going to be a safety risk because you don’t have your hands free in case of an accident, and I’m pretty sure the driver wouldn’t allow it for insurance reasons. Sitting, well there’s not a whole lot of room for a sax on a typical coach seat, and any unexpected movement (frequent occurrence with coaches in my experience) seems likely that you’ll damage the horn if not yourself.

I’d politely decline.

 

[thomsax]

Sure, you can play "I'm A Believer" sitting. You can play "You Can't Sit Down" sitting as well.

View: https://youtu.be/WdXISHqSV5w?si=Kqy2I5QfztDrqXu2

 

[Targa]

You might notice the elderly relatives of the couple boarding the bus with an air of excitement or trepidation having misheard ‘we are having sax on the coach’.

 

[JSL]

Just...........NO!

 

[Dr G]

Just...........NO!

Well, that’s another way to put it.

Or

“By your leave, if it pleases you, I’d really rather not. Thank you, no.” - Hugh Grant.

 

[turf3]

As an aside; a while ago we were out for dinner at a local eatery which had a geetar and song man. I discovered that it's traditional, after "sweet Caroline" is sung, for the audience to reply "who the hell is Caroline?".
Or words to that affect.
Certainly brightened things up.

Caroline Kennedy, I believe.

Go to a couple Red Sox games and you'll never want to hear that song again.

 

[JSL]

Caroline Kennedy, I believe.

Go to a couple Red Sox games and you'll never want to hear that song again.

I've never been to a Red Sox game, and I still don't want to ever hear that song again.

 

[Pete Thomas]

You might notice the elderly relatives of the couple boarding the bus with an air of excitement or trepidation having misheard ‘we are having sax on the coach’.

Is it time we banned all sax/sex puns?

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Might be our hearing, but the timing seems off in the video.
Not smooth.
Something to work on.

Maybe try it with just a metronome, and a bit slower at first.
Make it more musical, as opposed to honking it out.

 

[Dr G]

Is it time we banned all sax/sex puns?

It is well past that time - including punny monikers.

 

[Dr G]

I'd play standing in the aisle facing the passengers... Elbows against seats can steady you in the corners

Have you ever tried this? If not, then please don’t encourage others to do something you have not proven to work. If so, then you know that it comes with incredible risk as well as making the sax sound even more unstable.