Posted by Dean on January 13, 2002 at 20:46:04:
Ok, everyone always talks about how FEW gigs there are for euphonium. This is true. BUT, it is also true that there just arent that many euphonium players out there, at least ones looking for a playing gig... Now, some people think that the only full time playing gigs out there are premier military bands. Of course, those are the gigs euph players want, but there are PLENTY of military euph gigs out there--Some are good gigs, some not-so-good.
Well, the POINT OF ALL THIS:
Is it really considerably harder for a euph player to get a decent gig than say, a clarinetist, or a string player?? Sure, there are ALOT more violin gigs out there, but there are also ALOT more violinists. Lets say there is one premier military band opening in a givin year, and maybe there are only 15-20 euph players that want to audition, and have a decent shot, etc... Well, in the same year, there may be, what, 15-20 (this is a guess) violin jobs of equal caliber, but arent there like HUNDREDS of violinists going for these jobs?? Would you think the ratio of applicants to jobs to be about the same, or do we euphers really have it harder?
Just curious...
Dean