November 28, 2023 • 26 mins
Have you ever wondered what happens when two working musicians try to podcast at 8am? Today, Nick and Seba tian take you behind the scenes of these performances, sharing heartwarming stories that made the audience's holiday experience even more meaningful. We also reveal the new title for this short-form series - yes, you've voted and we've listened!
We then explore the path of making a career in music and how it can wonderfully translate to other professions. Topics include: children interacting with tubas, what to say to people after an audition, what to do if your colleague is lacking, answering listener questions, Sebastian's obsession with first class and more!
Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreat
Learn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat
Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (insta) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (insta)
Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera
Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz
Thank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I looked down the audience and it's you.
It's normal to see like littlekids in there, like totally in
awe of what they're looking aton stage, you know.
But yesterday I saw like amiddle-aged man and he was
sitting there and he looked.
He had the same facialexpression as Will Ferrell does
in the movie Elf.
He was just like Santa.
(00:21):
He was like the fur like a longtime, it wasn't just like a
little moment.
So that's awesome.
You know, you have to remindyourself that, like for a lot of
people that come to anyperformance, but holiday
performance is something likethe Nutcracker especially.
It could be like a huge deal intheir family, like a tradition,
it could be like a once in alifetime experience.
(00:42):
So it was a reminder, reminderto be like, hey, it's pretty
lucky to be able to do this andbring this to people.
I love that.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Good morning.
Good morning bright and early.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, last last episode we recorded we had all
these curveballs happen and wehad to record pretty late.
It's funny how I notice adifference when we record at
different times, Like our energylevels will be different.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yeah, I think they all.
They probably all have theirpluses and minuses.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
You know, we got to find that.
We got to find that that sweetjuicy spot that's just like
Goldilocks.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
We need that, we need that.
Uh, that baby bear energy.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Where we, where we both achieve flow, state at the
exact same time, mm-hmm, exceptyou're.
You're a night person, I'm verymuch a morning person, so I
don't know if that place exists.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
No, you can't have to meet somewhere in the middle.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
And so today it's 8am in Texas and it's 9am for you,
which it's funny, because you'relike oh no, I think the only
time we're going to be able todo this is 9am, and you said it
in a way where we're both oh man, that's, that's impossible.
But that's literally the time95% of the world starts working,
it's true, and we're like no,can't, can't do it.
(02:16):
As we know from musicians,that's 9am is basically the
middle of the night.
9am is like our 5am.
So, nick, this is our thirdepisode of this new short form
series, and I am pleased to tellyou that we have a new official
title for this series, is thisour fourth episode.
Is it?
(02:38):
Yeah, it is the fourth one.
Nailed it Right again.
Nailed it, see 8am.
Not a good time for me, socancel that one.
What so?
Coming in third place?
First of all, thank you toeveryone who voted.
We had a very strong turnoutfor the vote, a lot of
passionate thoughts, but comingin third place was the slide in
(03:01):
with 26% of votes.
You know that was a good title,had a little sexual innuendo,
but you know it was casual.
What do you mean?
I don't know.
Coming in with 33% of the vote?
In second place Jones andFuribonzin.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
I mean that was my favorite, but you know the
people I've spoken in that wasnot the crowd's favorite.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
So I mean, yeah, it's a good title.
It's a good title, but it'sclearly not for everyone I like
it.
Maybe we could use it inanother way, but thank you,
alexis, for the suggestion.
I forgot to mention that.
So the main poll was onInstagram, but you can also
create a poll on Spotify.
So for our Spotify listeners,please check those, because
every now and then we can postquestions and polls, and we had
(03:47):
one vote for all things rusty onSpotify and we also had a
write-in for the alternateposition, which I was like, oh,
that's pretty good, should havetold us earlier.
But the winner 41% of the vote41, dirk Nowitzki in our new
(04:07):
title, the fifth position.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep,
beep, beep, beep, beep, beep,beep beep beep Feel vindicated.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I know you do.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
You will not let you down.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
It's a good clean to the point title.
It's very poignant on topic.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I like it, I'll get used to it you know, yet it
still has some mystery, sincenone of us know where fifth
position is.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
It's like the train platform to Hogwarts.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Did you see that video recently where the kid
just ran full speed into thewall Trying?
To go into the Hogwarts at thetrain station.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
There you go.
Darwin would have something tosay about that.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I don't know if it was staged or not, but it was
very funny.
What a world, so how?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
was Thanksgiving.
It was great, had a couple offriends over cooked, like I
normally do.
And what was your?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Friends' Amariment, friends' Amariment.
What was your favorite thing tocook?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
I did a new recipe for my turkey that I really
enjoyed making.
I made a really good Brusselssprouts dish that I really
enjoyed making.
So yeah, kind of all of it.
I love it, but just it's fun.
I like the process.
Did you let anyone help my wife?
That's it.
What about you?
How was your Thanksgiving?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Oh, it was good, it was good Big family thing down
here in Texas.
It's always so nice to sayeverybody yeah, I didn't overeat
, I didn't go crazy Like Inormally do, which I feel like
is a victory.
Coming down to Texas, I justaccept that I'm going to gain 15
pounds every time I come intothe state, so I think maybe I
(05:44):
only gained like 14 pounds.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
No, so Progress.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Me and my mom have been going on walks.
So I'm just like mom, we'regoing to walk for 30 minutes
every single day and it's beenactually really nice.
I'm just like I could do thisall the time, besides just doing
like Peloton or whatever.
It's just nice to get outside,especially down here, where it's
still like.
I mean, it's cold now, but it'sbeen like 60 degrees, so that's
kind of nice.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Very pleasant yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Would you like to hear the Google alert?
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I wait with baited breath.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
So the segment is Trumbo and Google Alerts what's
going on in the world.
We need one of those like thosenews typewriter thing, yeah,
there's actually another articlethat is related to Trumbo and
Player.
There is a business insiderarticle about Swedish CEO of
(06:36):
EasyJet, johan Lundgren, on howhis first Wait, let me get a
shot at that name, uh-huh.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Johan Lundgren.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Yeah, that's actually .
That's probably way moreaccurate.
I apologize, johan, I'm sure helistens.
Yeah, he actually.
His first dream was to be aTrumbonist and, you know, didn't
reach that dream so had tosettle for being a CEO of one of
the major airlines of the world.
But it is.
It is kind of cool that it washis dream.
(07:06):
He didn't get into, I think,the Royal Danish Conservatory.
And the article is nice.
I mean, it's not about being aTrumbon player, but it traces
his career and his path.
And it just made me think andwe've briefly talked about this
before about if you're nervousabout pursuing music or you're
considering another career pathafter studying music.
I think we're very scared ofthis notion a lot, but there's
(07:30):
so many musicians that use theskills that they have learned
becoming a musician to translateit to other careers and
translate it very successfully,and there's a lot of employers
that understand all the uniqueskills that a musician can bring
.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, I mean I tell my students this all the time
too.
It's like you know, becauseI've seen it firsthand with you
know people I grew up with thatwanted to be musicians and, for
whatever reason, pivoted out ofit.
Yeah, the skill sets that youlearn in music turns out that
they do help you in othercareers Is especially work ethic
I think that's the biggest oneand you know teamwork,
(08:10):
collaboration, that sort ofstuff.
There's a lot of things you know, so it's like hey, maybe maybe
take it easy on yourself andrealize that you too can be the
CEO of a Swedish budget airline.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Same thing with being just talking to kids about
joining band.
It's like you don't have to bea professional, but they all do
better in math and science.
They have higher levels ofempathy.
It's the only thing stimulatingall the areas of the brain.
I want just all good stuff,Beautiful beautiful things.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
All right, I got a story for you in the spirit of
the holidays.
Yes.
So Dan pack, the great tubaplayer of New York City Ballet,
we love Dan, dan's incredibleand he was playing a family
concert last week or two weeksago with the New York
Philharmonic and never heard ofhim.
He allowed the kids, theyallowed the kids to come up on
(09:04):
stage and kind of what sometimesthe orchestra is called like a
instrument petting zoo.
It's like you can get up andclose, close and personal to the
different instruments and ooh,what's that?
What does that do?
You know that sort of stuff.
So you know, dan, you know, ofcourse, you know, blast the
pedal note at them and they allstart laughing.
And then he's like you want tolook inside the bell and they're
like ooh, and they like sticktheir heads in there.
(09:26):
You know the typical stuff youmight do with a tuba.
And there's this little girland she's, you know, dressed up
for her day at the New YorkPhilharmonic in her nice little,
nice little dress, and shecomes out, he puts her head in
the tuba and pulls her head outand looks right at Dan and goes
you can fit at least one baby inthere.
At least one.
(09:51):
Yeah, I just thought that wasabout the most darling thing.
Kids are amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Kids are awesome.
You always have to like wake upearly for these children's
shows and you're just like, ugh,it's a children's show and then
, once you get there, theyalways end up being the most fun
, because you're never going toplay for a better audience.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
When they dim the lights for like a concert and
there's kids, they just startscreaming.
I mean like it's unbelievable.
Yeah, they're so excited.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Give kids a reason to be able to clap and scream and
not get in trouble, and it'stheir favorite thing in the
world.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I know.
I mean I was lucky enough.
When I was a kid growing up inDallas or Plano I went and saw
Hansel and Gretel, I thinkHansel Hansel and the Dallas
Opera.
So hot right now.
And that was my first timeseeing an orchestra seeing opera
and it was through school andyeah, I, you know, maybe I
(10:47):
remember more because I am amusician, but I've always
remembered that and the wholetime being like whoa, this is
crazy, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I love that opera so much, it's so good.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
It's.
It's like there's not a bit offat in it.
It's like everything needs tobe there.
It's not too long.
It's beautiful music, nicearias, it's great.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
And in Germany they play that during Christmas time
every year, kind of like theNutcracker, which would be so
cool if we did that here I wouldlove to play that every year.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
The Met does it, sometimes during Christmas, but
they always do an Englishversion of Magic Flu.
It's shorter in English andthat's pretty popular too.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I saw, I saw Hansel and Gretel with the Met once and
they, yeah, the the witch waslike.
It was like a man dressed asthe witch, but like really tall
and just like it was.
It was kind of awesome.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
That's how they play it.
A lot of times it depends on,depends on the company, how they
do it, because it can be aMetsus Pran or can be a like
baritone.
It's kind of flexible role.
The Met one is like a feverdream.
Right the production.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
It was really cool.
It was really cool and I thinkwhen we did it we had because
often the the Hansel voice is sohigh that a woman will sing- it
, it's always a woman, theHansel.
Yeah, so hot right now.
So, hot now.
Thank you to.
We had a few new recent patronson our Patreon this month.
Thank you very much.
You can subscribe at patreoncomslash trombone retreat.
(12:15):
Just a reminder all of our,everything we've ever posted on
the Patreon, all of ourexclusive interviews, videos of
podcast interviews, tromboneadvice videos forever they're on
there.
They're archived on the websiteso you can access everything
we've ever posted.
So check it out.
We have an audience question.
(12:35):
Thank you audience.
We have a few.
I had to sift through, buttoday's pretty simple one coming
from Thomas Super set.
Thomas underscore Super set.
Do you even lift bra on theInstagrams?
Our friend Thomas lie.
Trombone retreat alum.
What are Sebastian and Nick'sfavorite activities outside of
(12:57):
music?
I feel like I should answer foryou.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
I mean, what am I gonna say Cookin' the food?
Acts of service are my lovelanguage to other people.
It's one way I show, oh really.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
I have a few acts of service that you could do with
the Trombone treat.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
I was saying ones that I like.
I'm just kidding.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Mmm.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Well, okay, so back to the question.
Back to the question yes,cooking In the summer.
I like playing golf.
I like listening to music Iguess that's related to it, but
it's a different thing and Ilove listening to podcasts.
I mean, it feels like it's onthe nose.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
but what's your favorite podcast right now
you're listening to?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
I love Stavies World Stavros Haukes, amazing comedian
they go for like two, two,three hours sometimes.
They record two podcasts a weekand they're, like, always super
long.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Just hanging out smoking weed and like talking.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Yep, they're just ridiculous.
What about you, Seb?
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I guess, for brevity, if I had to pick one thing.
I mean I have plenty ofinterest and I do feel lucky
that our main source ofenjoyment is also our work.
So you know, I feel like normalnine to fiveers are always
trying to think of their otherthing that they're enjoying.
But I get to enjoy.
I get to play music with myfriends all the time, so I feel
(14:28):
like that is my hobby, that justhappens to pay me money.
But I love basketball, I lovemy Dallas team.
So I'm sure everyone hatesDallas Cowboy fans I'm a Dallas
Mavericks fan but for me one ofmy favorite pastimes is just
traveling and I really havenerded out about travel status
(14:51):
and travel points and justunderstanding the whole process,
because I think traveling usedto give me a little anxiety and
also I grew up being like how dopeople get to ride in first
class?
Like I never understood and Ialways wanted to, and I finally
figured out the system to beable to have the privilege of
getting to do it more often and,of course, whenever, as you
(15:12):
know, you ride in first classonce and you, like I, need this
all the time.
Yeah, it's definitely addicting.
This is my identity now.
I deserve this and I lovewearing sweatpants in first
class around all these businesstravelers where they're confused
.
So really nerding out with thatand getting to travel all over
the world, finding reasons totravel, getting upgraded.
(15:33):
I really enjoy the numbers gameand figuring all that stuff out
.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yeah, I think that answers.
Yeah, yeah, Thank you Thomas.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
All right, Nick, I have a bone to pick.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Pick that bone.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Can we normalize not asking people how their audition
went?
So hear me out.
How many times have you takenan audition?
Taking an audition doesn't gogreat which is majority of
auditions for most people, evensuccessful people and about 10
(16:09):
people ask you how it went rightafterwards, when the last thing
in the world you want to do isrehash this thing, at least in
front of someone else.
I encourage people to askyourselves why you're asking,
because you know we're oftencurious, especially if you
didn't go to the audition.
You want to know how it went,and then you'll ask like who won
(16:29):
?
another thing people don't wantto talk about Is it really
making the other person feelbetter?
So I encourage you instead toconsider, if it comes up,
naturally, ask someone would youlike to talk about how the
audition went?
And give them an opportunity.
I actually did this the otherday because I realized that I
(16:53):
rarely want to talk about it ifit doesn't go well.
You know, maybe I'm stillprocessing, and I asked someone
the other day like hey, do youwant to talk about how it went?
And he's like no, but thank you.
He was pleasantly surprised.
It's like.
Does that make sense?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Yeah, you know, I think you know.
I think there needs to be alittle bit of a caveat to that,
because I feel like when you'rein school or younger, there's
more of a community aspect whereyou do want to talk about how
your audition went, because it'slike the you know the goals are
to win an audition, of course,but like when you're first
starting out, it's like totallynormal to go for, like it was a
(17:32):
good experience.
Because now I know that I getreally nervous in auditions.
You know if it's like yourfirst audition, but you know,
after a while, after you're likeseasoned with auditions, it's
like it might not be the bestquestion.
It's like probably lean on theair on the side of they'll tell
you if they want to talk aboutit.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
That's what it's like .
It's just basic psychology.
Just invite them, give them theopportunity to feel safe to
share how they feel if they'dlike, but if not, it's not
really your business, it's apersonal thing.
So like, hey, you want to talkabout how it went?
No, okay, cool, yeah.
But otherwise you're just kindof like forcing conversation.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
I mean, you would know if that person won the
audition because you would haveheard.
And if you didn't hear thatthey won, they probably didn't,
and so you should err on theside of just not saying anything
or like your idea.
You want to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
And it's one thing.
If you know well, if you knowthey won, that's a little more
safe to bring up thatconversation.
This is probably positive.
Or if you know they made finals, that can go their way, because
sometimes people can be moreupset about getting close and
not winning.
But if you know, nothinghappens or you're just curious.
Just be a little more sensitiveis all I'm offering.
(18:49):
Appreciate that I have.
I have pillaged the depths ofthe internet.
Nicholas and I have found ourQuora question of the week
Fantastic.
So Trumbone Quora, which is oneof the best parts of the
internet.
We find random questions thatpeople of the world have
submitted to the internet andtoday's question is I play the
(19:13):
Trumbone in a small band andthere's one other Trumbone
player.
He sucks and he makes me soundbad.
What do?
Speaker 1 (19:22):
I do.
I like the honesty.
I mean definitely appreciatethat.
What do?
You do.
Well, I think that you turn tothem, look them square in the
eye and say insert name.
You suck at the Trumbone anddon't make me sound very good.
(19:44):
Wow, I think you go just rightinto it Straight on.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
And what do you think is going to come from that?
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Thank you for bringing that to my attention.
I shall do something about that.
Post-haste Problem solved.
Yep, that's it.
I mean, what else do you need?
I'm sure if you're listeningout there, I assume you are.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Try that, I'm sure it'll go really well, you know
it sounds like this is anamateur type of ensemble.
It says it's a small band.
You know it's probably not hisfirst thing.
You know it's like withanything.
It's like the same equivalentof you have a roommate.
Everyone has a differentversion of what clean is, so
(20:26):
there's always going to be oneperson that's going to be more
annoyed at the other personbased on, like, how clean
something is.
This person maybe doesn't haveas high a standards as you,
maybe not as talented as you,maybe just doesn't work hard as
you.
It's a tough situation Ifyou're both being professional
and being paid money.
That's another thing.
But this is the story of ourlives, right?
(20:47):
You have to figure out how towork with people.
So, to answer it seriously,maybe invite them over for duets
, maybe see if you can getbetter together.
But you can't really forcesomeone to sound better unless
you're like, maybe in aleadership position.
You can talk about it.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
I mean I'm going to disagree wholeheartedly because
obviously our God lives in ahouse of excellence, so can't
bring that trash into that house.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Yeah, I guess this guy is perfect.
I don't know if I need to sayhis name.
Oh, the other interesting partof this question is he.
It says he makes me sound bad.
Well, that sounds like a littleprojection, like you're not
taking responsibility foryourself.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
I think it's more like he's perfectly manufactured
tiny nano chip.
Even the smallest bit of dustrenders it useless.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
That's I live for your metaphors, nicholas.
That's good, yeah, thanks, hey,hey.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
I'm going to tell you something I'm grateful for.
It's important, I would lovethat.
Okay, I'm on six nutcrackers inFour left.
Yep, wow, 44 left.
It's, it's, it's, it's a.
It's tiring, you know, and somedays you don't want to be there
just because you're tired andyou're worn out.
(22:16):
And last night I was playing or, yes, your afternoon
technically and I looked downthe audience and it's you, it's
normal to see like little kidsin there, like totally in awe of
what they're looking at onstage, you know.
But yesterday I saw like amiddle aged man and he was
sitting there and he looked at.
(22:37):
He had the same facialexpression as Will Ferrell does
in the movie Elf.
You just like.
Santa he was like the fur like along time, it wasn't just like
a little moment.
So that's awesome.
You know, you have to remindyourself that, like for a lot of
people that come to anyperformance but holiday
performances some like thenutcracker especially it could
(22:58):
be like a huge deal in theirfamily, like a tradition, it
could be like a light once in alifetime experience.
So it was a reminder, reminderto be like, hey, it's pretty
lucky to be able to do this andbring this to people I love that
.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
That's awesome.
Sometimes, yeah, we're luckythat you know we experience
workplace fatigue just likeanyone can, but I feel like we
have more avenues to get out ofit than most people.
So sometimes you just get alook in the audience or
appreciate the music you'replaying.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Yeah, exactly, and I like to make eye contact with
We'll go into this more becauseyou have a whole thing you like
to do but I like to make eyecontact with my colleagues from
across the pit and just look atthem, just stare at them.
We'll look wide-eyed.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
You don't mouth-marry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Well, when we get closer to Christmas, you'll have
to tell your technique, okay.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
I mean it's well documented on that one episode,
but I can copy and paste it backjust for people that appreciate
it so much.
It's hilarious how many peopletry to do that to me now after
talking about that.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
It's so good, yeah.
Well, what do you think, seb?
I?
Think we've covered the WeeksTrombones most pressing topics.
Weeks Trombones most pressingtopics the Weeks Trombones, most
Trombone.
Oh, you get it.
I haven't had copy, I'm justgoing to let you.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Oh wow, you did this without coffee.
I'm impressed.
Are you going to go do a dress?
Rehearsal of the Tan Hauser.
Tan Hauser.
And then you got anotherNutcracker tonight.
No day off, but you're going tolisten to Nutcracker, just so
you don't get out of it.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Oh yeah, I'm going to look at the Baron Rider score
you don't want to lose it.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Fix some errata.
Yeah, you can't lose it,because you might just show up
in it.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
It's like the off day in the Tour de France the biker
still ride, you know.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Metaphor.
I need some sort of like dingor like a cash register sound.
Every time you hit me with agood metaphor, a gong.
The metaphor gong.
I'm going to go play some duetswith Brian Hecht because we
both live down here.
Well, he lives down here andI'm, my family lives down here
and we both have the holidaychops.
(25:22):
So hops.
I realized it should be calleddo Hecks Going to go play some
du Hecks?
Yep, that'll be fun Thenheading back.
And then the holiday gauntletbegins.
No nights off, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Well, enjoy the rest of your time down with your
family.
I'm going to run out the doorand go play Tan Hauser.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Sounds good and if you haven't subscribed, make
sure you subscribe to thepodcast.
We always get a notification.
It helps us out a lot.
Rate and review on Spotify andiTunes helps us out a lot.
And email us at tromboneretreatat gmailcom If you have any
questions you'd like us toanswer on the podcast.
Follow Nick at base from bone444 on the Instagrams and meet
(26:04):
at what's my name, jsvera onInstagrams and follow us at
trombone retreat on all thesocial medias and we appreciate
you and we hope that you make ita great day.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Thank you Bye.
I looked down the audience and it's you.
It's normal to see like littlekids in there, like totally in
awe of what they're looking aton stage, you know.
But yesterday I saw like amiddle-aged man and he was
sitting there and he looked.
He had the same facialexpression as Will Ferrell does
in the movie Elf.
He was just like Santa.
(00:21):
He was like the fur like a longtime, it wasn't just like a
little moment.
So that's awesome.
You know, you have to remindyourself that, like for a lot of
people that come to anyperformance, but holiday
performance is something likethe Nutcracker especially.
It could be like a huge deal intheir family, like a tradition,
it could be like a once in alifetime experience.
(00:42):
So it was a reminder, reminderto be like, hey, it's pretty
lucky to be able to do this andbring this to people.
I love that.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Good morning.
Good morning bright and early.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, last last episode we recorded we had all
these curveballs happen and wehad to record pretty late.
It's funny how I notice adifference when we record at
different times, Like our energylevels will be different.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yeah, I think they all.
They probably all have theirpluses and minuses.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
You know, we got to find that.
We got to find that that sweetjuicy spot that's just like
Goldilocks.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
We need that, we need that.
Uh, that baby bear energy.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Where we, where we both achieve flow, state at the
exact same time, mm-hmm, exceptyou're.
You're a night person, I'm verymuch a morning person, so I
don't know if that place exists.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
No, you can't have to meet somewhere in the middle.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
And so today it's 8am in Texas and it's 9am for you,
which it's funny, because you'relike oh no, I think the only
time we're going to be able todo this is 9am, and you said it
in a way where we're both oh man, that's, that's impossible.
But that's literally the time95% of the world starts working,
it's true, and we're like no,can't, can't do it.
(02:16):
As we know from musicians,that's 9am is basically the
middle of the night.
9am is like our 5am.
So, nick, this is our thirdepisode of this new short form
series, and I am pleased to tellyou that we have a new official
title for this series, is thisour fourth episode.
Is it?
(02:38):
Yeah, it is the fourth one.
Nailed it Right again.
Nailed it, see 8am.
Not a good time for me, socancel that one.
What so?
Coming in third place?
First of all, thank you toeveryone who voted.
We had a very strong turnoutfor the vote, a lot of
passionate thoughts, but comingin third place was the slide in
(03:01):
with 26% of votes.
You know that was a good title,had a little sexual innuendo,
but you know it was casual.
What do you mean?
I don't know.
Coming in with 33% of the vote?
In second place Jones andFuribonzin.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
I mean that was my favorite, but you know the
people I've spoken in that wasnot the crowd's favorite.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
So I mean, yeah, it's a good title.
It's a good title, but it'sclearly not for everyone I like
it.
Maybe we could use it inanother way, but thank you,
alexis, for the suggestion.
I forgot to mention that.
So the main poll was onInstagram, but you can also
create a poll on Spotify.
So for our Spotify listeners,please check those, because
every now and then we can postquestions and polls, and we had
(03:47):
one vote for all things rusty onSpotify and we also had a
write-in for the alternateposition, which I was like, oh,
that's pretty good, should havetold us earlier.
But the winner 41% of the vote41, dirk Nowitzki in our new
(04:07):
title, the fifth position.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep,
beep, beep, beep, beep, beep,beep beep beep Feel vindicated.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I know you do.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
You will not let you down.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
It's a good clean to the point title.
It's very poignant on topic.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I like it, I'll get used to it you know, yet it
still has some mystery, sincenone of us know where fifth
position is.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
It's like the train platform to Hogwarts.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Did you see that video recently where the kid
just ran full speed into thewall Trying?
To go into the Hogwarts at thetrain station.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
There you go.
Darwin would have something tosay about that.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I don't know if it was staged or not, but it was
very funny.
What a world, so how?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
was Thanksgiving.
It was great, had a couple offriends over cooked, like I
normally do.
And what was your?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Friends' Amariment, friends' Amariment.
What was your favorite thing tocook?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
I did a new recipe for my turkey that I really
enjoyed making.
I made a really good Brusselssprouts dish that I really
enjoyed making.
So yeah, kind of all of it.
I love it, but just it's fun.
I like the process.
Did you let anyone help my wife?
That's it.
What about you?
How was your Thanksgiving?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Oh, it was good, it was good Big family thing down
here in Texas.
It's always so nice to sayeverybody yeah, I didn't overeat
, I didn't go crazy Like Inormally do, which I feel like
is a victory.
Coming down to Texas, I justaccept that I'm going to gain 15
pounds every time I come intothe state, so I think maybe I
(05:44):
only gained like 14 pounds.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
No, so Progress.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Me and my mom have been going on walks.
So I'm just like mom, we'regoing to walk for 30 minutes
every single day and it's beenactually really nice.
I'm just like I could do thisall the time, besides just doing
like Peloton or whatever.
It's just nice to get outside,especially down here, where it's
still like.
I mean, it's cold now, but it'sbeen like 60 degrees, so that's
kind of nice.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Very pleasant yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Would you like to hear the Google alert?
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I wait with baited breath.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
So the segment is Trumbo and Google Alerts what's
going on in the world.
We need one of those like thosenews typewriter thing, yeah,
there's actually another articlethat is related to Trumbo and
Player.
There is a business insiderarticle about Swedish CEO of
(06:36):
EasyJet, johan Lundgren, on howhis first Wait, let me get a
shot at that name, uh-huh.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Johan Lundgren.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Yeah, that's actually .
That's probably way moreaccurate.
I apologize, johan, I'm sure helistens.
Yeah, he actually.
His first dream was to be aTrumbonist and, you know, didn't
reach that dream so had tosettle for being a CEO of one of
the major airlines of the world.
But it is.
It is kind of cool that it washis dream.
(07:06):
He didn't get into, I think,the Royal Danish Conservatory.
And the article is nice.
I mean, it's not about being aTrumbon player, but it traces
his career and his path.
And it just made me think andwe've briefly talked about this
before about if you're nervousabout pursuing music or you're
considering another career pathafter studying music.
I think we're very scared ofthis notion a lot, but there's
(07:30):
so many musicians that use theskills that they have learned
becoming a musician to translateit to other careers and
translate it very successfully,and there's a lot of employers
that understand all the uniqueskills that a musician can bring
.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, I mean I tell my students this all the time
too.
It's like you know, becauseI've seen it firsthand with you
know people I grew up with thatwanted to be musicians and, for
whatever reason, pivoted out ofit.
Yeah, the skill sets that youlearn in music turns out that
they do help you in othercareers Is especially work ethic
I think that's the biggest oneand you know teamwork,
(08:10):
collaboration, that sort ofstuff.
There's a lot of things you know, so it's like hey, maybe maybe
take it easy on yourself andrealize that you too can be the
CEO of a Swedish budget airline.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Same thing with being just talking to kids about
joining band.
It's like you don't have to bea professional, but they all do
better in math and science.
They have higher levels ofempathy.
It's the only thing stimulatingall the areas of the brain.
I want just all good stuff,Beautiful beautiful things.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
All right, I got a story for you in the spirit of
the holidays.
Yes.
So Dan pack, the great tubaplayer of New York City Ballet,
we love Dan, dan's incredibleand he was playing a family
concert last week or two weeksago with the New York
Philharmonic and never heard ofhim.
He allowed the kids, theyallowed the kids to come up on
(09:04):
stage and kind of what sometimesthe orchestra is called like a
instrument petting zoo.
It's like you can get up andclose, close and personal to the
different instruments and ooh,what's that?
What does that do?
You know that sort of stuff.
So you know, dan, you know, ofcourse, you know, blast the
pedal note at them and they allstart laughing.
And then he's like you want tolook inside the bell and they're
like ooh, and they like sticktheir heads in there.
(09:26):
You know the typical stuff youmight do with a tuba.
And there's this little girland she's, you know, dressed up
for her day at the New YorkPhilharmonic in her nice little,
nice little dress, and shecomes out, he puts her head in
the tuba and pulls her head outand looks right at Dan and goes
you can fit at least one baby inthere.
At least one.
(09:51):
Yeah, I just thought that wasabout the most darling thing.
Kids are amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Kids are awesome.
You always have to like wake upearly for these children's
shows and you're just like, ugh,it's a children's show and then
, once you get there, theyalways end up being the most fun
, because you're never going toplay for a better audience.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
When they dim the lights for like a concert and
there's kids, they just startscreaming.
I mean like it's unbelievable.
Yeah, they're so excited.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Give kids a reason to be able to clap and scream and
not get in trouble, and it'stheir favorite thing in the
world.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I know.
I mean I was lucky enough.
When I was a kid growing up inDallas or Plano I went and saw
Hansel and Gretel, I thinkHansel Hansel and the Dallas
Opera.
So hot right now.
And that was my first timeseeing an orchestra seeing opera
and it was through school andyeah, I, you know, maybe I
(10:47):
remember more because I am amusician, but I've always
remembered that and the wholetime being like whoa, this is
crazy, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I love that opera so much, it's so good.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
It's.
It's like there's not a bit offat in it.
It's like everything needs tobe there.
It's not too long.
It's beautiful music, nicearias, it's great.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
And in Germany they play that during Christmas time
every year, kind of like theNutcracker, which would be so
cool if we did that here I wouldlove to play that every year.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
The Met does it, sometimes during Christmas, but
they always do an Englishversion of Magic Flu.
It's shorter in English andthat's pretty popular too.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I saw, I saw Hansel and Gretel with the Met once and
they, yeah, the the witch waslike.
It was like a man dressed asthe witch, but like really tall
and just like it was.
It was kind of awesome.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
That's how they play it.
A lot of times it depends on,depends on the company, how they
do it, because it can be aMetsus Pran or can be a like
baritone.
It's kind of flexible role.
The Met one is like a feverdream.
Right the production.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
It was really cool.
It was really cool and I thinkwhen we did it we had because
often the the Hansel voice is sohigh that a woman will sing- it
, it's always a woman, theHansel.
Yeah, so hot right now.
So, hot now.
Thank you to.
We had a few new recent patronson our Patreon this month.
Thank you very much.
You can subscribe at patreoncomslash trombone retreat.
(12:15):
Just a reminder all of our,everything we've ever posted on
the Patreon, all of ourexclusive interviews, videos of
podcast interviews, tromboneadvice videos forever they're on
there.
They're archived on the websiteso you can access everything
we've ever posted.
So check it out.
We have an audience question.
(12:35):
Thank you audience.
We have a few.
I had to sift through, buttoday's pretty simple one coming
from Thomas Super set.
Thomas underscore Super set.
Do you even lift bra on theInstagrams?
Our friend Thomas lie.
Trombone retreat alum.
What are Sebastian and Nick'sfavorite activities outside of
(12:57):
music?
I feel like I should answer foryou.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
I mean, what am I gonna say Cookin' the food?
Acts of service are my lovelanguage to other people.
It's one way I show, oh really.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
I have a few acts of service that you could do with
the Trombone treat.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
I was saying ones that I like.
I'm just kidding.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Mmm.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Well, okay, so back to the question.
Back to the question yes,cooking In the summer.
I like playing golf.
I like listening to music Iguess that's related to it, but
it's a different thing and Ilove listening to podcasts.
I mean, it feels like it's onthe nose.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
but what's your favorite podcast right now
you're listening to?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
I love Stavies World Stavros Haukes, amazing comedian
they go for like two, two,three hours sometimes.
They record two podcasts a weekand they're, like, always super
long.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Just hanging out smoking weed and like talking.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Yep, they're just ridiculous.
What about you, Seb?
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I guess, for brevity, if I had to pick one thing.
I mean I have plenty ofinterest and I do feel lucky
that our main source ofenjoyment is also our work.
So you know, I feel like normalnine to fiveers are always
trying to think of their otherthing that they're enjoying.
But I get to enjoy.
I get to play music with myfriends all the time, so I feel
(14:28):
like that is my hobby, that justhappens to pay me money.
But I love basketball, I lovemy Dallas team.
So I'm sure everyone hatesDallas Cowboy fans I'm a Dallas
Mavericks fan but for me one ofmy favorite pastimes is just
traveling and I really havenerded out about travel status
(14:51):
and travel points and justunderstanding the whole process,
because I think traveling usedto give me a little anxiety and
also I grew up being like how dopeople get to ride in first
class?
Like I never understood and Ialways wanted to, and I finally
figured out the system to beable to have the privilege of
getting to do it more often and,of course, whenever, as you
(15:12):
know, you ride in first classonce and you, like I, need this
all the time.
Yeah, it's definitely addicting.
This is my identity now.
I deserve this and I lovewearing sweatpants in first
class around all these businesstravelers where they're confused
.
So really nerding out with thatand getting to travel all over
the world, finding reasons totravel, getting upgraded.
(15:33):
I really enjoy the numbers gameand figuring all that stuff out
.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yeah, I think that answers.
Yeah, yeah, Thank you Thomas.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
All right, Nick, I have a bone to pick.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Pick that bone.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Can we normalize not asking people how their audition
went?
So hear me out.
How many times have you takenan audition?
Taking an audition doesn't gogreat which is majority of
auditions for most people, evensuccessful people and about 10
(16:09):
people ask you how it went rightafterwards, when the last thing
in the world you want to do isrehash this thing, at least in
front of someone else.
I encourage people to askyourselves why you're asking,
because you know we're oftencurious, especially if you
didn't go to the audition.
You want to know how it went,and then you'll ask like who won
(16:29):
?
another thing people don't wantto talk about Is it really
making the other person feelbetter?
So I encourage you instead toconsider, if it comes up,
naturally, ask someone would youlike to talk about how the
audition went?
And give them an opportunity.
I actually did this the otherday because I realized that I
(16:53):
rarely want to talk about it ifit doesn't go well.
You know, maybe I'm stillprocessing, and I asked someone
the other day like hey, do youwant to talk about how it went?
And he's like no, but thank you.
He was pleasantly surprised.
It's like.
Does that make sense?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Yeah, you know, I think you know.
I think there needs to be alittle bit of a caveat to that,
because I feel like when you'rein school or younger, there's
more of a community aspect whereyou do want to talk about how
your audition went, because it'slike the you know the goals are
to win an audition, of course,but like when you're first
starting out, it's like totallynormal to go for, like it was a
(17:32):
good experience.
Because now I know that I getreally nervous in auditions.
You know if it's like yourfirst audition, but you know,
after a while, after you're likeseasoned with auditions, it's
like it might not be the bestquestion.
It's like probably lean on theair on the side of they'll tell
you if they want to talk aboutit.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
That's what it's like .
It's just basic psychology.
Just invite them, give them theopportunity to feel safe to
share how they feel if they'dlike, but if not, it's not
really your business, it's apersonal thing.
So like, hey, you want to talkabout how it went?
No, okay, cool, yeah.
But otherwise you're just kindof like forcing conversation.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
I mean, you would know if that person won the
audition because you would haveheard.
And if you didn't hear thatthey won, they probably didn't,
and so you should err on theside of just not saying anything
or like your idea.
You want to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
And it's one thing.
If you know well, if you knowthey won, that's a little more
safe to bring up thatconversation.
This is probably positive.
Or if you know they made finals, that can go their way, because
sometimes people can be moreupset about getting close and
not winning.
But if you know, nothinghappens or you're just curious.
Just be a little more sensitiveis all I'm offering.
(18:49):
Appreciate that I have.
I have pillaged the depths ofthe internet.
Nicholas and I have found ourQuora question of the week
Fantastic.
So Trumbone Quora, which is oneof the best parts of the
internet.
We find random questions thatpeople of the world have
submitted to the internet andtoday's question is I play the
(19:13):
Trumbone in a small band andthere's one other Trumbone
player.
He sucks and he makes me soundbad.
What do?
Speaker 1 (19:22):
I do.
I like the honesty.
I mean definitely appreciatethat.
What do?
You do.
Well, I think that you turn tothem, look them square in the
eye and say insert name.
You suck at the Trumbone anddon't make me sound very good.
(19:44):
Wow, I think you go just rightinto it Straight on.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
And what do you think is going to come from that?
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Thank you for bringing that to my attention.
I shall do something about that.
Post-haste Problem solved.
Yep, that's it.
I mean, what else do you need?
I'm sure if you're listeningout there, I assume you are.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Try that, I'm sure it'll go really well, you know
it sounds like this is anamateur type of ensemble.
It says it's a small band.
You know it's probably not hisfirst thing.
You know it's like withanything.
It's like the same equivalentof you have a roommate.
Everyone has a differentversion of what clean is, so
(20:26):
there's always going to be oneperson that's going to be more
annoyed at the other personbased on, like, how clean
something is.
This person maybe doesn't haveas high a standards as you,
maybe not as talented as you,maybe just doesn't work hard as
you.
It's a tough situation Ifyou're both being professional
and being paid money.
That's another thing.
But this is the story of ourlives, right?
(20:47):
You have to figure out how towork with people.
So, to answer it seriously,maybe invite them over for duets
, maybe see if you can getbetter together.
But you can't really forcesomeone to sound better unless
you're like, maybe in aleadership position.
You can talk about it.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
I mean I'm going to disagree wholeheartedly because
obviously our God lives in ahouse of excellence, so can't
bring that trash into that house.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Yeah, I guess this guy is perfect.
I don't know if I need to sayhis name.
Oh, the other interesting partof this question is he.
It says he makes me sound bad.
Well, that sounds like a littleprojection, like you're not
taking responsibility foryourself.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
I think it's more like he's perfectly manufactured
tiny nano chip.
Even the smallest bit of dustrenders it useless.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
That's I live for your metaphors, nicholas.
That's good, yeah, thanks, hey,hey.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
I'm going to tell you something I'm grateful for.
It's important, I would lovethat.
Okay, I'm on six nutcrackers inFour left.
Yep, wow, 44 left.
It's, it's, it's, it's a.
It's tiring, you know, and somedays you don't want to be there
just because you're tired andyou're worn out.
(22:16):
And last night I was playing or, yes, your afternoon
technically and I looked downthe audience and it's you, it's
normal to see like little kidsin there, like totally in awe of
what they're looking at onstage, you know.
But yesterday I saw like amiddle aged man and he was
sitting there and he looked at.
(22:37):
He had the same facialexpression as Will Ferrell does
in the movie Elf.
You just like.
Santa he was like the fur like along time, it wasn't just like
a little moment.
So that's awesome.
You know, you have to remindyourself that, like for a lot of
people that come to anyperformance but holiday
performances some like thenutcracker especially it could
(22:58):
be like a huge deal in theirfamily, like a tradition, it
could be like a light once in alifetime experience.
So it was a reminder, reminderto be like, hey, it's pretty
lucky to be able to do this andbring this to people I love that
.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
That's awesome.
Sometimes, yeah, we're luckythat you know we experience
workplace fatigue just likeanyone can, but I feel like we
have more avenues to get out ofit than most people.
So sometimes you just get alook in the audience or
appreciate the music you'replaying.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Yeah, exactly, and I like to make eye contact with
We'll go into this more becauseyou have a whole thing you like
to do but I like to make eyecontact with my colleagues from
across the pit and just look atthem, just stare at them.
We'll look wide-eyed.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
You don't mouth-marry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Well, when we get closer to Christmas, you'll have
to tell your technique, okay.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
I mean it's well documented on that one episode,
but I can copy and paste it backjust for people that appreciate
it so much.
It's hilarious how many peopletry to do that to me now after
talking about that.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
It's so good, yeah.
Well, what do you think, seb?
I?
Think we've covered the WeeksTrombones most pressing topics.
Weeks Trombones most pressingtopics the Weeks Trombones, most
Trombone.
Oh, you get it.
I haven't had copy, I'm justgoing to let you.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Oh wow, you did this without coffee.
I'm impressed.
Are you going to go do a dress?
Rehearsal of the Tan Hauser.
Tan Hauser.
And then you got anotherNutcracker tonight.
No day off, but you're going tolisten to Nutcracker, just so
you don't get out of it.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Oh yeah, I'm going to look at the Baron Rider score
you don't want to lose it.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Fix some errata.
Yeah, you can't lose it,because you might just show up
in it.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
It's like the off day in the Tour de France the biker
still ride, you know.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Metaphor.
I need some sort of like dingor like a cash register sound.
Every time you hit me with agood metaphor, a gong.
The metaphor gong.
I'm going to go play some duetswith Brian Hecht because we
both live down here.
Well, he lives down here andI'm, my family lives down here
and we both have the holidaychops.
(25:22):
So hops.
I realized it should be calleddo Hecks Going to go play some
du Hecks?
Yep, that'll be fun Thenheading back.
And then the holiday gauntletbegins.
No nights off, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Well, enjoy the rest of your time down with your
family.
I'm going to run out the doorand go play Tan Hauser.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Sounds good and if you haven't subscribed, make
sure you subscribe to thepodcast.
We always get a notification.
It helps us out a lot.
Rate and review on Spotify andiTunes helps us out a lot.
And email us at tromboneretreatat gmailcom If you have any
questions you'd like us toanswer on the podcast.
Follow Nick at base from bone444 on the Instagrams and meet
(26:04):
at what's my name, jsvera onInstagrams and follow us at
trombone retreat on all thesocial medias and we appreciate
you and we hope that you make ita great day.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Thank you Bye.
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