Asset or PITA?

[Lex Brodie]

OK so, I'm learning the trumpet and coming along nicely. I can sound pretty musical, but I still miss a lot of notes. I'm VERY good with the public, and handle hecklers well.

Should I get out and play only when I can at least get through a popular song w/o messing up a note?

Or, should I just get on out there, bad notes and all, and let the public partake of my learning experience? Probably spend as much time joking and bantering and telling kids of all ages how to get started in trumpet and just plain being a personable good guy. New players are told to "rest as much as you play" so I'd not be beating myself up out there.

I include, if it's working, a poll.

[Lex Brodie]

I should add that I've not voted in the poll myself, I want to hear what other people think not what I think.

[Lex Brodie]

Interesting results so far ..... keep 'em coming.

I did a swapmeet today and I'd go busk tomorrow but I'm just tired.

At least my Ave Maria doesn't have too many bad notes in it these days, I've been working on that song a lot. (Hint to new trumpeters, find it in F for HS students playing the Horn.)

[Steven Ragatz]

Don't work to be successful, work to be good.

[Lex Brodie]

Thanks Steven that's the main thing. That's why I've sold my motorcycle and it's back to bicycle or bus, and why I feel lucky as hell to be living in a situation where I can get by on a few hundred a month, a hundred a month if I have to. So I can work on getting good. Successful is a "by product" and comes in its own time.

[Lex Brodie]

I've still yet to get out there ...... rode my bike to Morgan Hill and it's a bit of a ride, not bad but it's 10 miles. It's about even in effort with taking the bus, since I have to walk 2 to the stop. But once on the bus, I might as well get a day pass (24 hours' rides for the price of 3 so I can really bus around) and hit Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Mountain View.

My big goal is to be decent on Xmas carols. I'm practicing everything but, right now, just basic beginner trumpet stuff. So my present near total lack of income isn't un-anticipated.

Since I really can't afford the usual Saturday garage-sale-shopping debauchery with my landlord, during which I often spend as much as $25, planning for a day of trumpet-playing might be a good way to dodge it.

[Lex Brodie]

Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou..... another vote and for the "bad notes 'n' all".

I can swing, just not through a whole song lol.

I'm aiming for this weekend, Sunnyvale/Palo Alto/Mountain View one or more of those places.

[Lex Brodie]

I went out and did it today, made $4.17 in 2 hours, mainly had a fun time.

I didn't want to be near too many people in case my playing was really irritating. But it seemed to be OK, and mainly I had fun.