- It's probably important to remember
that the first time that you get hired,
you're probably being hired
because somebody who he regularly uses
is not available.
So, if you go and play
I wouldn't assume,
"Oh,I'm in with Richard Brown now,
that means that all the time
that he needs an oboe player
he's going to call me."
Because he'll probably revert back
to using the people that he uses regularly.
And remembering how well you did
on the job and how professional
and well behaved you were,
another opportunity will present itself.
And then another opportunity will present itself.
As I said earlier, it's a slow process
but as long as everything,
the relationship between you and the contractor
in the town where you're trying to work is good,
he will continue to call you.
But I wouldn't assume that because he called for one job
that means he will use you
for every job that he has coming up.
I know in my own case, there are people that I use regularly
that I will call my first call list of people.
And when they're not available,
then I will go to alternates.
And sometimes I have two
and three jobs for orchestras on the same day.
And then that's a perfect example
of when you might be able to break in.
It's very important
to get to know the other players who play
your instrument in the town,
because the recommendations and the references
for jobs will come more from the other players.
If a person who I use and who I respect
and trust who plays oboe says to me,
"I can't do this but you know,
there's a new young player in town.
Why don't you try him?" on that recommendation
I will try that person.
Because I think It's important
for me to feel that the person I'm hiring
will be able to go
and do a good job and a good reference
from a player who I trust is the best way
for me to feel assured
that everything will be okay
when I hire that player.
I think it's very important
to get to know all the people
in town who work regularly
on the instrument that you work,
or related instruments like a woodwind quintet.
Maybe you could get to know some
of the players and get into a woodwind quintet
or a brass quintet with
some players who work regularly.
They'll get to know you
and then they'll need a trombone player.
And the label to say to,
a friend of mine who
was playing first trumpet for me,
"I need a trombone player you have."
And he says, "yeah, there's a really new guy,
great guy in town and we've been
playing quartets together and he plays great."
So to get to know the other musicians
who do what you do both the same instrument
and related families is very important.
To me that recommendation means more
than somebody sending me a resume
saying that they graduated from Rice University
and studied with Bob arthurhall as an oboe teacher.
I mean, I will follow through on all recommendations
before I hire somebody just to be safe.