I know, I know, it’s not oboe related. But hey, I found out that the Giants won the penant while sitting in the pit, so that counts for something, right?
I had to leave home when we were still tied, 2-2. Shortly before downbeat Uribe hit a home run, putting us ahead 3-2. But then the phone had to go off; we can’t have them even on silent because they cause problems with the sound (and while some scoff at that I once left my phone on silent and I did hear the speaker by the conductor — set up for him to hear the silly electronic voices we use in Nutcracker — make those funny sounds that they make when a phone is nearby). So the phone went off. And I had to concentrate on my job and making music and not be thinking about the game the entire time. (This is why, even if we were allowed to have our phones on, I’d have to turn mine off; I find it a distraction and I don’t need that!) But the minute we finished the first act it was right back on and … woo hoo! … we won!
The Giants won the penant! The Giants won the penant! The Giants won the penant!
One ballet tomorrow. Then I must concentrate very seriously on … well … the World Series!
Go Giants!!
Good thing you turned the phone off–I heard the reason Ray Still and Donald Peck, famed principal oboe & flute of Chicago back in the day, stopped speaking to each other was baseball. Apparently Mr. Still had a small radio onstage during a rehearsal and was listening to the world series game. Mr. Peck was annoyed by this and tattled on him. So they sat next to each other for years afterward and didn’t speak! But that’s just what I heard, could be a myth, of course.
I knew they didn’t speak to each other for years, but never heard the reason.
I would never follow a game during a performance. It just seems unprofessional to me. (I realize other musicians disagree, but that’s not my problem, right?)