Does anyone have examples of really amusing incidents related to making music?

Question

I'm thinking specifically of true incidents related to orchestral or wind band music. Part of a novel I'm writing needs some more examples and, if you send a response, I will assume you are happy for me to use it in the novel.

Answer 1

I know several from my time in marching band in high school:

1. During a half time show one Friday night, a transformer blew, turning out the lights on one side of the stadium while shooting sparks out. The crowd thought it was fireworks and part of our show. They applauded with great enthusiasm while we finished in semi-darkness.

2. As part of our band uniforms, we had suspenders to help keep our pants up. One of our bass drummers misplaced his on night and decided to march without them. While on the football field during the halftime show, his pants fell down to his ankles. To get them up, he had to stop marching, dismount his bass drum, and pull them up.

3. At another football game, the field was surrounded by a track. At half time a mosquito spraying truck made two circles around the track to kill the insects gathering around the lights. We played our half time show while it rained mouths, hard backed beetles, and other things all around us.

4. The last story. As part of her routine, a majorette twirled a flaming baton during one of the songs. She sprayed too much hair spray not only on her hair, but apparently all over and her panty hose disintegrated as she maneuvered her baton too close to her leg! Her dad was on the sidelines with a blanket for such occasions and she was unhurt.

Answer 2

My story is a vocal story, but true and embarrassing. Maybe you can change it to suit your novel. I was taking my end of the year vocal boards in college. We were performing in a room referred to as "the black box". It was basically a room painted black with black curtains hung at one end where a small platform stage was built which had sort of free-standing curtains. A grand piano was at one end of the stage area. My accompanist sat at the piano and as I entered the stage he nodded at me. As instructed by my vocal coach I approaced the crook of the piano, folded my hands and began my first piece. I was a triple major (dance, drama and music) and knew I was leaving this stiff tight-*** school and heading to NYC and a career in musical theater so these board didn't really matter to me and the idea of standing in the piano crook with folded hands amused me. Music should be expressed with emotion and movement so standing like a statue was difficult for me. The intro was played and I began my first song which was a silly art sound called THE VIOLET. I had to sing it in German, but knowing the english version I had a difficult time keeping from laughing. I made it through the next song with a straight face and then came the opera selection. As I hit my super high note my voice cracked and I started laughing - hysterically laughing, doubling up laughing (either out of nervousness, being embarressed or at this point just not caring). My accompanist laid his head down on the piano and I just waved my hand and headed off the stage. Because of the way the curtains were hanging I got tied up in them and ended back on stage. After a second try to exit I just jumped off the front of the stage and blew a kiss to the board panel and skipped out of the room. I ended up in the hallway laughing so hard I could barely stand up.

Needless to say, even though I did neither drugs nor alchohol they assumed I was under the influence. Made my move to NYC much easier.....:} By the way, I did MUCH better in NYC.

Answer 3

The conductor once walked off stage part way through a performance. We had played two out of our three pieces and he just forgot about the third one. We were all sat on this stage looking slightly bemused when one of the cellists ran off and reminded him about the 3rd piece!

Theres also the danger of flying batons! Also did you know oboists can fit a polo over their reed? Remember viola jokes!

I've heard of people falling off stages too.

Answer 4

Well I have heard of beans the musical fruit...the more you eat the more you toot...so maybe you could eat some fruit before your performance and end it with a big fart! ha ha ha!