Travel Tuba for a Traveling Tubador
I am not comfortable doing this sort of thing, but alas the times have us reaching out for patronage.
2017-18 threw some real challenges at me. I didn't share any of publicly, because it wasn't anybody's business really and everybody has had a rough couple years I'm pretty sure. And these days everybody seems to over-share quite a bit, and golly did I have some experiences to share. I kept it to myself.
The Cliff Notes went like this:
In May 2017, my hereditary osteoarthritis finally tore through the tendons of my left rotator cuff, severing them like they did my right shoulder nearly a decade ago. I had been playing through some genuine agony for about a year prior but again I kept it quiet as the younger set already takes a dim view to hiring older musicians as it is. Thanks to Medicaid expansion in Louisiana I got the procedure done, but of took months to jump through the hoops to get it and it effectively took a year out of my ability to make an income. Thanks to the efforts of the New Orleans Musicians Clinic I was able to cover some of my living expenses, but much of it went on the credit cards.
But then...just as I was going through my PT and re-entering the workforce I, through a series of incidents I'm unable to discuss and outside of my control, was grievously wounded on my right forearm and made homeless. I was very lucky to have the Clinic cover my storage fees and have good folks to allow me to couch surf. Life was like that for about 6 months. I made the most of it and travelled a bit, visiting folks and working on the road as much as possible. NOT TO WORRY however as I'm now settled and supported in a storybook location with my girlfriend in central NOLA. Looking up!
Then...my families' history of pancreatitis and bad teeth showed up (they go hand in hand) and two of my upper morals had to be pulled. Not a big deal, folks get old. But as a tuba player that's an issue. It was either a denture, or no tuba playing. New credit card, maxed out.
My psychiatrist and psychologist are both really impressed at how well I'm taking all this. I see both regularly and after 5 years intensive work they have dialed in my meds pretty good now. As a BiPolar 2 person I have special challenges to begin with so I see these days a test really. "Live through this and still be a good person, mo-fo!" lol. My all around health has never been better, I'm down 3 pants sizes and a shirt size since these travails began so there's a silver lining!
SO, why am I doing this GoFundMe? The pitch is in the above video. I had a real heartbreaking moment last April when the Other Europeans were performing in Malta. Yup, Malta. Long way to go. I had to rely on the bass and the tuba they had for me there and they did their level best to find good instruments for me. But alas, I just could not get a decent performance out of them. It was a very long way to go to to a sub-par job. The experience really put me into a tailspin. Ever since, when I have a job on tuba I've been driving my horn, no matter the distance. It was 4000 miles round trip to KlezKamp Ashokan in July. It'll be 1400 miles to the Bar Mitzvah gig in Orlando in late August. I'm determined to do a quality job and live up to the reputation that I've made for myself all these years. I really feel that this travel dedicated instrument will allow me to do just that: if the provided onsite instrument is sub-par, then I will always have my vest pocket horn that I will be confident of. Just like every other touring musician on Earth.
Now I've got a lovely Czech made Amati Helicon in F with a custom gig bag that I've been trying to sell for $2000. And I'm offering it here as an incentive. Should you really need one for your Balkan Brass band and wish to buy it, I will hand deliver it within a 500 mile radius of New Orleans. If that sells, I'll just pull this GoFundMe down and we'll be done with it. If anyone want to help out with the dentures, you're welcome to contact me offline.
I meant what I said. I plan on giving you all many years good service. I'd be much obliged if you could help me out.
Humbly,
Mark Rubin
New Orleans, LA