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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000088.txt from 2006/05

From: Chleo Jet <chleojet@-----.com>
Subj: [DR-L] REMEMBER RULE 6...
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 19:36:46 -0400

(Forgive a repeat of this story, which I've posted
once or twice over the years - for some reason, it
seems appropriate, once again - perhaps, I'm just
getting too crazy about my reeds??!!)

Several years ago, I played bassoon for Goldovsky
Opera Institute's national tours - some lasted 8 weeks
or more - usually the orchestra and cast were
"crowded" into one bus, while a truck carried the
sets, props, etc. Mainly six one-night stands a week,
with one dark night. You were herded into this bus for
hours on end (although, thank God, Goldovsky observed
all union travel rules!), and most of us were
initially stangers.

At the beginning of every tour, Boris Goldovsky, our
conductor and fearless leader, would give a little
talk, before we set out (usually 8 AM). Some on this
list will remember his very high-pitched, distinctive
Russian- accented voice (he was known as Mr. Opera for
the Texaco Metropolitan Opera panel radio discussions
for many years). At any rate, he would always begin a
tour with the following: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I
request that you all for the remainder of our tour
remember RULE 6."

He would then go into a detailed explanation of this
rule - I can't quote verbatim, but essentially, he
talked about a gentleman bursting hysterically into a
crowded office, screaming at the top of his voice
about some complaint. Wherewith the secretary would
look him square in the eyes and exclaim, "Mr. Smith,
please remember Rule 6!" To whit, the man got very
quiet and took his place in line. Two other gentlemen
and a lady came into the office in the same manner,
screaming about complaints, slights, etc. - to which
the secretary said the same thing and they too became
calm. Finally, one of the people in the office went up
to the desk and asked the secretary - "I've noticed
you've calmed these very anxious people down by
mentioning Rule 6 - what on earth is Rule 6?" To which
the secretary replied (again in Boris' shrill
accent!), "my dear, it's very simple - Rule 6 is
simply: DON'T TAKE YOURSELF SO DAMN SERIOUSLY!"

Frankly, Rule 6 has been one of the greatest assets
I've found in the music business, or for life, in
general - when I can somehow manage to remember it!

Peace, Jim

************************
James Jeter, D.M.A.
NYC Bassoonist
http://www.westfieldnj.com/wso/jeter.htm

"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that
you do it."Â Mahatma Gandhi
"Mach' es kurz! Am Juengsten Tag ist's nur ein Furz!" Goethe

http://mail.yahoo.com

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