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Double Bass ISB Convention 2023 - Who's going?

#21
Oh I'm sure it will be as inspiring as the last time I went! I want to do lots of shmoozing and taking it all in. Maybe if they post an actual schedule I would be sure. I didn't see anything about "morning warm-ups", but that doesn't appeal to me anyway. It kind of just leaves the mid-day jams. I don't want to practice when I could be socializing, doing some unique learning that I can't get at home, etc. I can always take the ideas home and work with them. Just thinking out loud. Flying for a little over an hour sure appeals more than driving 8 hour each way and then worrying about my expensive equipment.
 
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#24
The North Quad dorms are [edit]2 miles from the Music School, so ~40 min walk without a bass, or a 10 min bike. In my lab this month is a grad student from UM who is not enthusiastic about cafeteria food so I'm going to skip the $200 prepaid Blue Bucks card and take my chances. I'm also not entirely clear about the distance to parking, difficult on campus - they will be in the middle of Summer term. [edit] As for off campus local advice says hotels near Plymouth Rd exit are ok, maybe avoid Victory Inn where a worker died of carbon monoxide poisoning last year.
 
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#26
At Ithaca in 2017 I chose a single room dorm option so I wouldn't have to share a bathroom with a stranger. it was a pretty serious hike from there to the music school, and the accommodations were not so great. The food hang was fun because of the people. Leaning toward the Hampton because of the fitness center.

Anybody know if they have posted a concert schedule yet? Since the hotel is more expensive than the dorm, I may attend one less day than I might otherwise, but I'd like to know what I would be missing if possible before deciding. I know I want to be there for the Vardan Ovsepian group for sure, but that's a daytime presentation.
 
#27
The shared bathroom thing killed on the on-campus option for me this time, before I even knew that it was as far away as the hotels are. Doubletree also has a fitness center. I picked it cuz it looked better in the pictures (weak, I know), and is next door to some restaurants and a grocery store. The three hotels on the ISB website are very close to each other. Hoping for some lounge time out there somewhere with the hotel cats.
 
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#30
I'll be at the Hampton because I need cardio machines in the morning. Anybody else staying there? I heard there would be a shuttle from the hotels to the venue as well. But I'll have my car with me, so if anybody needs a lift somewhere, I'll be able to help. Never tried putting two basses in the CRV, but I know it can do it.
 
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#33
We are in the final stages of a huge kitchen renovation (have been cooking in the dining room for 4 months now!) and I won’t be able to leave until Wednesday. Don’t know if I’m going to be able to check in to my hotel and get over to campus in time for @damonsmith ’s performance, but I’m going to try.

What can anybody share about the bass storage bit and whether there are any places to practice? I could sure use 30-60 minutes a day to keep the basic chops up.

Also, in looking at the schedule sent out a month or so ago, I saw a duo concert with a bassist who was supposed to be playing with Vardan Ovsepian. I didn’t clock the bassist’s name but thought the concert was on Thursday, which was part of my planning for the hotel reservation because I am a huge Vardan fan from his recordings and have never seen him live. But now, I don’t see any information on this presentation in the current schedule. If anybody knows anything about this, please let me know.

The Whova app looks pretty useful if it functions as advertised. Looking forward to putting some faces to names from here. If anybody is looking for me apart from my presentation, I usually sit up close front and center for concerts, like 2nd row center. I’m usually astounded at these conventions how those seats usually seem to be available. It’s such a great place to hear great players up close and personal. Heck I’d sit cross legged on the floor right in front of them if I could!

EDIT: I would love to hang/grab a meal/beer/wine/whatever with any TBers who are around if anyone has eyes. If so, shoot me a line and let’s meet up!
 
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#34
Chris Fitzgerald said:
What can anybody share about the bass storage bit and whether there are any places to practice? I could sure use 30-60 minutes a day to keep the basic chops up.
Click to expand...
[Classic TB thread hijack]
My current view on this is that the criticality required for practice is antithetical to the confidence required for performing. I just warm up now on tour, I practice when I get home. After 25 + years and steady practice schedule, this works fine but so far it has only worked for a two week stretch. I look at performing as "pencils down" / "the paintings are going on the wall" time. This week will be my fourth or fifth tour (I play Detroit on the way & Lafayette, IN on the way home) this year, so if you do make my set you will see how well it is working!
 
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#35
[derail continuation]
@damonsmith agree about practice and performance. I was just talking about basic calibration/technique stuff to keep my calluses happening. I spent the previous week vacationing in the Shenandoah mountains and even there took a travel bass to do this for 30 minutes a day on the porch. At ISB in Ithaca in 2017 I didn't get to practice for a week and had a recording scheduled for 2 days after I returned. I didn't like the way that felt, so I've made it a point to treat this kind of technical calibration stuff like exercise, which means do it 6 days a week and take Sundays off. It's a physical thing, not a confidence thing.
[/derail continuation]
 
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#37
Anybody have more parking/shuttle information than can be found on the website for those of us who are staying in hotels? It looks like for us hotel folk, we will be able to eat breakfast at the hotel, lunch on campus, but everything not on the meal plan closes at 4. So we'd have to somehow get back to downtown, eat, then find a way to get back for the concerts by 8. Without available on campus parking, that might be tricky.
 
#38
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Anybody have more parking/shuttle information than can be found on the website for those of us who are staying in hotels? It looks like for us hotel folk, we will be able to eat breakfast at the hotel, lunch on campus, but everything not on the meal plan closes at 4. So we'd have to somehow get back to downtown, eat, then find a way to get back for the concerts by 8. Without available on campus parking, that might be tricky.
Click to expand...

Looks like the north campus - downtown shuttle gets to and from until late, late. I'm trying to take a bike , but will rent if possible. Will keep TB posted. Might be time to switch over to the Whova App .
 
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