Martin McCain

One of my favorite things to do is travel. It’s a great opportunity to experience different cultures such as food, music, art and history. Just like anything else, traveling has pros and cons. One of those cons is jet lag when traveling abroad. If not prepared, the first few days of a trip and the return can be very exhausting.  Many people have certain ways that help them get over jet lag. Over the years I’ve learned what to do and what not to do, especially when traveling for work. I found my most difficult jet lag situations are the 6-7-hour time difference to Europe and the 12-13-hour time difference to Asia. Some of these tips might be useful for your future travels! 

Start adapting to your new time zone before the trip and during the flight.  

A few nights before traveling, I try to go to bed earlier and to be well rested. There are some situations when that doesn’t always happen but it does help. When I was younger, I thought staying up all night was a good idea but I just found myself more exhausted. Having meals earlier can also help adapt the appetite for the new time zone. I’m currently overseas as I’m writing this and only had one “heavy” meal today because the times that I’m use to eating are very different.  

Getting sleep during long flights is also extremely helpful. I use to have issues sleeping on planes but this a great way to help jet lag. I’ve known some people who take sleeping pills to help sleep inflight. I haven’t tried this but what works for some might not work for everyone else. I do find that minimizing sleep distractions helps such as using earplugs and eye masks. This is also essential when arriving to the destination as the lighting will be different in various time zones.  

Moving around 

Physical activity inflight is also extremely important, not just for jet lag but also for your health. I’ve known of people getting blood clots in the legs because they stay seated during the 7 to 16-hour trip. This is extremely dangerous. Walking around, stretching and doing static exercises on the plane can help avoid this. When arriving at the destination, I try to stay away from heavy workouts close to bedtime as it can delay sleeping.  

Staying hydrated 

Drinking water before, during and after the flight can help combat dehydration. I love coffee and wine but I try to avoid drinking them before I sleep on the plane even though the wine is free! 

Arriving early 

I try arriving at my destination a few days early for several reasons. Getting adjusted to the time zone and dealing with the things that come with travel such as delays or even cancellations. This helps me to be on top of my game. There is nothing worse than having to work physically and mentally exhausted.  

I hope you find these tips helpful. Happy traveling!!

I don’t know about you but I enjoy this time of year! Several summer music festivals and pops concerts are taking place. What makes this particular season different from the other nine months of the year (besides more playing for brass players!) is the concert venue and concert attire. Today we will discuss the attire used by several organizations for these particular concerts. 

Most of the summer concerts take place outside. This can present some challenges such as playing in the heat and wind musicians trying to avoid inhaling bugs while performing! However, these concerts can be very rewarding when you are performing for thousands of audience members. The normal attire for these outside concerts is usually white tops and black slacks. Here are a couple of pieces that are a must for summer concerts. 

Short-Sleeved Dry Fitted Shirts 

There are some situations where we are required to wear a white top. When performing outside during the summer (especially in the southern region), I like to wear a dry fit short-sleeved polo shirt when given the option for short-sleeves. The dry fitted shirt’s fabric is thinner and lets body breathe better.  HERE is a place that I recommend to purchase a short sleeved shirt at an affordable price. 

Long-Sleeved Shirts 

There are some performance organizations that will still require men to wear white long-sleeved shirts for summer concerts. I prefer to not wear thick cotton shirts as they won’t be very comfortable when performing outdoors. Try going for thin fabric that you can use during the spring and summer then you can pack those up and use a thicker quality during the winter. Check out this LINK for an affordable comfortable long-sleeved shirt. 

White Dinner Jacket 

Many summer pops programs also require men to wear a white dinner jacket. I’ve seen in some concert contracts where the organization is very specific to not wear a cream-colored jacket. I don’t believe in breaking the bank for this item but once you make the purchase, it can last a long time and can be used throughout the year in pops concerts. Click HERE to check out my recommended retailer to purchase the white dinner jacket. 

Necktie Accessories   

Some other accessories that will be needed for the long-sleeved shirts and dinner jackets are neckties and bowties. Black bow ties are the most common but there are some moments where I’ve had to wear a red bow tie for a Christmas concert or a USA flag tie for an Independence Day concert. There are many places where you can purchase ties but I feel that Tiemart is the most economical. Check out their website HERE.

Each year I serve on the adjudication panel for the University Interscholastic League’s Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest where I judge brass ensembles. After the recent competition this past week, I thought that it would be beneficial to give some insight regarding attire for chamber ensembles. 
  
There were some fine performances during the 3-day contest. However, I was a little shocked at the lack of dress and uniformity of some groups. I feel that it is very important to dress nice for any performance situation but even more so for a competition on a state level. There were some tips discussed in a previous blog that some might find helpful. 
  
As for chamber ensembles, I believe that it is very important for musicians to buy into the idea of uniformity. For the most part, every sports team member wears the same uniform (with the exception of soccer) for a good reason. You will also see this same school of thought with many pop groups. I like to think about the old school Motown groups: The Temptations, The Supremes, Jackson 5, etc. It was very rare that you would see the lead singers of these respective groups (David Ruffin, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson) dress different from the other members. The same standard is also shown through chamber ensembles such as the Canadian Brass, Emerson String Quartet and the Claremont Trio. 
  
First impressions are always very important and if ¼ of a quartet is wearing jeans while the others are dressed nice, it sends a bad message to your audience even if they sound great. It was nice to see some ensembles that did a great job in taking the extra step in looking like a real chamber ensemble, even if they haven’t been playing together for a long time. I applaud each ensemble for doing so. I also enjoyed seeing how some group’s that consisted of mix genders did a great job matching. One particular quartet coordinated the ladies’ headbands with the gentlemen’s ties. These chamber ensemble attire ideas can be done in a cost efficient manner with a little creativity. 

Happy practicing and live the dream!
  


 

As audition season comes to a close in various university/conservatory of music programs throughout the country, I thought it would be a good idea to give some tips on dressing for success in your auditions. It is always important to look nice and professional yet comfortable. Even if it isn’t your first time performing for the teacher that you are auditioning for, it might be your first time meeting other faculty members that are serving on the jury panel. First impressions are very important. Never assume that your playing will speak for itself. In my opinion, if you look good, you will play good.  

Do’s  

•    Be sure your clothes are ironed and pressed. If wearing a suit jacket or sports coat, you might want to consider having a nice wooden hanger to hang up your jacket on the way to the audition site.  This will help to avoid the back of your jacket getting wrinkled. If you are going to wear a suit jacket, you should still iron your shirt and tie if you choose to wear one.  

•    Always wear a belt! Your belt should fit the size of your pants. If you wear a 30 waist in pants, you don’t want to have a belt for a 34 waist or you will have to create more holes in the belt which in return will damage the belt. Your belt color should also match your shoe color. If wearing a black belt, then you should wear black shoes. Reversible belts are a great way to go and are inexpensive.  The only time a belt is not needed is if you are going to wear suspenders. Belts and suspenders shouldn’t be worn together.  

•    Always have your shoes polished before your performance. Shoe shine kits can be purchased for a reasonable price and are easy to find. All shoe shine kits should consist of: cream polish, wax polish, one thick cloth for applying cream polish, big brush for buffing, small brush for applying wax polish, one thick cloth for final buffing and shining and mink oil or shoe grease (optional, for conditioning the sole).  

•    There are some people that have a tendency to sweat profusely due to nervousness or room temperature. Consider carrying a handkerchief or pocket square. If you like to wear undershirts, try wearing a tank top instead to cut down on the layering of clothes. Drinking a lot of water will also keep you hydrated.  

Don’ts  

•    Don’t wear jeans or khaki pants. If you aren’t wearing a suit, a nice pair of slacks is the way to go. Some slacks and suits can be purchased off the rack and ready to be worn, however it is important to have these clothes altered. Having a good tailor will go a long way. Be sure that the bottom of your pants are not baggy and touching the floor and not too high where your socks are showing when you walk.  

•    Avoid mix matching suit jackets and pants with other pairs. Wearing suit pants more than the jacket will make the pants look older than its paired jacket in the long run. Never wear a tuxedo jacket with another set of pants and long neck tie. Tuxedo jackets should only be worn with tuxedo pants and a bowtie.   

•    Don’t wear gym shoes or cowboy boots. Although, cowboy boots are a fashion trend (especially in Texas), they shouldn’t be worn with a suit or slacks in an audition situation.  

•    When wearing a suit coat or sport jacket and you plan to sit down for the audition, remember to unbutton your jacket. Never sit with the coat buttoned or it could damage your suit. If you aren't familiar with the rules of suit jacket buttons, see the photo below.

Happy practicing and live the dream!