Circus Xtreme Rosemont, IL Week 2 - The Schilke Factory, Fancy Drinks, Jameson's Birthday!

My days off were spent mostly preparing for the end of the year.
You might be surprised at how much you have to get ready for a long break from the road. I guess it's pretty similar to preparing for a month-long vacation.

I pruned my houseplants, and carefully considered whether I'd need someone to "babysit" them for the month of December. I wrote a few letters and emails in preparation for setting up a Primary Care Physician (on the road you visit so many different doctors that getting a referral can be a real chore unless you get a PCP). I got groceries and cooked for the week, being careful not to buy too much since for the next two weeks I'll be staying in Jameson's parent's place in Chicago. I began packing for that stay too, cramming a week's worth of clothing and supplies into my little suitcase. I took a general inventory of the stuff in my room and made little piles: things to send home ahead of me, things to take to a thrift store, things to relocate in the room.

In between the "chores" I just watched the internet, relaxed, went for walks, etc. Last week Rebecca (wardrobe) put turkeys on all of our doors. I colored mine and listed a few things that I'm thankful for. When all of the turkeys are done (HAW!) I'll post a picture :)

While some of us had a full two days off, others had to work. Train crew is also prepping for the end of the year, taking inventory of room items and passing out a basic Welcome/Guidelines sheet for the new folks coming in. The clowns had PR work, and also visited a local children's hospital. And floor and animal crews had elephant rehearsals, to help incorporate the new elephants into the show.

On Wednesday we only had one show and no rehearsal, so Brett (my boss) arranged for Bill (trumpet) and I to visit the Schilke factory only a few miles from the train! We were greeted by two smiling ladies at the front counter, and ushered into a room containing several Schilke trumpets and trombones, which we were invited to play with. Like kids in a candy store.


There were only three trombones on display, but that's not surprising since Schilke is much more well known for their trumpets. Anyway, I enjoyed trying them all out! I was happy to see that one of the large bore trombones had a Hagmann valve. The small bore tenor sounded very nice, especially with the 47B mouthpiece. Brett and Bill seemed to enjoy their trumpets as well :)


After much fiddling around Kevin, a fairly new Schilke employee, came in to take us on a factory tour! Along the way he described much of what we were seeing and the process of making Schilke trumpets and trombones. Though I've spent a lot of time in instrument repair shops, I have never been to a musical instrument factory before. It was pretty awesome.

We were shown some of the work benches and tables where craftsmen hand-make, polish, and refine brass parts and instruments. Most parts were organized neatly along one wall, file cabinet style. In one room we got to see the engraving machine, a really cool piece of modern technology. It looks a lot like a sideways 3D printer. Here is one of the bells used to test the engraver. Employees cover it in dye so that they can clearly see the etching each time.


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