Variations on “Is That a Violin????”
by Lara St John
I have noticed, whilst travelling a few million miles hauling a violin, that carrying an oddly shaped case gives random folks a queer impetus to talk to you about what might be inside it.
Some people love to talk about what they do. I, however, to strangers, do not. Once I tell folks my profession, I often get asked about my day job. Also, a large number of people have a grandchild/godson/cousin who plays the violin/guitar/etc., and while I think it’s terrific that their relative is getting a musical education, I don’t necessarily want to hear all about it in an airport.
Others will tell you about themselves … how they took lessons for years. Inevitably and puzzlingly they will also impress upon you just how very bad they were. I once had a conversation with Josh Bell about this, and he is still perplexed when, after concerts, someone always tells him that they played violin once, “but not as good as you”. It made me wonder if people tell Michael Phelps about their waterwings or Annie Liebowitz about their Viewmasters. I have a hard time imagining meeting Nadia Comeneci and regaling her with stories of my cartwheel attempts as a kid, but somehow music seems to be a medium where failure can be a source of pride.
Over the years, I have experimented in how to avoid the situation entirely. At one point I thought the trick might be to look unapproachable, and asked an art student to paint something reptilian and badass on my case. It turned out like this:
New York City
It worked, in a way, since people stopped asking me about the contents. Instead, the question was usually: “Whoa, did you do that yourself, like, when you were, like, totally baked?” which is, admittedly, more interesting, but hardly conducive to my intended aloofness.
So I got a new case, and started working on zingy one-liners instead. Here’s a good one for the South, parts of the Midwest, and Texas:
“Is that a violin?”
“No, it’s a special case for my yoga mats.”
Folks will then think they know you to be a crystal-deodorant-wearing om-chanting vegan who doesn’t slap mosquitos …
Curacao
… and they will depart quickly. Do not try this one in California.
You can also do a question-answer, like this:
“What’s in the case?”
“What’s in your suitcase?”
This one can go over less than successfully.
Then I’m exhausted and jetlagged, and someone chortles (in an airport!!), the perennial favorite, “Is that a machine gun?? Huh huh huh,” and ignoring doesn’t work, I have taken to politely saying, with no hint of an accent: “I’m sorry, I don’t speak English.” Works every time.
My latest big hit:
“Is that a violin?”
“Nope, it’s cues”
“What?”
“Pool cues”
New York City
“Oh!” as they scurry away.
This one works because you are suddenly seen as a pool shark, and pool sharks have a certain reputation, which, should one’s progeny be emulating, one probably wouldn’t want to talk about.
Whereas folks tend to think of violinists like this:
New York City
Interestingly, this all seems to apply mostly to the good old US of A. Canadians tend to have so much respect for personal space (which includes property) that even if they wonder, they don’t ask. I might hazard a guess that, in Europe, they know what it is, so have no need to ask.
You may wonder why this is a pet peeve of string players, but think about it. If you are a vet, you don’t carry around a horse-shaped medical bag, scientists tend to leave their beakers at home, and mimes most likely talk to gate agents. Very few jobs are immediately apparent to assumption, require insane amounts of travel and have the added disadvantage of not being taken very seriously in some parts of the world. That adds up to a craving for anonymity, which, until someone invents a fold-up violin that fits into a briefcase, we won’t enjoy.
At least violinists are spared the size-related jokes that cellists have to deal with: “You taking that to the morgue?” “You got a body in there?” “That a sarcophagus?”
Sigh.
Great post! Lots of fun reading that. 
Check out Saurian Saint !
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