Re: Recorded Orchestra? (was Re: Aging / distressing wood)


"David McCall" <david--------@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"David McCall" <david--------@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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I saw a production of Cabaret at the Trump Plaza where the basic set
was made from what looked like pallet lumber. It was very effective.

The only sad part was that they had taken the next logical step with
the orchestra. Step 1 mic the orchestra; Step 2 move the orchestra
backstage; Step 3 move them to a room not connected to the hall;
Step 4 just play a recording of the orchestra. "Who needs them
anyway they just make it harder for the sound guy". Truly sad, but
the show sounded great.

I wonder how on earth they got that past the NY musicians' unions, never
mind the rights holders. Even here in little old Las Cruces, NM (pop
~100,000) when we get rights for musicals they virtually always specify
that
you may not use recorded music. Right now we are doing "Songs for a New
World" with a bigger band (5) than cast (4)! The band is behind the
actors
and behind a scrim and, most importantly, we have a good pianist/leader
so
the balance is very good even though neither the cast nor the band is
miced.

I have no idea how they got away with that. The sad part is
that they did, and it sounded pretty good. Probably better
than a real orchestra in the basement.

Kudos to your group for giving your audiences the actual live sound
from both the actors and the orchestra.

It is something you can do when you seat less than 100 in a good,
acoustically live space. I don't like reinforcing sound with
non-professional groups since most don't have either the equipment or talent
resources to do it well. The other problem I have with reinforcing in small
spaces is that one of the things we "sell" in spaces like ours is the
intimacy between the audience and performers. Any but the best (and
therefore essentially invisible) reinforcement negatively impacts that
intimacy. Most amateur jobs are just that - amateurish with feedback, poor
balance, missed pick-ups and other horrors. That's not to say that there
aren't am-drams which do it well, but it is to say that most don't!

We never reinforce since our space just doesn't need it with actors who have
even the most rudimentary control over their instrument. Our current show
has four fantastic singers who could do it unreinforced in a much larger
space, and a band that understands dynamics so we are very happy with the
product.
Peter



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