pit musician?

Question

hey all,
im just wondering how one goes about become a pit musician ( a bass guitarist) for musicals and the like.

also is there anywhere in ireland where one can do bass grade examinations?

Answer 1

There are several sure keys to getting good pit gigs.

1) you must be reliable 100% - your reputation must be that "the show goes on". You also need to have enough good connections that you can find a sub on short notice if something happens.

2) you have to know the music and the shows. Paying musicians to learn new music isn't something most shows can afford. You learn the music by volunteering at community theater and by seeing the shows.

3) you need to be able to offer some value your competition doesn't offer. This isn't about being a great soloist - this gig is about the show and not you. The people that can offer additional skills get the gigs. For woodwind players like myself, that means doubling on a variety of instruments. I'm not sure what bass players do for this but I suspect it's doubling as well. I bet it's the string bass for bass players.

4) you get the contacts by playing with other musicians. What you want to happen is when a show has to find a bass player, some respected sax player says "I know this guy...."

Most important - more than anything else - reliability. If you say you're going to pay the gig (any gig) then you play the gig. I was once in the pit on woodwind 5 (bari sax, bass clarinet, clarinet) in City of Angels and a prop antique typewriter fell off the stage and onto my head. Knocked me flat on the floor. The first thing I remember afterward was asking the alto player "dude, what number are we on" and then checking my horn. My wife was in the pit and immediately picked up the typewriter and asked the stage manager if they needed the typewriter back on stage (before seeing if I was still alive). The show always goes on. Once you get a reputation like that - you can have gigs.

I did miss a gig once. I had a heart attack and was in the ER and the doc wouldn't let me go play the gig. I hear that I was most concerned about the gig and tried to explain that I was much better. Doc thought it was the morphine talking...

Your reputation for reliability is more important than your playing ability. Playing ability does figure in though so work it up - learn the shows.

Answer 2

I actually had this discussion with a family friend recently. I am also a musician and she works in the theatre industry. She told me that signing up to volunteer at the musicals are a good start because you can get to know the people "behind the scenes" and let them know that you are a musician. She also said that going to musicals at theatres you are interested in is a great way to get your name out to them. I actually did end up meeting the musical director at a local theatre and he got my information. It wasn't a huge theatre company, but hey, it's a start! Good luck!

Answer 3

The flippant answer i - look ahead to between the gamers to die. while one prepare closes, those appropriate, first-call gamers are on the contractor's first-call record of the subsequent prepare - there are almost in no way any style of auditions, and breaking into this entire closed-loop relatives is extremely, very hard - often carried out purely on very own suggestion. The older gamers have many years of adventure doing this; the greater youthful gamers have vast quantities of credentials until now they are ever seen. sure, woodwind gamers are envisioned to be waiting to play various woodwind instruments ok; there are places on line the place you may look on the essential instruments for each *reed e book* for each prepare. enable's start up from the place you're. i'm a NYSSMA All-State woodwind choose. except you're making All-State two times - each and every 3 hundred and sixty 5 days you're eligible - then you definitely will better than probable no longer be stepping into between the very very appropriate song faculties you may desire to, to earnings the coaching and education which will positioned you on the right of the *toddler* record - new graduates. in case you have any susceptible levels on your education - like going to a pair mediocre state college - then it is subject to *commerce up* to a finer college; the front spots are taken by using better -knowledgeable youthful musicians. So - concentration on getting the suitable you would be maximum appropriate now - and then stepping into the suitable college you may ( no longer the traditional SUNY possibilities - ick . . .you purely hear those names lots because of the fact maximum of long island state instructor went there - what number song instructor do you have that went to truly high-quality song faculties? Huh? those people that did are particular a minority in this state!). look previous long island state/ SUNY colleges - there are a number of high-quality places around - yet you may get IN!! you do no longer let us know how previous you're - in case you're in 10th grade this 3 hundred and sixty 5 days, i'm hoping your AS solo is going nicely - one hundred -and you're chosen, and then go directly to All-eastern or All-US (relies upon on 3 hundred and sixty 5 days presented.) i'm hoping you're analyzing with the main marvelous private instructor you will get to, no longer depend how a ways away or how costly - you may desire to do this. Goo success - artwork complicated, do nicely, have relaxing (that's extremely the incorrect observe - greater like *satisfaction for success*)