Theatre Pit Work - how does it work? Panto Season Edition

[Sean]

We've just come back from seeing Jack & the Beanstalk at The Hippodrome in Bristol. We had cracking seats and I sat just in front of where the bass player was in the pit (under the stage). 

 

How does it all work? 

 

Can the musicians in the pit see the stage performance on a monitor? I couldn't see any?

 

I guess it's all IEM and that the musical director (the chap at the keyboard in front of the stage) speaks to the band through his mic? He also used what looked like a proper old fashioned phone handset. 

 

How on earth do they get their cues? 

Panto format deviates from script a lot, so I guess that you have to really pay attention. 

 

It's worlds apart from anything I've ever done and I'm fascinated to understand how it works. 

 

And in case he's on here, the chap on the SR5 did a cracking job and, guessing again, that he plays an SR5 because it just does what it does in that environment with 100% reliability.

 

It would be great if some Basschatters that have done or do this could give some insight as it's so different from what most of us are familiar with. 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Sean

[Stub Mandrel]

3 minutes ago, Sean said:

it just does what it does in that environment with 100% reliability.

 

Oh no it doesn't! 

 

😁

[Sean]

1 minute ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Oh no it doesn't! 

 

😁

Oooooh, yes it does!

 

 

[knirirr]

Having volunteered for the pit orchestra for a show in May in the local theatre I will find out some of this, though it won't be a panto.

More of this sort of thing. 

 

[Mrbigstuff]

2 hours ago, Sean said:

We've just come back from seeing Jack & the Beanstalk at The Hippodrome in Bristol. We had cracking seats and I sat just in front of where the bass player was in the pit (under the stage). 

 

How does it all work? 

 

Can the musicians in the pit see the stage performance on a monitor? I couldn't see any?

 

I guess it's all IEM and that the musical director (the chap at the keyboard in front of the stage) speaks to the band through his mic? He also used what looked like a proper old fashioned phone handset. 

 

How on earth do they get their cues? 

Panto format deviates from script a lot, so I guess that you have to really pay attention. 

 

It's worlds apart from anything I've ever done and I'm fascinated to understand how it works. 

 

And in case he's on here, the chap on the SR5 did a cracking job and, guessing again, that he plays an SR5 because it just does what it does in that environment with 100% reliability.

 

It would be great if some Basschatters that have done or do this could give some insight as it's so different from what most of us are familiar with. 

 

Here you go…

 

[Burns-bass]

I sometimes gig with the guys in the pit at Bristol. They’re absolutely incredible players and lovely people. 

[lozkerr]

2 hours ago, Sean said:

We've just come back from seeing Jack & the Beanstalk at The Hippodrome in Bristol. We had cracking seats and I sat just in front of where the bass player was in the pit (under the stage). 

 

How does it all work? 

 

Can the musicians in the pit see the stage performance on a monitor? I couldn't see any?

 

I guess it's all IEM and that the musical director (the chap at the keyboard in front of the stage) speaks to the band through his mic? He also used what looked like a proper old fashioned phone handset. 

 

How on earth do they get their cues? 

Panto format deviates from script a lot, so I guess that you have to really pay attention. 

 

It's worlds apart from anything I've ever done and I'm fascinated to understand how it works. 

 

And in case he's on here, the chap on the SR5 did a cracking job and, guessing again, that he plays an SR5 because it just does what it does in that environment with 100% reliability.

 

It would be great if some Basschatters that have done or do this could give some insight as it's so different from what most of us are familiar with. 

 

I've not done pit work, but I have done stage management and lighting design, so I think I can answer some of this.

 

The phone handset isn't for talking to the band. It'll be hooked up to a talk-back circuit - essentially a closed-circuit intercom system - that allows the stage manager, conductor, lighting and sound operators to talk to each other. If the show uses follow-spots, their operators will be on the talk-back too.

 

Music rehearsals will include lengthening parts of songs, cues to play riffs at odd places and repeat some parts. Those will be agreed between the music director and the show director, and be rehearsed seperately. It's not unknown for the actors not to encounter the band until the first technical rehearsal. They'll have been working with backing tracks up to then.

 

When a show does go off-piste - and you're right, pantos do do that - the people who keep it on track are the stage manager, the conductor and the lighting and sound people. The band will have rehearsed what might go off-script and be able to respond accordingly.

[fretmeister]

Here you go 

 

 

ian goes through how it works as well as his rig.

 

[Stub Mandrel]

48 minutes ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Here you go…

 

 

Good god! Makes spaceflight look simple.

 

That was awesome... I hate musicals but I'd love to see that!

Edited 2 hours ago by Stub Mandrel

[tauzero]

3 hours ago, Sean said:

We've just come back from seeing Jack & the Beanstalk at The Hippodrome in Bristol. We had cracking seats and I sat just in front of where the bass player was in the pit (under the stage). 

 

So he was behind you?

[Mrbigstuff]

52 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Good god! Makes spaceflight look simple.

 

That was awesome... I hate musicals but I'd love to see that!

It’s very impressive. I sat in with Daf on Wicked a few times and depped on bass in a few small productions.

It’s a little different from a band because you need to read a pad and follow the conductor at the same time (normally via a screen). As has been mentioned sometimes what is in the pad changes on the night (queue fumbling to find your spot)!

[acidbass]

I've just finished a theatre run for 'Come From Away'. We didn't have sight of the cast for the show, though the MD did. The MD cued all parts and counted in some sections for band where necessary. Their headset mic was mixed into our IEMs, of which we had full control ourselves in the pit (a god send) The guys at the top level could pretty much do a whole show with their eyes never leaving the pad - I was just happy to get through it as a previous non-reader! I found the experience very challenging but hugely rewarding.

Edited 21 minutes ago by acidbass