Other Topics: Who would be in charge of selecting the musicians?

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Who would be in charge of selecting the musicians?

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Topic: Who would be in charge of selecting the musicians?

Posted By: redhead
Subject: Who would be in charge of selecting the musicians?
Date Posted: 6/17/10 at 1:23pm

Wanted to get some feedback on this ...

Last fall I was hired as a pianist by a new community theatre in the area who was putting on their first musical. I had a great time, and as far as I could tell, they were pleased with me.

I was really looking forward to doing a musical with them again, and told them so. Gave them my card and told them I planned to be available for the next fall musical.

Today I see through Facebook that they having auditions next week and have selected a director and musical director for the fall musical.

I was disappointed to see that neither the director or musical director are people I worked with before in the last show. Don't know either of them at all.

So what I'm wondering is, Am I probably out of the loop now? Is it the musical director's job to hire the musicians (in which case, I'm sure I wouldn't even be considered, because we don't know each other at all?)

Or would it be the officers' job (the people I worked with last year) to decide on musicians? Or something else?

I am hesitant to contact anyone because 1) I'm not sure who to contact and 2) I'm afraid it would seem too pushy -- and awkward, if they already have someone else in mind.

Any thoughts?

Redhead

Replies:

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 6/17/10 at 2:05pm

Usually the musical director chooses the musicians (at least in our group). If you are out of the loop, the only way back in to to call. I would contact the musical director, let them know you did last years show and had a great time. Let them know you are available. The worst that can happen is they say they already have a pianist.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 6/20/10 at 8:06pm

Who did you talk to last fall? Are they still around and involved?

If it was last fall's director or musical director, the new one's probably know nothing about it. If it was the Board president, he/she may have forgotten. Even if the Board president remembered, it is probably up to the new musical director.

First I'd check with whomever you spoke to last fall. Then I'd go straight to the music director and offer your services and explain your experience.

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KEB

Posted By: redhead
Date Posted: 6/21/10 at 8:21am

To answer your questions:

Last fall the Board President was also the musical director. She was the person who hired me.

Another board member was the actual director. They are both still around and on the board, but neither is involved in directing this next performance.

I just sent an e-mail to the President, and I guess I'll go from there.

Posted By: gelcat
Date Posted: 6/23/10 at 4:48pm

As I discussed in the orchestra pay thread, our theatre is all volunteer, and it is up to each director to schmooze a musical director. As a result, we almost always know who is going to music direct for each show director. Those music directors play for rehearsals, or locate an accompanist, or lay down rehearsal tracks. The music director then schmoozes and massages all their contacts to fill the pit. If we had someone enthused and willing to come in and work, we would snap them up in a heartbeat. I think a lot of our music directors use the rehearsal process as an indepth immersion into the music, so they know it better than the cast, to be able to lead the rest of the pit, and be able to know when they are likely to have to bail someone out a situation.

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www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV