As a musical actress by myself I‘m fascinated every time I see such footage. The conductor/musical director is capable of sooo much things simultaneously! On stage you‘re not able to notice all that stuff that is going on in the orchestra pit! Great work!!!
I loved seeing how the song really comes together, and especially the bits where there’s dialogue in between the measures so seeing those little signs of when to go was so cool!! We played a medley of this in band as well (although we didn’t get to perform bc of the pandemic lol)
It’s really cool to see the interactions on a large production while in the pit. I never got a chance to do it myself but I wish I had - what an experience 🥰
That’s not how the conductor works… everyone follows the musical no matter what. Sometimes a conductor will take cues to start or de-vamp from actors cues but that’s it. Everything else is under their control except the start of the show. The Stage manager will give them a cue light for them to start. I guarantee he’s watching the people on show just to keep entertained as it looks like he’s quite into his run as conductor.
@@DavidCherrie That's how conductors in shows I've danced in worked. The tempo was set by the conductor but if we got behind a beat or two he would slow it down until we caught up, not vice versa.
@@llc9721 this doesn’t happen with professionals. Your conductor was just being nice. Dancers don’t dance like you play music. If you’re a dancer and you’re r behind, you don’t have to speed up, you just need to skip to a point you know you can hit your marks. If you’re behind as a professional dancer, you will be the only one behind and you’ll be given notes or even be taken back to rehearsals by the dance captain. And if you keep getting behind, we have a saying in live performances: if you make the same mistake twice, then you should probably think about a different career. Sometimes though singers will come in on the wrong beat which is very obvious, and only then the orchestra will kind of instantaneously somehow skip to the singer. But never for dancers.
@@DavidCherrie Yes it is true that it's up to the dancers to stay on time with the music. However even professional conductors/orchestras can get a bit excited during a show and speed up the tempo, which makes it almost impossible for the dancer to keep up depending on the choreography. Maybe it's different in musical theatre, but in the professional ballet world, our conductor will still keep an eye on the dancers because if they speed up too much it makes the dancers look bad which isn't their fault.
@@amycool14 a one off show or concert where an orchestra may not be used to playing together, it is true that they can be overzealous and conduct faster in the moment, but long running shows like musicals, this is not the case. We time each act of a show and that goes into a report which has who played who and who was the conductor. It is quite common when having a different conductor, show lengths may change by minutes but that’s all. As you notice, this show uses a metronome to assist in conducting whilst the conductor plays the keyboard and doesn’t need to conduct every beat. This ensures the timing of songs is exactly the same all the time. Shows with metronome use like this run exactly on time no matter what conductor or orchestra is playing. There is no chance for the orchestra to slow down or speed up.
This is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. I would love to see the rest and also Rent from this POV as it's a similar set up where the conductor is also the keyboardist.
Her mike isn't relayed into this track, so all you hear is the "bleed" into the mike in the pit from the auditorium. The audience hears a much better track
That's just a metronome, (via the keyboard) isn't it? As opposed to click-track (meaning some of the orchestrations are pre-recorded that the live players play along to?) It looked like he was starting the metronome before the number and then counting off to it to keep the tempo consistent.
Click track can be used on a lot of shows also to generate what's called "Timecode" which is like a clock keeping things like lighting, video and sound cues all in sync for complex songs. So while the band is all playing live the click track makes sure they're playing the same speeds each night so things like video and lighting effects line up.
Depending on the theatre/set up? You can see the orchestra from any seat in the house. The last time u saw Wicked on tour, I could see practically the entire pit, but before that I saw Hamilton and I couldn’t see them at all. It just depends on your set and how the show is set up. I hope this helps!!
Does anyone know how this pit is set up in reference to the stage? is it just, like, in the middle of the stage, or did the stage get extended around the pit for more acting space? I've played in a few school/college theater pits and have never seen one like this where the actors can jump over so I'm really curious!
Usually, the stage is ontop of the pit and the orchestra members can't see what's going on on the stage. Only the conductor can see the actions on the stage some times through a mirror or he/she could be elevated enough to see the stage from the pit.
@@ehfos it’s right above his head, on the middle of the balcony rails. A lot of theaters have them (some have two, one to the right and one to the left), so the actors don’t have to look down into the pit for cues!
Wait is he playing the keyboard? And if so do all conductors do that cause..... when j was in pit for my high school production of putnam we had a separate pianist
@@phillgreenland2390 And often the show's budget -- I think South Pacific was the last time I saw a show where the conductor didn't also play main keyboard.
Nina Vinterová most of the shows I’ve worked on have the conductor playing keys 1, that’s why they’ve got the metronome to keep the rest of the orchestra in time while he’s playing and sometimes he’d have to use his head or hand to drop out of a vamp or start the music on a particular cue
I was like “why’s he leaning down” and then they jumped and I lost my mind
Audience POV - ua-cam.com/video/R4lbgD2CV3k/v-deo.html
I loved when he lip synced "I'm Amber!"
7:21 for y'all purposes
Who doesn't do that 🤣
I would have a heart attack every time those boys jumped over the pit!
I am surprised OH&S allowed them to! IDK how many productions would be able to justify it these days, or maybe I'm just cynical :P
To clarify, allowed them to without at least a net or something.
What time does this happen?
@@abbiethomas8133 6:56
Audience POV - ua-cam.com/video/R4lbgD2CV3k/v-deo.html
Bass player is a BOSS!
I know everyone is talking about the jump, it was very cool. But the drummers snare is immaculate! That first hit at the beginning sounded gorgeous.
Ikr 😍
I love his professionalism and chilled attitude towards keeping the show together as well as he does!! “And I’m amber”
me waiting for the jump 👁👄👁
it was underwhelming after the antisipation
As a musical actress by myself I‘m fascinated every time I see such footage. The conductor/musical director is capable of sooo much things simultaneously! On stage you‘re not able to notice all that stuff that is going on in the orchestra pit! Great work!!!
Those saying the jump “wasn’t that impressive” clearly haven’t done musical theatre before😂😂
Or seen it. I’ve seen many West End shows and jumps like that always seem so smooth.
I loved seeing how the song really comes together, and especially the bits where there’s dialogue in between the measures so seeing those little signs of when to go was so cool!! We played a medley of this in band as well (although we didn’t get to perform bc of the pandemic lol)
This is fascinating. I wanna see the whole show from this view.
It's not just the jump... it's the fact that the choreography doesn't even stop for it. They jump on 1, 2 and IMMEDIATELY go into a twist on 3, 4
The BASS in NKIT OMG
Amazing!!!!
It was crazy good!
Especially in Nicest Kids....😳🥰
Eleanor Clark NKIT stands for Nicest Kids in Town lol but yes!!!!
Brock davis oh lol 🤦🏼♀️
For everyone who came to see it, the time stamp for the jump is 6:57
It’s really cool to see the interactions on a large production while in the pit. I never got a chance to do it myself but I wish I had - what an experience 🥰
If you notice,he's watching the dancers too, not just the singers. He has to make sure he the orchestra stays with them, not behind or after.
That’s not how the conductor works… everyone follows the musical no matter what. Sometimes a conductor will take cues to start or de-vamp from actors cues but that’s it. Everything else is under their control except the start of the show. The Stage manager will give them a cue light for them to start. I guarantee he’s watching the people on show just to keep entertained as it looks like he’s quite into his run as conductor.
@@DavidCherrie That's how conductors in shows I've danced in worked. The tempo was set by the conductor but if we got behind a beat or two he would slow it down until we caught up, not vice versa.
@@llc9721 this doesn’t happen with professionals. Your conductor was just being nice.
Dancers don’t dance like you play music. If you’re a dancer and you’re r behind, you don’t have to speed up, you just need to skip to a point you know you can hit your marks.
If you’re behind as a professional dancer, you will be the only one behind and you’ll be given notes or even be taken back to rehearsals by the dance captain. And if you keep getting behind, we have a saying in live performances: if you make the same mistake twice, then you should probably think about a different career.
Sometimes though singers will come in on the wrong beat which is very obvious, and only then the orchestra will kind of instantaneously somehow skip to the singer. But never for dancers.
@@DavidCherrie Yes it is true that it's up to the dancers to stay on time with the music. However even professional conductors/orchestras can get a bit excited during a show and speed up the tempo, which makes it almost impossible for the dancer to keep up depending on the choreography. Maybe it's different in musical theatre, but in the professional ballet world, our conductor will still keep an eye on the dancers because if they speed up too much it makes the dancers look bad which isn't their fault.
@@amycool14 a one off show or concert where an orchestra may not be used to playing together, it is true that they can be overzealous and conduct faster in the moment, but long running shows like musicals, this is not the case. We time each act of a show and that goes into a report which has who played who and who was the conductor. It is quite common when having a different conductor, show lengths may change by minutes but that’s all. As you notice, this show uses a metronome to assist in conducting whilst the conductor plays the keyboard and doesn’t need to conduct every beat. This ensures the timing of songs is exactly the same all the time. Shows with metronome use like this run exactly on time no matter what conductor or orchestra is playing. There is no chance for the orchestra to slow down or speed up.
Who's this conductor?? He's so handsome!
His name is Lon Hoyt
Hairspray makes me regret I wasn’t in any of my high school musicals...
I actually was and it makes it worse because I know how it feels and I miss it so much more 😭😭😂
4:18 🤗
That smile makes me melt
This is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. I would love to see the rest and also Rent from this POV as it's a similar set up where the conductor is also the keyboardist.
these are so freaking fascinating!!! I love seeing the show from another perspective
6:26 "One Bar Vamp" ON THE BEAT 🔥
I love videos like this :) I guess it gives me a glimpse at a position that I don't think I will ever be, but still consistently dream about.
I would see the whole show like this. It's so hypnotizing
Wow this is so magical
i could watch the whole show like this
Thank you!
This is incredible
"Now on eBay... the _Hairspray_ Orchestra [Play?] (!)"
😆
what a gig! amazing!
It sounds like this was a rough voice day for Marissa Jaret Winokur, like she was fighting off laryngitis. The show must go on! Live theater, folks!
Yeah... the oh-oh-oh's sound particularly rough....
Oh poor girl!!!
Her mike isn't relayed into this track, so all you hear is the "bleed" into the mike in the pit from the auditorium. The audience hears a much better track
SOOOOO cool!!!
Announcer: “Use of recording equipment is strictly prohibited.”
This guy: “I’m about to end this man’s whole career
It’s legal to him haha
I didn't know that Hairspray use clicks.
That's just a metronome, (via the keyboard) isn't it? As opposed to click-track (meaning some of the orchestrations are pre-recorded that the live players play along to?) It looked like he was starting the metronome before the number and then counting off to it to keep the tempo consistent.
@@hanonondricek411 Clicks and click tracks are two different things...
Click track can be used on a lot of shows also to generate what's called "Timecode" which is like a clock keeping things like lighting, video and sound cues all in sync for complex songs. So while the band is all playing live the click track makes sure they're playing the same speeds each night so things like video and lighting effects line up.
I love the clicks
On the MTI conductor's score it is actually printed and indicates when to start and stop the click track
Harvey's entrance ♥
Ngl at first I thought it was Ryan Reynolds
Lots of Broadway conductors are pretty hot. If you’re looking for a hot gay guy not a bad place to look haha.
I so desperately want to play in the pit again 😭
Try community theater.
@@mckenna8663 i think they're saying that they want the current situation to be over so theatres can open again and they can get back to work.
Can I comment again about bass? BASS PLAYER IS FIRE YO
Oooo is that Kerry butler I hear??
Yess! The OG Penny!
This has to be where Rob McClure got his inspiration, right?
This guy looks like him
i actually would buy that recording of the hairspray orchestra. can it happen?
Do you have the full footage of the conductor’s cam somewhere?
I need the conductor cam for the entire show! Where did you get this?
Could you do a Conductor Cam of "I Know Where i've Been"?
Great! Thank you for the upload! Is there any chance to get the whole show? I'm doing "Hairspray" in summer and this would help a lot!
piano1985 hope you are doing well even if your production was cancelled this summer ❤️
6:55 perfect timing
Too much fun like this should not be allowed by law
Can people sat in the upper circle/gods see down into the pit?
Depending on the theatre/set up? You can see the orchestra from any seat in the house. The last time u saw Wicked on tour, I could see practically the entire pit, but before that I saw Hamilton and I couldn’t see them at all. It just depends on your set and how the show is set up. I hope this helps!!
Can someone explain to me what he's doing?
Conducting and playing piano
mr shoe 😳😳😳😳
You can really see the sold out audience fascinating
Does anyone know how this pit is set up in reference to the stage? is it just, like, in the middle of the stage, or did the stage get extended around the pit for more acting space? I've played in a few school/college theater pits and have never seen one like this where the actors can jump over so I'm really curious!
Seconded on that. What's the configuration?
here's the stage from the audience's pov - ua-cam.com/video/R4lbgD2CV3k/v-deo.html&t=556
you can clearly see the setup there
@@sofiekristiansen1363 that's so wild! thanks for the reference video!
Usually, the stage is ontop of the pit and the orchestra members can't see what's going on on the stage. Only the conductor can see the actions on the stage some times through a mirror or he/she could be elevated enough to see the stage from the pit.
Me noticing the mini tv for the actors with him on it in the background: 👁👄👁
where?
@@ehfos it’s right above his head, on the middle of the balcony rails. A lot of theaters have them (some have two, one to the right and one to the left), so the actors don’t have to look down into the pit for cues!
Thank goodness no one missed. Lol
Wait is he playing the keyboard? And if so do all conductors do that cause..... when j was in pit for my high school production of putnam we had a separate pianist
Depends on the score and the preference of the conductor.
@@phillgreenland2390 And often the show's budget -- I think South Pacific was the last time I saw a show where the conductor didn't also play main keyboard.
Depends on the music, because i remember when i playing with my school orchestra my conductor left the podium to play the drums
Where's the jump 👁👄👁
I so badly want to play in pit
was this during a show?
Yeh
They jumped over the fucking pit?!?!! oh my god
Why isn't he conducting tho? He's playing something..
Nina Vinterová most of the shows I’ve worked on have the conductor playing keys 1, that’s why they’ve got the metronome to keep the rest of the orchestra in time while he’s playing and sometimes he’d have to use his head or hand to drop out of a vamp or start the music on a particular cue
What theatre is this in?
Hairspray played on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre
why do they need a click track ? is there pre recordéd stuff over laid ? don't know.
@@johnnywhite58 I think they have recorded music over to make it more loud and the audience can here more of the little musical details in the musical
He’s so talented. And sexy.
@Kyle J Hartman thanks for that kyle
Not much conducting needed with a click track like that geeze 😂
I think the conductor's hands are busy playing a keyboard so they need the clicks.
Sometimes click tracks are deployed if there's a lot of automation in a production too - helps keep everything syncd up.
This is also a heavy dance show, the click is probably to ensure consistency since there are usually multiple conductors on a show
The band seemed to be a little late on the cutoff after Good Morning Baltimore
I-
What the hell is this?!!