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Default 03-20-2010, 11:10 PM

Thanks Brian... well tonight marks the half-way spot in the 9 show run and I'm getting more comfortable with each performance. I rate opening weekend (last week) a "B" but think last night and tonight were getting closer to "A" performances. The audiences have been good (probably 90% full, laughed at the right spots, gave us nice compliments after the show, said the music balance was good, etc.) so I'm feeling like my first steps into "the pit" have been good ones.

Of course, our "pit" is actually on the back part of the stage behind the curtains... thank God for good monitors or else we'd be in trouble! The musical conductor (playing piano) and I can see part of the stage but the drums, bass, and 3 woodwind/brass players can not. Of course we usually have our eyes fixed down on the score so not being able to see the action isn't all that bad (just as long as we can HEAR the vocals for cues, etc.).

I will also say that I really feel for the pianist and drummer (and the bassist to some extent) as there are only 2 lines in this whole show that don't have music under them. That's 90 minutes of playing with only a 15 minute intermission in the middle. I'm playing about 75% of the songs and the horns, flutes, etc. do a lot of counting rests and then adding fills and accents on most numbers (all that keeping quiet and counting would drive me crazy! LOL)

So that's my report back to those of you who may have read this post or gave me advice. Thanks again... the tips certainly helped.


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MMCQUAIN * Rock, Blues, Christian player * mmcquain@mcquain.com
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