What gear is recommended for playing in a pit orchestra?

[4Mal]

If he's still participating here ping Loikre. He was developing significant pit experience when last heard from...

 

[Medford Bassman]

I play in my community theatre pit and I help out high school productions as well. We use the same theatre so I use a Radial Tonebone and use headphone for my mix. The soundman is a former band mate so he always dials up my mix pretty sweet.
I have to agree about most scores written for 5 string. Just finished Beauty and the Beast and before that Annie. Both needed a 5 so I used my MIM Jazz V.

 

[Dave W]

If I'm trying to get into theater plying, who should I be contacting at the various theaters in my area? Artistic director? Programs director? Executive director?

I'm sure some of them use union musicians. I'll go down that road if I have to.

 

[RDUB]

Here's the latest pit. Only four of us for The Wedding Singer, so there's actually a little room. I'm using overdrive, flange, chorus, octave, and a nasty synth sound in various songs. The MD also changed a couple of songs' keys on the fly, added bass vamps, and asked for eighth note octaves instead of straight quarters in various places. Gotta be flexible!

 

[RDUB]

Here's the latest pit. Only four of us for The Wedding Singer, so there's actually a little room. I'm using overdrive, flange, chorus, octave, and a nasty synth sound in various songs. The MD also changed a couple of songs' keys on the fly, added bass vamps, and asked for eighth note octaves instead of straight quarters in various places. Gotta be flexible!

Sorry, lost the photo.

 

[TimmyP]

If you can't carry it with one hand, it's likely too big.

 

[Blankandson]

GK MB150 with a Berg AE112 instead of the built-in speaker. Since keys these days can mimic other instruments (such as a second percussionist) you may actually get a little more room to set up. And yes if you have a choice sit as close to the keys as you can. When I'm playing onstage and we're loud I want to be near the drums. But in a pit you will be playing most of the time quietly. Being near the keys is a big help for you. Putting a bass speaker beneath your seat is fine. Don't SIT on a bass speaker however - you may have to leave after any rambuncius melodies! If you play in the Ft Lauderdale/Palm Beach area you must be in the union at most venues. Students at a school do not.

 

[RDUB]

Blank, great advice. I've done shows sitting on my cab...

Anyway, the point about being near the keys is excellent. I like to watch the keyboardist's left hand. They're also usually the MD, and you can really nail the tight endings and shots by watching. Where I live there's one 'professional' theatre that's union only. The local symphony guys have it pretty much locked up. All of the community and youth theatre groups, however, are non-union.

Tonight is the opening of In The Heights at a local secondary school. This score is a gas! Latin, hip hop, and pop all rolled up together. It's a real pain to read, but it sounds so good when it's tight. The bass part doubles all of those fast and crazy Latin horn lines. This book is written specifically for 5 string. I actually use every note on the low B string. There's some nice funky octave stuff.

I can hear the singers are good, but I have no idea what the show actually looks like. My head is stuck in the book full time for this one.