Go into show blind or music memorized?- Page 2

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 1:08pm

Depends.  With an intensely lyric-heavy score like Hamilton or Pacific Overtures, I find that knowing the score is a huge advantage especially if like those two shows, the score is sung-through.

If it's a more old-fashioined kind of book show with very different kind of lyrics, I'd prefer to go blind.  A Bock and Harnick type show for instance, in which the songs are contained within book scenes and the lyrics and throughline of them is transparent at first hearing.  Of course, I grew up listening to those scores long before I saw those shows, but...   

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 10:01am

I prefer to go in not knowing too much. Exceptions are big revivals of shows that are part of American pop culture anyway, but even jukebox musicals tend to surprise me, because I've never been into much popular music anyway.

When I lived in the Bay Area, if I realized it'd be at least a year before I saw a tour come to SF, I'd go ahead and listen to the cast recording. But I never cocoon myself away from all media.

[Btb1993]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 10:49am

Also regret going into Great Comet completely blind. Only song I knew was Dust and Ashes. The first time I saw it, I truly didn't understand what was going on and was so bored. It was their Tonys performance that made me really listen to the cast album and want to go back again. Now I know every word and ended up seeing the show like 12 times before it closed. Funny how it makes such a difference to know the score! Man I miss that show.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 12:34pm

In general, I prefer something in-between.
I'll typically listen to the recording about twice (no more than three times) in a situation where it's in the background and I'm in the shower or doing something else (so I hear it, but don't follow the lyrics closely) - that way, I have a familiarity with the music (and perhaps the general story - which I generally know from sources like here, anyway) but not the details of the plot nor necessarily who sings what. I find it helps.

For music with complex lyrics like Great Comet and Sondheim, I listen more intently. The first time I saw Hamilton, the recording was not available and I was apprehensive (but didn't need to be) and when I saw the tour, I knew it well. Both were supremely entertaining, but I was glad that I went in cold, in the end. On the other hand, the vocals in Matilda were so dense that I wish I HAD listened more in advance.

For our upcoming trip in a week or so, I've stopped myself from listening more than that brief exposure for Mean Girls, Band's Visit, OOTI, and Be More Chill. I compensate by luxuriating in the new My Fair Lady recording.

Updated On: 8/24/18 at 12:34 PM

[StephieElise]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 4:43am

Because I’m in Australia I usually have to wait a really long time for shows if I’m going to go in blind and I’m usually far too impatient for that! I do enjoy the rare occasions when I do go in blind though, so if I know a show is coming (or I’m going to New York) then I’ll try avoid listening to the cast recording.

The only show I really regret not going in blind for was Book of Mormon. I found it hilarious when I first listened to it, but found that I knew all the jokes when I saw it.

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 5:48am

Obviously it’s entireky up to each individual to decide what they enjoy more but I would argue that if an audience member can’t understand the lyrics or story without knowing them first, there is a large fault in the production.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 7:26am

I prefer to hear the music beforehand if possible. I have some hearing loss from growing up performing in large symphonic orchestras that make it so I just don't easily understand certain frequencies of sound. It's not bad enough to require an assisted listening device and sometimes I can be fine going in without hearing it first. I can get by tilting my head this way or that or trying to put together context clues from what I do understand. You never know how the show is going to be mixed or where the speakers are, so if I can hear the music or read the book before going, I'm guaranteed to have a better time.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 10:00am

Agree with others who say it depends. Hello, Dolly!, no problem, see it blind it will be fun. However, the last time I went in blind was to Hedwig and I could not understand 80% of the lyrics. Wish I had listened to the OBCR beforehand.

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 3:40pm

Going in blind, with the music entirely memorized or somewhere in between is really just a personal preference and there's no use in arguing which is best. I prefer going in blind, because I enjoy the element of surprise and wow-factor of hearing the music for the first time. I also find that when I hear some songs without the visual aspect for the first time, I'm not so keen on them, but when I get the full effect I tend to actually really enjoy them and listen to them again later. 

I will agree with others who said that sometimes going in blind you can't catch the full lyrics or sung storytelling that occurs. This was especially true when I saw Hamilton and Phantom and both shows I sat front row and could see the actors spitting, but during several songs it was difficult to follow along completely. 

[beilis32]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 6:46pm

I have never purposely tried to learn all of the music to a show before going to see it. If I know every word to a show, it's because I have known it for years just from listening to it without ever knowing I was going to see it. I have had equally good times at shows to which I have known every word and shows I have gone in blind to. it's a different experience either way. I have also seen some shows where I knew some of the songs without knowing any of the context and then sometimes it's cool because the context is sometimes something different than what I thought it would be!
I do have a rule that if I know I'm going to see a show, I stop listening to that show until after I see it live. I am more wowed by everything that way.

Also, in response to the person above me, sitting so close that you can see the actors spitting is a rare, amazing, and sometimes slightly gross experience!

[fox2]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 8:36pm

For me it depends on the show - I had many totally different experiences. I saw Hamilton very early in the run, just a few days after it opened, and I didn't know anything about it - I was blown away because I didn't know what to expect in the slightest. I did the same for Great Comet and was rather puzzled. I didn't get anything of the story or the concept. Same with Hedwig, when I saw it first I didn't understand two thirds of the lyrics, which made it VERY hard to follow the story.

Listening to the recording can help, at least a song or two, to get the vibe of the show, but I'd recommend only listening to a recording if it's the actual one of the production you're gonna see. I remember a regional production of She Loves Me, I listened to the 2016 OBC beforehand and was very disappointed in the actual show cause they changed many of the orchestrations I had already fallen in love with.

On the other hand I once saw a regional production of Bare, not knowing anything about it, and I thought it was okay, until I listened to the original recording and realised how TERRIBLE the production actually was - I was glad I didn't listen to it beforehand, I would have been far more disappointing.

So yeah, there are two sides to everything.

[Dave13]

Posted: 8/26/18 at 12:26am

Mostly blind. I won’t buy the cast recording until I have seen the show or listen to it. However, I will watch the Thanksgiving Day parade and Tony Awards clips to see if I am interested in the show.

I will often read this boards threads on particular shows and read the reviews. I watch for a few posters opinions that often seem to match mine to decide if I want to see it.