HIGH FIDELITY Special Union Meeting

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 7:10pm

Just an FYI...there was a meeting this past week at The League of American Theatres and Producers reguarding the orchestra for HIGH FIDELITY.

Apparently the orchestra is actually a ten-piece rock band and the producers had to meet with the musicians union in order to gain special permission to allow this on Broadway since they don't meet the union minimum.

No clue on whether or not an agreement was reached. But, what puzzles me is, if there is a union minimum...how would a show like HIGH FIDELITY get around it. I can understand situations like CABARET and SWEENEY TODD having the actors as musicians. But, this situation puzzles me.

Updated On: 10/15/06 at 07:10 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 8:48pm

"The Best Little Whorehouse" had to pay for musicians that they did not use. Wouldn't the same be true of "High Fidelity"?

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:11pm

What did Spelling Bee do?

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:16pm

Does anyone else find this union minimum thing to be really stupid. Look, I understand the importance of unions, but really if a show just doesn't need that big of an orchestra, why force it? Its a show that is trying to stay small in feel.

Does anyone know if Spring Awakening is having htis same problem?

Akiva

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:21pm

Is an orchestra under ten pieces really that uncommon? I don't see where thinking they may not "get around it" comes from. Other shows have, why won't this one?

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:23pm

What about Rent?

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:45pm

>Does anyone else find this union minimum thing to be really stupid.

Not any more stupid than when Actor's Equity tries to make shows hire off stage singers to fill in dance number vocals instead of allowing sweetening with click tracked tapes.

This is what the Broadway musician's strike of 2003 was all about. High Fidelity was probably asking for a "Special Situation" exception, the idea being that since their show wants to sound like a rock band they shouldn't have to hire the extra musicians. The special situations process was part of the contract negotiated in 2003. From what I've heard producers feel that special exceptions aren't granted frequently enough, and theater musicians think that they're granted way too often, so perhaps it's a reasonable system.

I'm sure that many Broadway shows would have smaller bands if it wasn't for the mandated minimums. I agree that it seems like a stupid system, but I'm still glad it's there. I would also rather have singers off stage than have large portions of shows performed to click tracked tapes.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:20pm

Another reason why HIGH FIDELITY should probably be in a smaller theatre.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:50am

It's not THAT big of a theater, but it ain't small either.

Question, do the musicians all have "under studies" too? Or "stand bys" - if one of the players is sick, who takes over for them?

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 7:43am

>do the musicians all have "under studies" too?

All Broadway pit musicians are required to have a list of subs, other players who have learned the book and can fill in. This is how musicians break into Broadway, by subbing and hoping that someone will notice they can play well and remember them. Broadway players are allowed to sub out a large portion of their shows (50% maybe?) so for a long running show each musician sort of becomes his own contractor.

Unlike understudy actors, the Broadway pit subs have to learn their parts without getting paid to do so, unless they get to play the shows. Unfortunately Broadway pit bands often sound their best right before opening night, since subbing isn't allowed until after a show opens.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:12am

Oh, that's so interesting. So if they sub 50% of their shows, do they still get paid?

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:28am

>Oh, that's so interesting. So if they sub 50% of their shows, do they still get paid?

Man, would that ever be the gig of a lifetime. No, the subs get paid for whatever shows they do. The liberal subbing policy on Broadway makes the gigs attractive to some of the finest musicians in New York. These guys go play other gigs whenever they want and still have a nice steady job waiting when things are slow. The original rhythm section of the Lion King played frequently with Steely Dan.

The bad news is that as a theater goer you only have a 50% chance of hearing these great players on any given night. As I said earlier, many pit bands are at their best before a show opens and the subs come in.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:51am

well can't high fidelity just use the hairspray ploy of having cast members creditied as musicians too? In that case Link, Penny, Mr. Pinky, and Velma are/were all credited as playing in the orchestra (since they do play an instrument on stage however briefly); see also Stephen Lynch in the Wedding Singer

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:28pm

Yeah, each theatre has a minimum, I think the Imperial's is 14.