Lip Synching - A Moral Question

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 3:56am

So,

I wanted your opinion on something: I have been approached by a theatre company I used to work for about recording my singing voice for the lead male part. The person they originally cast had to be let go from the production, and the replacement, while a great actor and dancer, can't sing the role at all. They want to use my singing voice, without letting anyone outside of the production know.

I don't have any problem with doing this ego-wise, since I have totally retired from acting and I won't even be in the same city as the performance when it happens. My only reservation is that I feel like I am helping cheat the audience or something. For me part of the magic of theatre is its immediacy and how real it is, and I feel like I might be undermining that.

At the same time I LOVE the recording studio so much and this would give me a chance to record some fun music and sort of relive my days doing musicals a bit. So I am pretty torn.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Akiva

[DramaQueen700]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 4:03am

I totally understand how you feel torn.

Is there any way you can make a deal with the production's team, and ask that you be credited in the program? That way, you wont have to feel guilty and if the audience reads it, they know, if they dont, they wont.

But I DO think its kinda shady for them to ask you, in hopes of "tricking" the audience. If something goes wrong with the sound people, that could really backfire in their faces. If they credit you in the program, people would be more likely to forgive a mishap. Maybe thats something you can point out to them as well...

good luck making your decision!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 4:07am

Shaaaaaaaady.....

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 4:13am

This is not something I think the company would normally do if it wasn't in a jam. But the show is coming up really soon and they don't really have an adequate singer on hand who knows the show as well as this replacement does.

Yeah...I'm going to talk to them about their reasons for not wanting to credit me and see what kind of a mindset they are coming from.

Akiva

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 4:14am

I'd do it, but I wouldn't want it to be kept secret.

[DramaQueen700]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 5:17am

sounds like this discussion is a good idea akiva. If they insist on not crediting you, then they dont have your best interest at heart, and that make it even more shady.

good luck, and please update us on how it goes. :)

[antonijan]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 6:03am

and pm us what show it is :P

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 6:55am

Unless (1) this theatre has a freaking *perfect* sound system and (2) the actor in question can *perfectly* match your voice line, the audience will know, no question about it.

Go ahead and do it. You're helping out a poor schmuck who cant sing. He'll get the thrill of being in a musical and being able to pretend, if for just a while, that he's something more than he really is. Isnt that why *all* of us go into theatre?

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 8:41am

i personally get very upset about this

i almost worked for a dance company that literally would have us hold microphones while we danced so it looked like we were singing, but it was all on tracks. it was disgusting. i realize this isn't the same thing, but live theater is about being LIVE..it was ridiculous. we could have just danced to the music and not held microphones.

i mean, it's not a reflection on you, so do it if that's what they want, but it just makes me upset with the company. the broadway people i love have to do all 3 eight shows a week.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 8:45am

To quote Lina Lamont, "Would YOU?"

Hey, it works for Idina!
Seriously, there are so many things that could go wrong unless this is a state of the arts facility.And you KNOW, "when things CAN go wrong..."
What is the show? Is it a very difficult role to sing? Is this a professional production?
Frequently in Opera when a lead singer is out they will have a standby sing the role either from the pit or off stage. It is not kept from the audience and is fairly well accepted as a convention.

[nightingalesing]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:11am

I agree that it should be out in the open.

I have seen a production of Secret Garden where the lead male was FAR from a good singer, so another cast member played his "internal voice" and sang things for him while he sat onstage. While it seemed awkward for a few seconds, I appreciated he different interpretation to the problem more than I would have if the character had been lip syncing.

If they can't come up with another solution AT LEAST get them to acknowledge you in the program. The audience will know eventually and it's better that the director is the one to inform them

[Jon]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:15am

"Girl you know it's true... true... true... true... true... true... true... true... true... true... true... true... true... true..." - Milli Vanilli

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:19am

I would think that the audience would appreciate the honesty. They should just make an announcement or put a note in the program explaining exactly what happened, that the leading man had to be replaced and on very short notice the best ACTOR was cast, but in order to maintain the integrity of the performance we decided to have the role SUNG by the best SINGER. We know you will understand and enjoy the show! Still not convinced that a recording is the best answer, though.

[artscallion]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:25am

I can't imagine how a professional(I assume they are professional if they have the means to do this technically) theatre company could possibly come to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to try and slip this by an audience. What on earth are they thinking? Don't they realize the potential for disaster, not just during the show, but to their reputation in the future? Who's running this place?

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:25am

It happens on Broadway. Dunno if they do it this time around, but the original ACL featured pre-recorded vocal tracks during "One"--and Liza Minelli would lipsynch her high notes in "The Act." There was a whole thing in the times about it. Of course this is ancient history to most of you readers. At the time the didnt use the term lipsynch, instead it was to 'sweeten' the sound of the show. Prerecorded vocal tracks are prerecorded vocal tracks. Go for it.

[artscallion]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:30am

Yeah, but that's one note, or a few lines during a heavy dance. But the entire lead role?? And wasn't Liza miming to a recording of her OWN voice? I say run.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:31am

Theatre is ephemeral. A month -- heck, a week -- after this closes, no one will care whether it was lip synched or not. We're not talking about something to recorded for posterity on PBS. It's a short term performance and nothing more.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:35am

Right! Just do it! I mean, The theatre has made the decision to hire someone to sing the role. So..why not you? Someones gonna get paid to do it, right? Might as well be you. The theatre will be very grateful to you for helping them out and you get a few bucks in your pocket. You are not cheating the audience, you are being hired to use your talent.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:38am

I disagree, Sean, if they can't pull it off this could be what the theater is known for and be laughed at for years.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:54am

The moral debate should be handled by the size of the check they give you for doing the recording.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:55am

I would tell them that you want the role. THey'll have to choose which is more important - acting and dancing......or singing. This IS musical, I know which one I'd pick.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:59am

Oh geeze....nothing like a horrible actor with a great voice! I'd much rather see a great actor who knows how to PERFORM a song. Listen to cast albums of broadways golden years..who sang? You had AWESOME performances! Gwen Verdon doesnt sing a note...but she sells EVERYTHING.

A horrible actor who sings? You would like that??

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 10:01am

bertandrew... Did I miss something? Where did Akiva say he can't act? Perhaps he can. He just said he used to work for this theatre company.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 10:03am

jordan girl...read the begining of this thread.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 10:04am

I did...

"I wanted your opinion on something: I have been approached by a theatre company I used to work for about recording my singing voice for the lead male part. The person they originally cast had to be let go from the production, and the replacement, while a great actor and dancer, can't sing the role at all. They want to use my singing voice, without letting anyone outside of the production know.

I don't have any problem with doing this ego-wise, since I have totally retired from acting and I won't even be in the same city as the performance when it happens. My only reservation is that I feel like I am helping cheat the audience or something. For me part of the magic of theatre is its immediacy and how real it is, and I feel like I might be undermining that.

At the same time I LOVE the recording studio so much and this would give me a chance to record some fun music and sort of relive my days doing musicals a bit. So I am pretty torn.

Any thoughts or opinions?"

Nothing about him being a crappy actor. Just that he won't be in town.