These resource tabs were designed with the first-time, public school drama club Director in mind. But hopefully, they may help any who stop by!
Checklist
Our step-by-step guide & checklist are great resources for you to understand the mechanics of your next production. They have been designed especially with the pit orchestra in mind. And if you decide to work with Rent a Pit Productions, then great! This is exactly the information we will need to provide you with a free quote.
However, before running through this checklist, we strongly encourage you to skim our list of theatre terms.
This will not only guide those unfamiliar, but will also ensure that we’re all on the same page.
Step 1) Venue
Where is the production happening? Usually, this is a school auditorium or community theatre stage. (Note: when hiring musicians, location features into compensation, especially if there are multiple venues during the course of a single project!)
Step 2) Production chosen
This is something that the Director needs to know before they begin looking for musicians. The sooner that the Director has the sheet music for the chosen production, the sooner the musicians can begin learning it, ideally well in advance of the first rehearsal. Typically, the MD contacts the musicians to distribute either digital or physical books.
Step 3) Musicians needed
This is entirely dependent on Step 2 (obviously). However, for school musicals in particular, in some cases, perhaps there are exceptional student instrumentalists within the school’s music department who can play instead of the production needing to hire all of their musicians professionally. (Many Rent a Pit musicians got their starts in just this way!) However, it is important to stress that pit orchestra musicians must be highly technically proficient, and able to allow for some degree of “on-the-fly” improvisation and flexibility, which is part of the live theatre experience. Thus, it is outstanding for a student musician to be able to smoothly meet these demands.
Step 4) Tech dates:
Will there be a sitzprobe? (If time and budget allow, we recommend yes! Running through the production without blocking can ensure a more refined product and a smoother start to tech week for all involved.) How many rehearsals will have full AV (lighting & sound) all happening onstage? Is there any possibility for weekend rehearsal?
Step 5) Performance dates
How many runs of the show will be performed for a live audience? Will there be an invited dress rehearsal, perhaps for a discounted ticket price?
To make it easy for you, here’s one question that will determine how much of the pit orchestra stuff you’ll have to think about:
Will an external MD be necessary? Or is there someone (typically a faculty member from the music department) who will already be working with your cast to teach them the vocal parts?
If your cast’s vocal direction is already covered, then all you’ll need are musicians to play in your pit! The person conducting the pit will then most likely be the Choral Director. It is up to the Choral Director whether they would like to also play the primary keyboard/piano 1 part while conducting, or if they would like to hire a separate musician to do so, thus freeing them up to conduct.