Pit musician?

Question:hey all,
im just wondering how one goes about become a pit musician ( a bass guitarist) for musicals and the like.

also is there anywhere in ireland where one can do bass grade examinations?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: hey all,
im just wondering how one goes about become a pit musician ( a bass guitarist) for musicals and the like.

also is there anywhere in ireland where one can do bass grade examinations?

There are several sure keys to getting good pit gigs.

1) you must be reliable 100% - your reputation must be that "the show goes on". You also need to have enough good connections that you can find a sub on short notice if something happens.

2) you have to know the music and the shows. Paying musicians to learn new music isn't something most shows can afford. You learn the music by volunteering at community theater and by seeing the shows.

3) you need to be able to offer some value your competition doesn't offer. This isn't about being a great soloist - this gig is about the show and not you. The people that can offer additional skills get the gigs. For woodwind players like myself, that means doubling on a variety of instruments. I'm not sure what bass players do for this but I suspect it's doubling as well. I bet it's the string bass for bass players.

4) you get the contacts by playing with other musicians. What you want to happen is when a show has to find a bass player, some respected sax player says "I know this guy...."

Most important - more than anything else - reliability. If you say you're going to pay the gig (any gig) then you play the gig. I was once in the pit on woodwind 5 (bari sax, bass clarinet, clarinet) in City of Angels and a prop antique typewriter fell off the stage and onto my head. Knocked me flat on the floor. The first thing I remember afterward was asking the alto player "dude, what number are we on" and then checking my horn. My wife was in the pit and immediately picked up the typewriter and asked the stage manager if they needed the typewriter back on stage (before seeing if I was still alive). The show always goes on. Once you get a reputation like that - you can have gigs.

I did miss a gig once. I had a heart attack and was in the ER and the doc wouldn't let me go play the gig. I hear that I was most concerned about the gig and tried to explain that I was much better. Doc thought it was the morphine talking...

Your reputation for reliability is more important than your playing ability. Playing ability does figure in though so work it up - learn the shows.

I actually had this discussion with a family friend recently. I am also a musician and she works in the theatre industry. She told me that signing up to volunteer at the musicals are a good start because you can get to know the people "behind the scenes" and let them know that you are a musician. She also said that going to musicals at theatres you are interested in is a great way to get your name out to them. I actually did end up meeting the musical director at a local theatre and he got my information. It wasn't a huge theatre company, but hey, it's a start! Good luck!