Making up musical theatre resume?

Question:I am trying to get a job as musical director for this musical called Company. I said that I was musical director for this show before. I also said name a musical I've done it.

I am a keyboardist and a wiz a doing midi. I play mostly light jazz and work cover bands. They say I will be vocal director as well as conducting the orchestra. I figure with my midi skils, I can be the orchestra on my own. I've never done a musical before, just cover bands. I've also never been a vocal director.

The guy asked me for a resume of my musical theater work. Can anyone suggest musicals that I can say I have conducted for? I need this really quick so I impress him and get the job!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am trying to get a job as musical director for this musical called Company. I said that I was musical director for this show before. I also said name a musical I've done it.

I am a keyboardist and a wiz a doing midi. I play mostly light jazz and work cover bands. They say I will be vocal director as well as conducting the orchestra. I figure with my midi skils, I can be the orchestra on my own. I've never done a musical before, just cover bands. I've also never been a vocal director.

The guy asked me for a resume of my musical theater work. Can anyone suggest musicals that I can say I have conducted for? I need this really quick so I impress him and get the job!

Put down things like Rent, Hairspray, Spamalot and Wicked.

Also, tell them when Jonathan Larson wrote Company, he outdid himself. Make sure you say the song "They had it coming" is your favorite part of Company.

That will make a great impression!

Get real. You have to 100% honest on a resume. When you are found out if you are not yo will never work again. Make an honest resume, and don't suppose you are going to replace an orchestra if the producer wants an orchestra. You don't sound experienced enough to me.

I really hope you're joking. Why do you even want to do this? You've never worked for a musical before, never conducted an orchestra, and never directed vocals, yet you for some reason want to direct the entire musical? Why? You should step aside and allow someone who has done this and knows what they're doing take charge. And you taking the place of an orchestra with a midi band? If you've worked with midi on any level, you should know how bad of an idea that is. Midi sounds terrible when replacing a full orchestra. Plus, the company had to pay for the full orchestral score in order to get rights for the show, so they will be using it. Most people here are going to agree on some level that this is a terrible idea, and some will try to sabotage your efforts (as they already have). If you can't even name a few musicals to lie about, then you have no business in the pit.

If you're going to try to bluff your way through a musical, for heaven's sake, have the good sense to pick an easy one! You'll get eaten alive by Company, and you'll get found out in a heartbeat.

And lying on a resume? The absolute quickest way to kill a career in theatre.

YOU are the one that is insulting. You suppose that Musical Theatre musicians do not have a special set of skills that are learned and studied.

You better sure as shoot know your stuff. It is not unusual in an interview for the director to ask prospective MDs to sit down at the piano. S'pose this person looked at your resume and said, "Oh, you did Wicked? How is that possible? The rights have not been released." Or, "I see you did Into the Woods. Can you play me something from it?" (Same composer.)

You are out of your element here. Just being a keyboard player and sequencer does not mean you are a musical theatre musician, any more than playing the trumpet qualifies someone to play the flute.

And by the way, "Company" is a very difficult score. I've played it. And by the way, many people do not like midi in the pit, especially if your program and softsynth voices are not musical theatre friendly. Unless you're using logic and miroslav or similar comparable sequencing tools, I wouldn't bother mentioning it. This kind of music needs good symphonic instruments.

All the people here who have advised you not to lie on your resume are absolutely correct. Besides, MIDI skills really won't translate into directing singers. Believe me, people can tell when a director doesn't know what they're doing! I don't doubt that you can do what you say you do; I'm just saying directing an entire live musical production is completely different!

And I'm sorry, but lying on your resume just ain't cool.

You won't get anywhere lying on your resume. Midi just isn't appropriate for musical theater when having live music is an option. The performers hate it and so does the audience. To be a music director for a musical you NEED experience in vocal direction.