Conducting Musicals

I discovered that conducting musicals are much more difficult than I had anticipated.

1. First, you never have enough time to teach the correct vocals. It seems as though even spending 20 minutes on 2 bars with 8-year-olds is not enough to learn 2 part harmony. Also if you are never given the opportunity to teach the correct harmonies to certain cast members, it won't happen.
   
2. Asking musicians to show up somewhere and on time is impossible. Part of that was my bad because I wrote the street name in the email as "park ave" instead of "Parkmoor ave."
   
3. Fitting an orchestra in a pit is rough. I didn't realize I actually have to plan that out.
4. Getting singers to follow you after they have learned choreography with a recording. What happened to the old days of piano accompanists? (they cost too much)
5. There is no downtime when you conduct, you are always anticipating the next musical cue and making sure everyone is going to come in on that.
6. Making sure that you have the right cuts and the musicians too.
   

It is such a reward, though, to see the production come together. As the conductor of a musical, you are but one small part of a very big thing. The set, costumes, choreography, learning the scenes, tickets, marketing, the accounting, managing the actors, lighting, and sound make up this beast.

This week begins a marathon of 4 rehearsals and 10 performances. I need to stay focused.