We had a bit of a technical snafu in a show last week. In the middle of the opening night (for the new cast, that is) of "Boogie Wonderland" (the 2nd of 2 production shows we perform onboard) there was a computer crash. For those who are unfamiliar, all of the lighting cues are controlled by a "click track" in the performance venue. All of the lighting work (with the exception of the spotlight operation) is done pre-show and is timed by this track. The band also uses this track as a metronome to make sure that the music happens at the correct tempo and is correctly timed with the lighting cues. Additionally, this track has the instrumental parts recorded along with it and is the rehearsal "band" for the singers and dancers when they are doing technical runs and/or learning the shows for in rehearsals.
Now then (to use an British turn of phrase), the rehearsal track is still heard through the monitor speakers on stage for the singers and dancers even during "live" shows because the performers are used to singing with the background vocals that are recorded on the track. Additionally, that portion of the track (background vocals, strings, extra percussion and other instrumental parts) are heard in the house speakers to "fill out" the orchestra sound, so to speak.
So, here is what you have during a production show. All of the musicians wearing headphones listening to the metronome click staying in tempo/time with the background vocals and extra instrumental tracks which of course is timed with the lighting cues which is, of course, all controlled by computer.
Here's what happened last week: the computer crashed in the middle of the show, rebooted very quickly, and continued playing the click track/lighting cues/background vocals where it left off. Trouble is, during the time the computer was restarting, about 8 - 10 seconds of time or 3 - 4 measures of music continued on live. Hence, when the track and lights came back online, the performance ensemble (who had continued performing/playing while the computer was down) was in a different spot. The ensemble was 3 - 4 measures ahead of the track, or the track was 3 - 4 measures behind, depending on point of view.
It was weird for a while. Difficult to play when the sound you are hearing around you changes and is out of sync with where you are live. Our musical director and drummer, Vlad, usually has metronome click, track (background vocals, etc), AND live performers (singing and instruments) in his headphones all the time while performing. You can imagine how difficult it would be to continue playing when what you are hearing in terms of feedback from the track and live are in 2 different places. Like I said, it was weird for a while. However, when we got to the end of the tune, everything got straightened out and we got back on track (pardon the pun).
All of the performers on stage and in the pit handled it professionally. We continued playing, singing, and dancing even though things sounded strange and were uncomfortable (at best) for about 30 seconds. After the show, the pit orchestra were viewed as heroes for continuing to play instead of falling apart.
It's important to note here that while I appreciate the idea that I and the rest of the orchestra could continue playing without the track was viewed as a positive thing, I do think it should be expected. I mean, this is what I do. I'm a professional musician. In fact, I would prefer that there was NO track to play to. As a musician, I and the rest of the performers have a very solid foundation in the area of tempo, intonation, and tone quality. I don't need a track to perform this, or any other show, properly. It's part of my skill set as a professional. It's why I was hired.
I understand the idea behind the track and how it makes things easier on the production staff as a whole. However, sometimes I feel like the use of such contemporary technological advances further the dissolution of live performance. Much like auto tune, studio overdubbing, and popular TV shows like "The Voice" and "American Idol", these contribute to this troubling aspect of the music business.
Basically, I see myself and other musicians becoming more and more obsolete as the musical zeitgeist continues to disintegrate in our culture. But…that's another blog post. For now, it's nice to have a gig and to be somewhat viewed as "saving the show" when musical Skynet needs to restart.
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