Pit # 104

[fmm]

Tonight I start rehearsals for my 104th pit orchestra: Mary Poppins.  Playing this show pretty much insures that I will be at the top of the list to play Spamalot next year, which is a bucket list show for me.

[gearhed289]

That's great, congrats! The violinist in my band is concert master for "Hamilton" here in Chicago. He busted his ass for that audition. We were really proud of and happy for him when he landed the gig.

[pauldo]

Tonight I start rehearsals for my 104th pit orchestra: Mary Poppins.  Playing this show pretty much insures that I will be at the top of the list to play Spamalot next year, which is a bucket list show for me.

Congrats FMM!
There is a challenge and reward from pit playing that is truly unmatched.
Mary Poppins is classic and should be fun - Spamalot is a hoot and should be a blast.  Enjoy the moments!

[edwardofhuncote]

Congratulations &... Chim-chim-i-nee.   

[fmm]

Uh oh. The director wants me to bring my electric upright. I suck with a bow.

[Mr. Bill]

Hit him with the bow, he'll know you mean business... 

[pauldo]

Uh oh. The director wants me to bring my electric upright. I suck with a bow.

I had a similar situation when playing Chess.  The director then realized that the logistics (time and space) would not be conducive to me switching back and forth - the Distillate did the job!  :-D

[El Thumpo]

Uh oh. The director wants me to bring my electric upright. I suck with a bow.

What sort of electric upright? I ask because there are shortcuts to getting a decent bow sound out if some. And then there are the ones that no amount of technique will make bow-worthy.

[fmm]

It's a Stagg.  Definitely a student model, but it’s the cheapest bow-able EUB I’ve found.  The street price on them is around $550 – 600.  Mine was $400 (it has side dots in the wrong place, and was sold as a factory second).  I’m thinking of upgrading to a NS Design WAV.
Any tips on getting a better sound would be appreciated.  My bowed tone has always sucked, regardless of the instrument.  I played a couple of Nick Lloyd’s basses (nicklloydbasses.com).  Nick’s a former student of mine, and he was appalled at how bad I could make his basses sound.

[mario_farufyno]

If you filter some highs from it, a pinch of reverb may give you some acoustic resonance like feel.

[fmm]

I will try that tonight

[David Houck]

I've never seen anyone play chess with a bow.

[dlbydgtl]

Mary Poppins, awesome fun. Some great Bass lines. Let's go fly a kite....

[pauldo]

I've never seen anyone play chess with a bow.

At one time I was the Treasurer for the MFCC (Menomonee Falls Chess Club). It was in the 70's my oldest brother and neighbor started the club, they made me an 'official' and then used me like a pawn!


This Chess involves a bow:
The Musical