WANTED: musician for The Big Hoo Haa
Sat, 20 Mar 2004, 01:32 amcrgwllms1 post in thread
WANTED: musician for The Big Hoo Haa
Sat, 20 Mar 2004, 01:32 amFor various reasons we're finding it difficult to secure a "second string" musician to become the accompanist for the performers at The Big Hoo Haa. I've been a virtually permanent fixture for the past year and a half...but we rather urgently want to find someone who can step into my shoes, firstly because I am soon to be away on tour for about 10 weeks, and secondly because I never get up and play in a team anymore, because I'm always doing the music.
It would help HEAPS if you've seen the Big Hoo Haa in action. Successful applicants would need to be reasonable-to-average musicians...but technical brilliance is NOT a requirement. Far more important is the ability to follow the action onstage, to give offers and musical suggestions to the players, and also to read when the players are giving you offers, which you then yield and adapt to. (An awareness of and ability in theatre improv skills.) A sensitivity to the players, audience, and the requirements of the scenes is important....for instance knowing how to provide atmosphere but NOT take focus from the players or dialogue. At the most basic, it might mean only playing two chords most of the night, going from a major to a minor...at the complex end, it could mean assisting the performers to make up an entire musical on the spot, in any number of styles...country, calypso, ballad, opera, etc. What you're asked to do will depend on your ability.
Someone who can improvise with a synth keyboard would probably be ideal, because having access to different voices and soundbanks is particularly handy. (However, when I first started I merely used an acoustic guitar with no effects, and the occasional kazoo, recorder, or harmonica.) If you have seen the show, please don't think you have to emulate what I do...we're far more interested in someone offering a new approach.
We train on Monday nights at the Blue Room in Perth...ideally you'd be available to attend and get a feel for what's required. Seeing the show next Friday is also recommended...that'll be my last night. We don't perform on the first Friday of the month, and the following Friday is the Easter break. But from mid April through May and early June a replacement is required.
Please get in touch if you think you've got the credentials.
Cheers,
Craig
PS It's a "profit share" gig. At the end of each month there is a split of the takings according to how many shows you contribute to.
It would help HEAPS if you've seen the Big Hoo Haa in action. Successful applicants would need to be reasonable-to-average musicians...but technical brilliance is NOT a requirement. Far more important is the ability to follow the action onstage, to give offers and musical suggestions to the players, and also to read when the players are giving you offers, which you then yield and adapt to. (An awareness of and ability in theatre improv skills.) A sensitivity to the players, audience, and the requirements of the scenes is important....for instance knowing how to provide atmosphere but NOT take focus from the players or dialogue. At the most basic, it might mean only playing two chords most of the night, going from a major to a minor...at the complex end, it could mean assisting the performers to make up an entire musical on the spot, in any number of styles...country, calypso, ballad, opera, etc. What you're asked to do will depend on your ability.
Someone who can improvise with a synth keyboard would probably be ideal, because having access to different voices and soundbanks is particularly handy. (However, when I first started I merely used an acoustic guitar with no effects, and the occasional kazoo, recorder, or harmonica.) If you have seen the show, please don't think you have to emulate what I do...we're far more interested in someone offering a new approach.
We train on Monday nights at the Blue Room in Perth...ideally you'd be available to attend and get a feel for what's required. Seeing the show next Friday is also recommended...that'll be my last night. We don't perform on the first Friday of the month, and the following Friday is the Easter break. But from mid April through May and early June a replacement is required.
Please get in touch if you think you've got the credentials.
Cheers,
Craig
PS It's a "profit share" gig. At the end of each month there is a split of the takings according to how many shows you contribute to.
crgwllmsSat, 20 Mar 2004, 01:32 am
For various reasons we're finding it difficult to secure a "second string" musician to become the accompanist for the performers at The Big Hoo Haa. I've been a virtually permanent fixture for the past year and a half...but we rather urgently want to find someone who can step into my shoes, firstly because I am soon to be away on tour for about 10 weeks, and secondly because I never get up and play in a team anymore, because I'm always doing the music.
It would help HEAPS if you've seen the Big Hoo Haa in action. Successful applicants would need to be reasonable-to-average musicians...but technical brilliance is NOT a requirement. Far more important is the ability to follow the action onstage, to give offers and musical suggestions to the players, and also to read when the players are giving you offers, which you then yield and adapt to. (An awareness of and ability in theatre improv skills.) A sensitivity to the players, audience, and the requirements of the scenes is important....for instance knowing how to provide atmosphere but NOT take focus from the players or dialogue. At the most basic, it might mean only playing two chords most of the night, going from a major to a minor...at the complex end, it could mean assisting the performers to make up an entire musical on the spot, in any number of styles...country, calypso, ballad, opera, etc. What you're asked to do will depend on your ability.
Someone who can improvise with a synth keyboard would probably be ideal, because having access to different voices and soundbanks is particularly handy. (However, when I first started I merely used an acoustic guitar with no effects, and the occasional kazoo, recorder, or harmonica.) If you have seen the show, please don't think you have to emulate what I do...we're far more interested in someone offering a new approach.
We train on Monday nights at the Blue Room in Perth...ideally you'd be available to attend and get a feel for what's required. Seeing the show next Friday is also recommended...that'll be my last night. We don't perform on the first Friday of the month, and the following Friday is the Easter break. But from mid April through May and early June a replacement is required.
Please get in touch if you think you've got the credentials.
Cheers,
Craig
PS It's a "profit share" gig. At the end of each month there is a split of the takings according to how many shows you contribute to.
It would help HEAPS if you've seen the Big Hoo Haa in action. Successful applicants would need to be reasonable-to-average musicians...but technical brilliance is NOT a requirement. Far more important is the ability to follow the action onstage, to give offers and musical suggestions to the players, and also to read when the players are giving you offers, which you then yield and adapt to. (An awareness of and ability in theatre improv skills.) A sensitivity to the players, audience, and the requirements of the scenes is important....for instance knowing how to provide atmosphere but NOT take focus from the players or dialogue. At the most basic, it might mean only playing two chords most of the night, going from a major to a minor...at the complex end, it could mean assisting the performers to make up an entire musical on the spot, in any number of styles...country, calypso, ballad, opera, etc. What you're asked to do will depend on your ability.
Someone who can improvise with a synth keyboard would probably be ideal, because having access to different voices and soundbanks is particularly handy. (However, when I first started I merely used an acoustic guitar with no effects, and the occasional kazoo, recorder, or harmonica.) If you have seen the show, please don't think you have to emulate what I do...we're far more interested in someone offering a new approach.
We train on Monday nights at the Blue Room in Perth...ideally you'd be available to attend and get a feel for what's required. Seeing the show next Friday is also recommended...that'll be my last night. We don't perform on the first Friday of the month, and the following Friday is the Easter break. But from mid April through May and early June a replacement is required.
Please get in touch if you think you've got the credentials.
Cheers,
Craig
PS It's a "profit share" gig. At the end of each month there is a split of the takings according to how many shows you contribute to.