696 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on Jan 24, 2020 20:13:15 GMT
I'm pretty clued up on the swing/standby/alternate lingo but what exactly is a 'walking cover' ? The new Hairspray cast got announced today and there's 1 male and 1 female 'walking cover' who I predict by looking at them are for Tracy and the male for both of Tracy's parents. Is it just another word for standby ?
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349 posts
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Post by kimbahorel on Jan 24, 2020 21:16:24 GMT
Never heard the term before but it seems according to google search the same as a stand by.
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4,458 posts
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Post by poster J on Jan 25, 2020 12:19:36 GMT
I'm pretty clued up on the swing/standby/alternate lingo but what exactly is a 'walking cover' ? The new Hairspray cast got announced today and there's 1 male and 1 female 'walking cover' who I predict by looking at them are for Tracy and the male for both of Tracy's parents. Is it just another word for standby ? Presumably standby for multiple roles rather than just one?
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2,041 posts
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Post by 49thand8th on Jan 27, 2020 17:02:43 GMT
Sometimes it means someone who's in the ensemble but can be taken out of it as needed and it won't affect any songs. They don't have individual lines. They can also be in the ensemble AND take over a more featured role in the same performance.
There's currently an onstage swing (the more common term here, I believe) in The Book of Mormon on Broadway who covers all the female Ugandan roles and a few of the male Ugandan roles. She is also in the show every night, but if she has to play someone else, it won't be a problem with re-allocating lines.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2020 10:23:50 GMT
Ok so slightly obscure question but someone may know......
I was looking on YouTube at broadway shows and stumbled upon a bootleg thread. I understand they can’t “advertise” what the shows are so why do so many of them call themselves “slime tutorials”?!
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 9, 2020 13:27:37 GMT
Ok so slightly obscure question but someone may know...... I was looking on YouTube at broadway shows and stumbled upon a bootleg thread. I understand they can’t “advertise” what the shows are so why do so many of them call themselves “slime tutorials”?! It's probably not wise for me to be explaining it but it's a way of disguising the title video so it doesn't get picked up on and deleted, seeing as bootlegs aren't legal. Slime tutorials are/were genuinely a big thing for kids to make their own fake slime/goo to play with at home so it's just something the bootleg community latched on to. If this is info that shouldn't be out there - please feel free to delete haha
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4,799 posts
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Post by The Matthew on Apr 9, 2020 13:38:32 GMT
It's always seemed a bit weird to me because the people who do it appear to believe that although they all know the widely-known secret somehow nobody else will catch on. It reminds me of a fan community a few years ago where a couple of people were posting links to YouTube uploads of things ripped from iTunes, and they kept on wondering how it was that the content was taken down so quickly. Dude, you're posting a link right to the offending content on a well known fan forum. Did you think the link would be invisible to the copyright holder?
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Post by FairyGodmother on May 25, 2021 11:58:04 GMT
I have a question about shows where the cast play instruments — I'm specifically thinking of Music & Lyrics Fiddler on the Roof tour here, although I'm sure it will apply to others.
How does that work with covers? On top of everything else else (age, sex, vocal range, dance ability) did they have to have somebody who was e.g. a double reed specialist as well?
One of the daughters was a clarinettist and another a cellist — would they be covered by somebody playing the same instrument, a different instrument and a re-scoring (very unlikely I think?) or mime and have somebody else play it?
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7,574 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jul 2, 2021 18:50:57 GMT
Is a "walking cover" just another name for an understudy or is it something special? It's not a term I've heard before but in the Hairspray programme the understudies for Edna and Tracy Turnblad already listed as walking understudies.
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Post by amuseical on Jul 3, 2021 12:30:24 GMT
Is a "walking cover" just another name for an understudy or is it something special? It's not a term I've heard before but in the Hairspray programme the understudies for Edna and Tracy Turnblad already listed as walking understudies. Walking covers tend to be understudies who specifically aren’t members of the ensemble or in the show in any other capacity (as first and second covers may be), but rather wait backstage should they be needed to take over.
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7,574 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jul 3, 2021 12:38:57 GMT
Is a "walking cover" just another name for an understudy or is it something special? It's not a term I've heard before but in the Hairspray programme the understudies for Edna and Tracy Turnblad already listed as walking understudies. Walking covers tend to be understudies who specifically aren’t members of the ensemble or in the show in any other capacity (as first and second covers may be), but rather wait backstage should they be needed to take over. Thank you. That makes sense as there was a list of understudies listed in the programme but only "walking" for the 2 leads.
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518 posts
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Post by ruby on Jul 3, 2021 14:03:11 GMT
So is there a difference between a walking cover and a standby?
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Post by sfsusan on Aug 21, 2021 23:11:03 GMT
What are "slip seats"? I can infer that they're awkwardly placed (side-on, perhaps?), but I'm curious about the exact definition. A slightly different question... what's the terminology for those fold-down seats occasionally found at the end of rows? I've accidentally purchased them once or twice (I can't remember if it was in London but I know once was in Paris). Is there something I should look for on the seating chart or description?
Thanks in advance!
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6,370 posts
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Post by Jon on Aug 21, 2021 23:17:55 GMT
What are "slip seats"? I can infer that they're awkwardly placed (side-on, perhaps?), but I'm curious about the exact definition. A slightly different question... what's the terminology for those fold-down seats occasionally found at the end of rows? I've accidentally purchased them once or twice (I can't remember if it was in London but I know once was in Paris). Is there something I should look for on the seating chart or description? Thanks in advance! The slip seats are seats that on the sides in the dress or upper circle which aren't boxes. Delfont Mackintosh theatres often have them. They can be decent value for money depending on the show. The fold down seats are called Strapitan seats.
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4,973 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 22, 2021 9:01:48 GMT
I believe the refurbished Drury Lane now has slips in the stalls.
They can't currently be booked for Frozen, but are indicated on the seating plan by 'SL'.
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Post by sfsusan on Aug 23, 2021 20:30:15 GMT
The slip seats are seats that on the sides in the dress or upper circle which aren't boxes. Delfont Mackintosh theatres often have them. They can be decent value for money depending on the show. The fold down seats are called Strapitan seats. Thank you, Jon! (The fold down seats should be called "strap-it-in" seats... they felt very narrow and precarious and I'd really like to avoid them in future!)
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1,115 posts
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Post by Stephen on Sept 7, 2021 8:43:02 GMT
I went to see the tour of Waitress last night in Wimbledon. It was great however there were a few sound issues with the mics. I noticed that all of the cast including the leads only had one mic on the side of their face coming to their mouth. Isn’t it common practice (at least for lead roles) to have two less visible mics from their forehead?
I was wondering if on tour the theatre supplies the mics. It wouldn’t matter other than the mics were cutting out at times and are also more visible when attached to the side of a face! Maybe a budget thing with the less visible mics costing much more?
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4,458 posts
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Post by poster J on Sept 7, 2021 9:01:15 GMT
I went to see the tour of Waitress last night in Wimbledon. It was great however there were a few sound issues with the mics. I noticed that all of the cast including the leads only had one mic on the side of their face coming to their mouth. Isn’t it common practice (at least for lead roles) to have two less visible mics from their forehead? I was wondering if on tour the theatre supplies the mics. It wouldn’t matter other than the mics were cutting out at times and are also more visible when attached to the side of a face! Maybe a budget thing with the less visible mics costing much more? Not necessarily - for example, if you watch the film version of Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda's mic is on his forehead while Leslie Odom Jr has his at the side of his face. So seems to me it has everything to do with the quality of the mic itself and not where it is positioned!
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7,574 posts
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Post by alece10 on Sept 7, 2021 9:29:06 GMT
Really dumb question and I should know the answer but why does the safety curtain at a theatre only come down during the interval? Why not before the show starts?
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Post by firefingers on Sept 7, 2021 9:41:00 GMT
Really dumb question and I should know the answer but why does the safety curtain at a theatre only come down during the interval? Why not before the show starts? You wouldn't want it preshow, as it would ruin the aesthetic of those who happened to be walking in. Instead of the show's front cloth or opening set, stuff that is carefully created to set an impression of the show (and these days, look good on social media), you'd have a safety curtain. Most theatres legally have to "show the iron" to the audience at every show to prove it is working, and this can be done at any point from house open to house clear. The interval makes sense as everyone knows what the show is about by then, and preshow and postshow pics seems far more common than interval ones. Also having it in in the interval can make it safer for those working on stage to set for Act 2, so they or the scenery and props can't escape into the stalls or orchestra pit. Fun safety curtain fact, many of them still have asbestos as their insulator.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 7, 2021 11:17:01 GMT
Thanks the info, I didn't know about the asbestos. Yikes.
My vote for the best 'iron' is the barbican. Wins by a mile.
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7,574 posts
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Post by alece10 on Sept 7, 2021 11:33:53 GMT
Thanks the info, I didn't know about the asbestos. Yikes. My vote for the best 'iron' is the barbican. Wins by a mile. Yes that is rather impressive although sitting at the front it does feel a bit odd when it starts to close
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Post by marob on Sept 7, 2021 12:41:55 GMT
It’s probably already been addressed in the previous 40+ pages but, having been to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane last week to see Frozen, why is it not the Theatre Royal Catherine Street? I know it’s been rebuilt, presumably the original entrance was on Drury Lane, so why change it?
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Post by sph on Sept 7, 2021 14:19:21 GMT
Really dumb question and I should know the answer but why does the safety curtain at a theatre only come down during the interval? Why not before the show starts? You wouldn't want it preshow, as it would ruin the aesthetic of those who happened to be walking in. Instead of the show's front cloth or opening set, stuff that is carefully created to set an impression of the show (and these days, look good on social media), you'd have a safety curtain. Most theatres legally have to "show the iron" to the audience at every show to prove it is working, and this can be done at any point from house open to house clear. The interval makes sense as everyone knows what the show is about by then, and preshow and postshow pics seems far more common than interval ones. Also having it in in the interval can make it safer for those working on stage to set for Act 2, so they or the scenery and props can't escape into the stalls or orchestra pit. Fun safety curtain fact, many of them still have asbestos as their insulator. Many shows DO "show the iron" before the performance. They've always done it at Book of Mormon and a few others around the West End. Usually the stage crew will wait until a minimum number of people have entered the auditorium as soon as the house opens (I can't remember the exact number) and will lower the safety curtain then. That way they have covered themselves legally but aren't lowering the curtain to a full audience which some producers don't like and can make resetting during the interval more difficult on some shows.
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Post by sph on Sept 7, 2021 14:25:53 GMT
I went to see the tour of Waitress last night in Wimbledon. It was great however there were a few sound issues with the mics. I noticed that all of the cast including the leads only had one mic on the side of their face coming to their mouth. Isn’t it common practice (at least for lead roles) to have two less visible mics from their forehead? I was wondering if on tour the theatre supplies the mics. It wouldn’t matter other than the mics were cutting out at times and are also more visible when attached to the side of a face! Maybe a budget thing with the less visible mics costing much more? Not necessarily - for example, if you watch the film version of Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda's mic is on his forehead while Leslie Odom Jr has his at the side of his face. So seems to me it has everything to do with the quality of the mic itself and not where it is positioned! Yes, it's also usual for bald men or men with higher hairlines to wear them on the side, as they can't hide the wiring in their hair. But it does depend on the production. Forehead mics tend to be more discreet and don't remind the audience that they're watching an actor. Mics on the side give a bit of a "pop concert" look which might not fit the show.
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6,370 posts
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Post by Jon on Sept 7, 2021 14:48:51 GMT
This is going to sound dumb but I assume the mics they use for theatre productions are different to the ones used for TV shows which are usually lapel.
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301 posts
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Post by properjob on Sept 7, 2021 19:15:03 GMT
I went to see the tour of Waitress last night in Wimbledon. It was great however there were a few sound issues with the mics. I noticed that all of the cast including the leads only had one mic on the side of their face coming to their mouth. Isn’t it common practice (at least for lead roles) to have two less visible mics from their forehead? I was wondering if on tour the theatre supplies the mics. It wouldn’t matter other than the mics were cutting out at times and are also more visible when attached to the side of a face! Maybe a budget thing with the less visible mics costing much more? The mics would be provided by the tour not the host theatre. For a musical I would expect nearly every part of the sound system to be supplied by and travel with the tour.
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301 posts
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Post by properjob on Sept 7, 2021 19:24:27 GMT
Really dumb question and I should know the answer but why does the safety curtain at a theatre only come down during the interval? Why not before the show starts? You wouldn't want it preshow, as it would ruin the aesthetic of those who happened to be walking in. Instead of the show's front cloth or opening set, stuff that is carefully created to set an impression of the show (and these days, look good on social media), you'd have a safety curtain. Most theatres legally have to "show the iron" to the audience at every show to prove it is working, and this can be done at any point from house open to house clear. The interval makes sense as everyone knows what the show is about by then, and preshow and postshow pics seems far more common than interval ones. Also having it in in the interval can make it safer for those working on stage to set for Act 2, so they or the scenery and props can't escape into the stalls or orchestra pit. Fun safety curtain fact, many of them still have asbestos as their insulator. Also as a side effect of it being smoke tight and substantial enough to be fire proof it is also light tight and pretty sound proof so having it down in the interval means you can turn on all the working light on the stage and shout up to the fly floor etc which makes big interval changes easier. If you see a show on tour on its last night in a venue the safety curtain might well get dropped pretty quickly at the end of the show so the set can start being dismantled before the audience has even left the auditorium. It is a bit of a weird regulation which effectively makes the audience fire inspectors but it is effective as the safety curtains all work and aren't chained up to stop them dropping everytime the fire alarm is tested. I don't think that is always the case in other countries where they might require workong safety curtains in the regulations but don't make the theatre prove it works every show.
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Post by SuperTrooper on Sept 7, 2021 20:46:13 GMT
It’s probably already been addressed in the previous 40+ pages but, having been to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane last week to see Frozen, why is it not the Theatre Royal Catherine Street? I know it’s been rebuilt, presumably the original entrance was on Drury Lane, so why change it? The original theatre was on Drury Lane, basically where the stage is now. The first theatre was smaller than the stage is currently. It's grown over the years!
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Post by firefingers on Sept 7, 2021 22:08:40 GMT
A fair few questions about sound here that I'll try and answer:
First is "why put a mic where". It's basically a question of loudness and aesthetic. The closer you put a mic to the sound source (eg a mouth) the louder you can make that microphone before you get feedback. Also remember that a microphone picks up all noise, it doesn't know what you want to amplify, so if you have a loud band or a lot of people, you might opt to go for mics at the corner of the mouth (called boom mics) compared to mics mounted on the forehead or poking out just over the ear. Having a boom mic also helps if characters wear hats as a hairline mic may well get smothered. But booms are a lot more on show and requires a greater suspension of disbelief, so they tend to only be used on shows that really justify them. I suspect Steve that the lead performers' mic rigs on Waitress do have two heads, but one will be a say a DPA 4066 and the other a 6061, meaning the back up is a lot smaller (and cheated behind the main mic capsule) to help with the aesthetic. Price wise top end booms are more expensive than top end hairlines, because the metal frame that sits over the ears is well over £100. But an expensive mic through a badly set up/or low end sound system will sound worse compared to a cheeper mic well treated.
The mics cutting out or missing the start of a line is very common, particularly early in a show's life. What most don't realise is that you only switch on the microphone(s) you need at that moment. If you didn't, you'd get a load of background noise, and the soundwave distorts so it sounds thin and weird (imagine if you have 16 ears spread randomly over a stage, the sound reaches them all at slightly different times, creating a sonic mess). So the Sound Number One, or whoever on the team is mixing that night, is basically raising and dropping the levels of microphones to keep everything tidy, clean and clear. But this does mean that when you've only had a few goes at it you miss a few starts or clip an end when you think a line is done but isn't. Understudies with different timing, and diversions from the script by actors can also play a part, but usually it is just an operator learning. See here for a video of line mixing a musical (not my vid):
Every musical of any decent scale will tour their own radio mics, along with PA, sound desk, band mics, sound effect playback machines and a sound team for mixing, fitting microphones, tuning the PA etc.
Jon, the microphones are ostensibly the same as the lapel mics you see on TV shows, with the only difference usually being the colour (as rarely will a jet black line along someones neck blend well). So why do TV presenters go for wearing it on the chest, and theatre on the head? Well, the chest is convenient, easy to attach, kept out of the way, and the transmitter can be chucked in a jacket pocket and the presenter live in seconds. But the chest is a) quite far from the mouth, b) when someone turns their head the sound levels change, and c) you get a lot of muddy bass and a lot less top end. When transmitting for broadcast this doesn't matter as they can put extreme compression and EQ to fix it but such things on a live PA would result in feedback. If you mount on a boom or on the hairline, the distance stays the same throughout the show, you get no chest resonance, and you have time to fit the transmitter under costumes or into wigs which means costumes can be changed midshow without it affecting the microphone.
Oh, and a note on irons. My favourite i've encounted through touring is the Kings, Southsea which proclaims the theatre to have "computer lighting" and "laser sound". I did enquire what the latter actually meant, nobody seemed to know.
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