(no subject)

[sanura]

Well, that PDQ Bach gig was a fiasco. We've been misled, abused, overtimed without pay, and we'll be immortalized on a widely distributed DVD that we didn't know about until the day before. That's all I'm going to say.

ETA: I've been made a liar. I said more.

Comments

[rachmaninof.livejournal.com]

after that type of teaser, i almost wish you'd say more.

[sanura.livejournal.com]

Nah, you really don't.

[rachmaninof.livejournal.com]

i do like hearing semi-scandalous drama, though. was it THAT bad?

[sanura.livejournal.com]

It's not really that exciting. We (various members of Shepherd Singers and Chorale, totaling about 18) volunteered to sing what we thought was this little PDQ Bach concert that happened to include Peter Schickele. Our first rehearsal was two days before the concert, and that's when we got the music. The rehearsal was at some tiny church, and once Tom finished warming us up we were informed that we would be recorded and videotaped, even the rehearsal the following day, for which we were to wear costume (bathrobes and nightgowns). Then we were filed into the rehearsal room where Schickele's homeless-looking New Mexican trash ordered us around like we were five years old. The next night went ridiculously overtime, and we were further condescended to: after following an incorrect cue perfectly, one of Schickele's goons told us "Better watch that, girls and boys." We were rushed vehemently backstage,and told to wait, but we waited fifteen minutes before we realized we were being ignored. The night of the concert, our call was 8:30. Our piece was last. The concert started over half an hour late, so instead of staying in Tom's office we milled around and sat on the black couches and looked at the sponsors' reception food. We were told "You'll have to get out of here soon. We're having a party in here." We rolled our eyes. Dan McNickle, not having eaten all day, came in later and tried to sneak some food, and the dude guarding the food threatened to _spank_ him! I left at that point for the sanctuary of Tom's office. The conductor of Orchestra X finally came in during intermission and thanked us, though I'm sure he wouldn't have if Tom hadn't sent him a pointed email. We managed to badger the goon in charge into letting us have free copies of the DVD that "might reach hundreds, thousands, maybe millions, and have your voices on it" (his words, not ours). The concert was mediocre, even for PDQ Bach (and I _like_ PDQ Bach), and the encore was uninspired; they repeated the last movement of our piece without telling us that's what they were going to do. Well, it was sold out and overbooked; the audience liked it a lot. If we had walked out when we should have, it would have ruined the concert.

[signorinakatina.livejournal.com]

I also like how we tried to walk offstage at the end and they wouldn't let us leave, so we were all standing there awkwardly on the side of the stage wondering what to do while the audience cheered and the Schickele took his extra bows.