Phantom Lip-Syncing??- Page 3

[winston89]

Posted: 5/1/13 at 7:16pm

Going back to Phantom.

With regards to the pre recording, it isn't of Sarah Brightman singing. I believe Equity states that if there is a pre recorded track of any kind, it has to be of the performer that is currently on stage. So, to use Phantom again as an example, there is a different pre recorded track of the title song for the lead as well as a different one for the alternate. Another example that comes to mind is Wicked. When we hear Nessarose moaning in act two off stage, it's a pre recording of whoever is on that night. If it's the lead, than it's a pre recording of the lead. If the understudy is on that night, then they have to use a different pre recorded track.

[shobizpro]

Posted: 5/1/13 at 9:19pm

"Dear lord...

jnb,
That is entirely false. The entire cast of Mamma Mia is mic'ed and sing live. Mamma Mia IS a stickler for mounting the mics right at the hairline, but on ALL of the ensemble men, you can see the mic cable taped to their backs along the spine when they shirtless and their transmitters are generally in the crotch of the costumes to avoid bulges in odd places when wearing smaller costumes.
The show also has several vocal booths backstage where the cast sings background vocals LIVE any time they are not physically on the stage, in which case, they'd be singing upstage of the taverna walls. You can EASILY search any number of backstage tour videos where this is shown. They DO use a sweetner track to thicken up the vocals during the curtain call megamix and during the act one finale since all hands are onstage.. and in the case of the act one finale (Voulez-Vouz), dancing quite hard."

broadwayguy has it right, although at the end of the 2nd National Tour (and in subsequent tours as well, I'm sure) the chorus booths were eliminated in favor of the ensemble simply singing with their normal mics to offstage conductor monitors.

"in the case of the act one finale (Voulez-Vouz), dancing quite hard."
And clapping their hands and their dancing partner's hands close to their faces (and mics) which was somewhat problematic.

[troynow]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 6:34pm

Not true. A portion of the tittle song is tracked because of the vocal demand and the staging of the show. There are 3 phantoms and Christines used to go into the Lair. But the rest of the show is live.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/21/13 at 7:03pm

mwey,
Sorry for the delay in responding, but I just found this thread again.
The conductor controls the clicktrack. A clicktack / metronome is, quite literally, just a steady click on the beat to keep steady tempo, so it can be started 4 counts before they begin to play or a minute and a half.. it does does not matter. It does not cue a musician as to when to play.. only the conductor will do that.
As I have stated previously, it keeps a steady tempo. and this is often critical.. especially what automted / preprogrammed things happen during a number. During a song, especially during a dance break, the stage manager calls cue to the count of the music and therefore, it needs to be steady, both to create the desired visual, but more importantly, for safety.

showbizpro,
Yes yes... save space on those trucks!
aAs far as clapping I goes, I think it goes without saying that clapping into a microphone would be VERY unpleasant for the audience as well potentially damaging the mic itself.