Check out the actor's equity website for more information. Some pursue this job as a long-term career, while others treat it as a freelance music gig, combining it with touring, general business, or session work. Pit musicians are often required to sight-read complex pieces of music while also keeping track of cues from the onstage action. it is also important to be able to sight-read music, as this will be a large part of the job. Keen observational skills are a must. Pit musicians in Broadway play an important role in the entertainment industry, with a median annual salary of $1220 per week. Actors in the performing arts are expected to see slower job growth than those in film. Third, you need to be able to play a variety of genres and styles of music. These jobs are not only very competitive, but they are also rare. Stephen Flaherty Visits NYU Rehearsals for NY Premiere of, Enter to Win a Free Custom Playbill Program, Big 10 2019: The 10 Most Represented Colleges on Broadway, How to Build Your Own Custom Playbill Program With PLAYBILLder, 9 Performers Who Made Their Broadway Debuts While in High School, Casting Director Tara Rubin Answers Frequently Asked Audition Questions, WATCH: We Ask Broadway Stars Which Shows Schools Should Be Doing More, How to Fill Out Your Performing Arts School FAFSA, What to Pack: A Quick-Guide for Theatre Majors Going Back to School, 9 Plays and Musicals Off the Beaten Path High Schools Should Consider. Broadway orchestra pits are run under a union contract from the American Federation of Musicians, which standardizes payscale, pension contributions and health care contributions. September 13, 2018. Broadway and freelance work has no such animal of auditions, says Miller. Also, there are situations where a conductor may leave the show youre subbing on to do another and asks if you would be interested in playing in that orchestra. Reading from a score, pit orchestra musicians play their parts with expert precision in order to accompany the onstage actors, dancers, and singers. Large national and international tours bring musical theatre to local audiences around the world. The musicians arent paid for the shows they miss, and they are responsible for training and scheduling (but not paying) their own subs, but it allows each player to pursue projects and interests outside of their steady Broadway gig. In this video blog I'll be discussing my experiences working on Broadway, from life in the pit to playing on stage, the income,. April 19, 2023, By A good conductor should be able to manage a large ensemble while also having excellent timing skills.