Gypsy

Starting from Sunday, I have double rehearsals between "Gypsy" and "The King and I". I had two other musical jobs offered which I had to say "no" due to this two gigs. Plus others.

My Sunday coming up will be 10 AM to 11 PM. (3 Jobs, Church gig, Musical Director gig (King and I) teaching singers each 30 min. for a couple of hours, and Musical Director gig (Gypsy) run through.

Next week, I won't be home everyday till 11 PM at least. Every day.
Some day I start early as early as 7 AM.
I am playing some high school's music competition as their accompanist.
(13 pages)so one day I have to be at high school at 8 AM. The day before I have 14 hours day.. 10 AM to 12 AM (Playing for Ballet, teaching, Musical run through with band and cast)

Total number of pages that I am playing for these two musicals are 400 pages.
I am proudly saying to all my students, "practice!"

OK I should not think. I just should go to work and do my job. Without thinking.

I should just remember which gig I am going, what time I have to be there and who I have to meet and play or teach. It's a different mind set that I have to bring so in between teaching and playing gigs usually in the car, I have to transform my mentality to teacher mode or player mode or musical director mode. I wish I have a switch that I can hit while driving my car...

Just make sure that I have right music for the right gig. I have so many music scores floating around in my house and in my car....

It is a true blessing I have this many jobs that I have to even turn down some.
I feel very lucky.

But sometimes I want to vent...just a little bit... that I am working 7 days a week for a long time.

I am honestly getting tired.....

I should be practicing right now... but instead,,, I am escaping from reality and writing this blog...
Giving myself a break!!

I love all the cast in Gypsy! They are the sweetest and very very talented people. I am very proud because I was at the judging table and my opinion was strongly counted.

Starting from next week, I have band members come to the rehearsal.
More work for me but less notes to play since I am playing the conductor chart now. I can give my bass notes to the bass player etc.

This production is the biggest number of cast and crew that I got involved in.
About 60.

Amazingly everyone get along and everyone shares one goal!
"To put a wonderful show"
Sometimes it's hard to get that great vibe, but so far so good. (At the audition my other focus to chose cast was good vibe, not only has talent!)

The show opens next Friday and we have 7 shows over 3 weekends in April!!

Here's more details
Gypsy

I am getting excited. I put a lot of my personal, artistic and musical direction and vision to all the songs that will be performed by amazing cast! There wasn't much harmony on the original score so I added some which is fun and takes quick thinking to trust which cast that I give harmony to etc. I worked with dynamics, crescendo, decrescendo, interpretation of the lyrics, blending the voices yet making sure everyone is having fun!!

They are sounding AWESOME!!!

The hardest part of being musical director is it is so much work!! besides being at intense rehearsals, at home you have to arranging the chart, making scheduled for cast, making music for Choreographer (recording, converting to mp3 and sending to them), contacint the band members and sending notes to cast etc....

But overall, I think I am getting better at my job "MD" not the smart one. Artistic one : )

P.S. Hope you are not out of breath reading this post :)