To East Dulwich Musicians

[Adam Glasser]

East Dulwich musicians - has anyone had experience of the apparent policy to ask musicians to perform for free at the Olympic Games? ( I have some official copies of LOCOG contracts if anyone is curious. Moderators am I allowed to post them here? I dont want this thread to be bumped).

You may also have something to say about the the LSO recording in April music they are going to mime to at the Opening Ceremony... great if you have got the gig, ( ie 2 fees .. one for recording at Abbey Rd, one for miming on the day to your own performance) - but not so great for the tax payer or the future of live and composed music

[steveo]

I'd like to see the contracts

[Adam Glasser]

... looking forward to comment ...

[Jeremy]

Regarding the pre-recorded orchestral piece - this could perhaps have something to do with the logistical, technical, and acoustic difficulties of miking up a full symphony orchestra in a difficult environment.

I don't think it will have any bearing at all on the future of live orchestral music, because in concert halls - with specifically designed acoustics and much closer proximity to the audience - it would be blatantly obvious if the orcehstra was miming to a pre-recorded track.

[Adam Glasser]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> I don't think it will have any bearing at all on

> the future of live orchestral music, because in

> concert halls - with specifically designed

> acoustics and much closer proximity to the

> audience - it would be blatantly obvious if the

> orcehstra was miming to a pre-recorded track.

I hope you are right - though this piece on the subject in the Daily Mail suggests that it was not a technical issue

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2153716/London-2012-Olympics-London-Symphony-Orchestra-told-mime-opening-Games.html

[undergran]

Two sorts of volunteering opportunities were available for the Olympics, the first being for those who will generally support as volunteers working at events, seating people, escorting athletes for drug testing, doing IT work, etc. The second group were for Performance Volunteers - musicians, actors, dancers and others wanting to take part in the opening/closing ceremonies and other events. It looks to me like these document relate to the latter ie payment was never in questions as the individuals or groups VOLUNTEERED to do something.

[randombloke]

Adam

I'm not sure what the point is that you are making? Is you comment that it's a bit unfair of LOCOG in not paying for the time of professional musicians?

The fact is they (LOCOG)aren't paying for a lot of things; from volunteer greeters, to medical back up to legal advice. I used to work for the law firm who are their advisers. It's all pro-bono work and in hindsight the rumour is they (the law firm)wish they'd not agreed to do it as there have been so many thousands of hours of unpaid work, plus they are getting bad press for things like suing florists. I know someone who is working at both the Olympics and Paralympics on the medical staff and they are not getting paid for their time either, they are volunteers.

Is your concern that the LSO will be paid twice for both recording and then miming to their recording, thereby stopping another professional musician from earning the fees? Or ripping off the taxpayer by being paid twice?

That same friend working at the Olympics has been involved with the LSO for a number of years and I'd suggest the fees are the thing they are least bothered about. The rumour is it's about control of the timings. Danny Boyle wanted them to play live but LOCOG overruled him. It's actually a slap in the face and a total nonsense when you consider the LSO sight read in international competition and have to ALL play to the same tempo even in the most trying of venues (they were at St Paul's for two nights this week which is a nightmare acoustic because it all flies up into the dome and then comes back down again so it just becomes a morass of sound). If the LSO have to make a piece last precisely 2 minutes 15 seconds then that is what they do. Plus a conductor, who may well not be involved in the recording, will be wheeled out to wave his arms about a bit and rattle around(the clue is in the description-he's denied it but his diary is free that day). So if the premier orchestra in the country have to mime, so be it. They'd rather play live, with one chance to get it right just as they did in Trafalgar Sq a few weeks ago. They are consummate professionals. Is it a rip-off? I suppose you have to balance the cost of paying them twice against the cost of the entire event. That is, of course if they are being paid at all.

As for the future of live or composed music, surely one performance at the Olympics opening ceremony is far less subversive and damaging to the industry than the execrable nonsense purveyed by Mr Cowell and his media empire? If push comes to shove I'd rather listen to the LSO pretend to play something they prepared earlier than the drivel pushed out on a Saturday evening on X Factor, BGT, The Voice or whatever purporting to be music. At least the LSO don't need autotuners and talent enhancing electronics to make them sound as if they are all one the same page. Because, of course they actually are.

The issue of miking them up may well be more challenging, but I doubt it would be that difficult. Rock bands like can Metallica set up and down in less than two hours with a LOT more electronics, plus lasers/light shows etc etc. The LSO only need a few mics, they didn't have that many at St Pauls on Tuesday which went out live on Radio 3. One supposes it depends where they are going to be sitting on the day.

So, I agree with you that LOCOG have got a brass neck, but if they paid out for everything we'd all be up in arms over the cost for the entire event even more than we are already.

[steveo]

Randombloke: all very interesting but no one's comparing the LSO to Cowell. And the players are probably both glad to be there and at the same time miffed that they can't do their thing.

I for one think it demeans them not letting them do it for real for as much as Cowell's pap debases the art, the LSO in full flow is a wonder to behold, paid or otherwise.

[Jeremy]

randombloke Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The issue of miking them up may well be more

> challenging, but I doubt it would be that

> difficult. Rock bands like can Metallica set up

> and down in less than two hours with a LOT more

> electronics, plus lasers/light shows etc etc. The

> LSO only need a few mics, they didn't have that

> many at St Pauls on Tuesday which went out live on

> Radio 3.

Miking an orchestra for a PA will be totally different to miking it for broadcast. Many close-up mics vs a few ambient mics. Although thinking about it, it is probably more likely to be a syncronisation issue if it has to fit in with video and other visual effects.

[KalamityKel]

is it not more a case of the sound produced will just not be heard rather than completely miming? I mean they would still have to "play" for a visual effect otherwise there would be no point in having them there in the first place...

[SamMG]

You may want to check this out and get in touch with the Musicians Union.

From today -

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/36671/musicians-union-accuses-olympic-organisers

Sam