Virtual Orchestras
If the stagehand union and Actor’s Equity had not shown solidarity for the Broadway musician’s strike, most producers had “virtual orchestras” ready to keep the shows going. What is a virtual orchestra really, beyond being a computer? And what are the operating costs? The 1987 contract negotiations allowed synthesizers (before the virtual orchestras) into the Broadway orchestra pits and their use has expanded. Orchestrators will often plan them into their scores, which gives you an idea of the mindset that the orchestra union is trying to counteract to salvage their livelihood. The new virtual orchestra systems are already being used for many touring companies, sometimes completely replacing live instruments, sometimes supplementing a few solo players. The striking Local 802 website lists the companies and individuals that it does not wish its members to associate with. These are the virtual orchestra creators.

Music Arts Technology was founded by former union member Brett Sommer. A laptop computer and a piano keyboard are hooked into the theatre’s sound system. The show’s score is programmed into the software and playing parts on the keyboard triggers the entire playback. Disney has been working with Sommer’s technology for their Broadway productions (Aida, Beauty and the Beast). Music Arts quoted Broadway producers costs of $35,000-$50,000 up front, plus fees of $890-$1,000 a week. A conductor or piano player must also be hired to operate the system.

Bianchi & Smith/RealTime Music Solutions’ virtual orchestra is more complex than Music Arts’. It uses networked computers and multi-channel speaker playback to more closely approximate the different instruments and their ranges. In a performance of “Evita” at New York Technical College, 35 loudspeakers (16 for the strings) replaced live instruments. A conductor can control the tempo to match the live performance of the singers. Their cost quote: ”$21,000-$50,000 depending on amount of music in show, plus $15,000 to $20,000 in equipment costs, which can berecouped from weekly fee on run of show or subsequent production.” RealTime’s charges a weekly fee of $1,500.

Hiring 24 to 26 musicians for a pit orchestra costs $30,000 to $40,000 a week.