REHEARSALS THAT ENERGIZE!

Sunday, January 8, 2012: REHEARSALS THAT ENERGIZE!

An excellent rehearsal takes preparation, focus on detail, and mostly the ability to read the situation at hand.  Yesterday, the 55 voice performance ensemble Revv52 rehearsed at the Jack Singer rehearsal hall in preparation for our upcoming "Memphis: Great Balls of Fire" shows. 

Two cameras from Shaw Cable were in-house to catch the rehearsal dynamic and conduct interviews for a television segment, our producer Murray Ord was there to oversee a script run, our public relations coordinator Fran Humphreys attended and the six member band were there to read and rehearse through the arranged charts. 

So a rehearsal of this kind needs to accommodate the needs of those in attendance.  Running script before the songs, reinforcing segments between the band and the singers, allowing time for interviews as cameras wheel around the rehearsal hall can be distracting.  For yesterday, the songs were at the heart of focus.   In the end, everyone should leave the rehearsal accomplishing what they needed for the day. 

It all worked out really well yesterday - because there was a plan AND that plan was in place even before the season began.  We've hired excellent musicians who work together well - Steve Pineo: guitar, Kit Johnson: bass, Nicholai Drost: drums, Rich Harding: sax, Allistair Elliott: trumpet and the arranger/instrumental director who pulls it together: Trevor Waters.  Producer Murray Ord is demanding yet easy to work with - he knows from his work in film industry, the importance of working well with artists.  The camera operators from Shaw are so aware of getting the best out of people and when they do they get great material for their story.

Yesterday's rehearsal was energizing!