How Watching Your Show From The Audience Changes Everything
Just be aware it may be a dual path of inspiration and disillusionment
I had the chance to catch Hadestown on Broadway last night, and let me tell you, seeing it from the other side of the stage is a whole different thing. Before I dive back into the tour of the show in a few more weeks, I figured it was time to see the show from the audience's perspective.
Being in a Broadway musical usually means you miss out on the magic happening right in front of the curtain because, well, you're making the magic happen. I always aim to understand the "why" behind every note I play—it's gotta mean something, resonate, and add to the narrative.
When creating the drum book for a Broadway show, the drummer and music director are usually involved in the creative process from the beginning of cast rehearsals. Being a part of this process allows me to add hits, cymbal sweeps, or other percussion sounds to the show from the beginning. But when you are stepping in as a substitute drummer for a show you didn't create? That's a whole different thing. You're performing a task, being a cog in a massive machine. Most of the time, you never get to see the bigger picture. In your drum booth, you're mostly seeing the show from a small monitor - if the production gives the drummer one.
After touring with Hadestown a few weeks ago, I was curious about the show's details. Why was I playing certain things, and how did it relate to what was happening on stage? Let me say, seeing it live? Game changer. This show isn't just about the grooves; it's a theatrical experience that still manages to groove hard.
Most musicians are reluctant to sit in the audience to watch their own shows. This is mainly because the sound quality in the theater is significantly different from what we're used to hearing from our monitors. We're always striving for a clear, studio-quality sound, but in a live theatre performance, the focus is more on the lyrics and story. While I understand this, it can be disappointing to be in the audience and not have the intricate details of our performance effectively conveyed to the listeners.
Last night's band was on fire. The touring band is just as incredible. The story, the music, the visuals, the dedicated fans—it's clear why Hadestown has been a hit since 2019. If you've got the chance (and the budget—thankfully, I had a hook-up 🙌), don't miss out on this experience.