Just to let you know that the Musicians Union are planning to hold a
protest out side of the Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road,
Southampton, between Tuesday 1st July between 6.30 and
7.30pm.
Please be there to show your support - further details below.
Dear
Colleague
Please find below the Musicians’
Union press release regarding the above show and its use of recorded music in
the production. The Show is scheduled to open its run at the Mayflower
Theatre Southampton on 1st July and runs for 6 performances.
The MU has been running a campaign to make audiences aware that this show is
using recorded music instead of a live band on this tour. Demonstrations
have been carried out at opening nights across the
country.
Whilst all the other dates on the
tour have been one to three night stands the run at the Mayflower (and the
following week at the Marlow in Canterbury) are the only two ‘production weeks’
on the tour therefore it is vital we make our position clear to the audience.
The Regional Office has contacted the local press and radio to raise awareness
of the issue and we plan to be outside the theatre on Tuesday 1st
July between 6.30 and 7.30pm to hand out leaflets to the audience prior to the
show. If you are able to give up an hour on Tuesday to show solidarity on
this issue please let the office know by either replying to this email of
contacting the office by phone 0207 840 5537.
MU bemoans lack of
musicians in touring show
19th June
2008
The Musicians’ Union
reports its dismay at the failure by the producers of the touring production of
Oh! What a Night to employ a live band and calls on the theatres where the show
appears to ensure that people buying tickets are aware that a recording is being
used as a substitute for live music.
Although a live band has been used in previous tours of
the show, the producers have confirmed to the Musicians’ Union that the shows on
the 2008 UK tour will be performed using a recorded
backing track.
Paul Burrows, MU Regional Organiser,
says:
"The Musicians’ Union approached the
producers with a view to resolving this issue and the MU was even prepared to
consider a compromise solution which would account for their economic needs. The
producers made it very clear, however, that they had no intention of employing
professional musicians during the tour contrary to the traditions of live
theatre in this country."
Horace Trubridge, MU Assistant
General Secretary, added:
"The Musicians’ Union has used their famous
slogan ‘Keep Music Live’ for over forty years and more recently launched the
Honesty Code campaign with a view to ensuring the public is fully aware of what
exactly they are buying tickets for. In this case, there is a real risk that
ticket buyers will be unaware that they are being short changed until it is too
late. The Union believes that a live performance should be just that - live -
and that any move to replace the live music element of a live performance with a
recording whether it be in a pantomime, a gig, a dance show, a musical or an
opera, devalues the product."
&
The Musicians’ Union (MU)
launched an online petition at www.honestycode.com
to encourage the public to support a
campaign which calls for honesty in the use of recorded music. The use of both
recorded music and digitised music devices in live productions and the use of
playback by artists performing or miming in TV programs have become relatively
commonplace. The Code aims to enable consumers to make informed decisions before
parting with money for tickets, as well as to acknowledge the true nature and
inherent value of an artist’s TV appearance. The Code is also intended to
recognise and reward those artists, producers, promoters and programme makers
who continue to value and support live music performance.
The Musicians' Union was
established in 1893 and represents over 32,500 musicians working in all sectors
of the music business. As well as negotiating on behalf of its members with all
the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services tailored
for the self-employed by providing assistance for professional and student
musicians of all ages.
For further details please
contact:
Paul
Burrows MU Regional
Organiser, tel 020 7840 5537
paul_dot_burrows_at_musiciansunion.org.uk
