WTF is an MD? (a BTS look)

what does a Music Director do?

(I’m under a tight deadline, so today’s newsletter is only a RIFF.)

RIFFS:

MD = Music Director.

Like “consultant,” being “MD” can mean almost anything.

But most of the time, the MD does for the stage show what the producer does for the studio recording. They help the artist realize their vision… ideally to something even better than the artist imagined was possible.

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That usually means some combination of:

• writing new arrangements

  • (ie telling each band member what to play)

• combining arrangements

  • (eg horn & string arranging is usually done by a specialist, but the MD needs to collate that and provide direction)

• turning vague wishes into concrete instructions

  • (eg the singer probably doesn’t speak the same musical language as the rhythm section, so it’s the MD’s job to translate)

• adapting the recording to the stage

  • (eg there are probably 3 guitar parts and 2 keyboard parts on the recording, but only 1 guitarist and 1 keys player on the tour)

• organizing the information

  • (ie getting all the charts & reference recordings into a Dropbox folder & sending it to the band plenty early)

• keeping that information up to date

  • (ie as we make tweaks to the arrangements, making sure the charts & mp3s are updated too)

• recommending the band members

  • (ultimately the hiring/contracting/paying is probably done by someone else, but that someone else will ask the MD who they want to work with)

• running the rehearsal

  • (eg knowing which sections of which songs need the most attention)

• leading the band during the show

  • (ie counting in songs, cueing endings, etc)

• wrangling the technology needed for the show

  • (eg programming & running the click track or Ableton file)

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I’m MDing a new show.

Well, not new-new.

It’s the same band I’ve toured with for 12 years now. But we had multiple promoters suggest a new format, effectively saying “if y’all made [this one thing you already do as part of your show] your main focus, I could book that like crazy.”

Well ok then: say less!

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The upshot: we’re adding eleven new songs.

It’s a heavy lift:

• argue about decide on which songs

• record demos

• make lead sheets

• arrange the four vocal parts

• notate the rhythm section parts

• arrange the horn section parts

• create choreography

• learn all the parts

• rehearse them

• put on our first show

And we have about a month to get it all done.

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The next few weeks = behind the scenes.

I want to show you how our process works.

You’ll get to:

• see our workflow,

• meet the team behind it,

• understand the division of labor, and

• get a sense of what goes into mounting a 90-minute touring show.

You in?

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That’s all I got this week.

See you next Wednesday,

Josh

ps. Please leave a comment with any questions you have!