Ball Park Organist

[Byrdman]

I've had this fantasy of playing organ at a (base) ball park for many years.

 

I wonder if anyone here has done this and what advice, or stories, they might have.

 

Do I really want to do this? Strikes me that the fantasy and the actual experience might not have a lot to do with each other.

 

Anyone know of any resources if I do want to go ahead?

 

I would have to become comfortable playing a pedal clavier. Any pointers? (I've done it but I am certainly not comfortable doing it - I have not had a pedal clavier since I moved to the US and even before that it was only one of those one octave jobs on a Hammond L model)

[Laurie Z.]

Originally posted by Byrdman:

I've had this fantasy of playing organ at a (base) ball park for many years.

 

I wonder if anyone here has done this and what advice, or stories, they might have.

 

Do I really want to do this? Strikes me that the fantasy and the actual experience might not have a lot to do with each other.

 

Anyone know of any resources if I do want to go ahead?

 

I would have to become comfortable playing a pedal clavier. Any pointers? (I've done it but I am certainly not comfortable doing it - I have not had a pedal clavier since I moved to the US and even before that it was only one of those one octave jobs on a Hammond L model)

 

 

Hi, Byrdman! Looks like no one else answered your questions, so I will. One of my many jobs was keyboardist for the Mighty Ducks Hockey Team - myself and Peggy Duquesnel held down the position for the inaugural year and several thereafter.

 

We didn't use a Hammond anything. Back in the old days and in some old stadiums, that might be the case, but the newer direction is to use the new technology - samplers, keyboards, sequencers and the like to create the kind of sounds needed. Our equipment changed through the years, but at any given time, it included the Voce Organ module, Roland sampler, ext. drive and JV1000 - even had a Korg workstation for awhile.

 

It was fun for awhile, but the truth is that, although it's not very musically demanding, the toughest part is being ready, on headset, to do whatever the show director calls (even if it's not expected)...and work in a team setting in very crowded and often uncomfortable quarters.

 

I auditioned when I was part of the Disney performing family and that's how I knew about the gig. Best bet is to observe a few games at the stadium you're interested in, do some homework, make a few calls....and be very patient and flexible.

 

Good luck!

 

lz

www.lauriez.com

[Byrdman]

Originally posted by lauriez@lauriez.com:

 

 

I auditioned when I was part of the Disney performing family and that's how I knew about the gig. Best bet is to observe a few games at the stadium you're interested in, do some homework, make a few calls....and be very patient and flexible.

 

Good luck!

 

lz

www.lauriez.com

 

Thanks for your response. The ball park in my town actually installed this large theatre organ right on the concourse (which makes playing early season games in the cool weather real interesting). I talked to the chap who does the shows now and he seems to know almost know every tune ever written.

 

So he can break into the first few bars of "Give me men who are stout hearted men" from the Desert Song, for example, and I am probably the only person in the park who recognizes the tune! Recognizing it is one thing, playing it at the drop of a hat when you have not heard it in 30 years another. And you don't have time to pull things up from a library of fake books.

 

Sadly the organ looks better than it sounds, in part because of the lousy sound system, but also because the sounds in it really are limited - it would be much easier to do the show on a modern keyboard, but playing the theatre organ is, of course, part of the show. Plus a ballpark organ should have a traditional sound to it.