Life in the Pit

We’re very fortunate in the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra in that our pit is very spacious compared to many others that I have seen. We have three double door entrances which are usually available to us. Because our pit is wide and shallow, we do have to be careful when we enter, as the percussion and winds are usually set up within a few feet of the doors.

Through the years the management has worked with us regarding safety concerns that we have had. Generally we can count on safety strips on risers, and taped separations where the floor meets the hydraulic level of the pit. The vast amount of electrical cords snaking around the floor are always a matter of concern.

We’ve had a few objects roll into the pit, but as of this writing have had no serious incidents that I am aware of. Fog from the stage also rolls into the pit, but they can generally adjust it so that it has not been a huge issue for us.

One of the more unique issues that we have dealt with was a bubble-producing machine, which was installed to simulate snow during the bows for Nutcracker. The machines were installed along the top of the walls of the hall, and were intended to gently fall over the audience. Unfortunately, a few of these bubbles also drifted down into the pit, which caused a number of musicians to panic over the effect of the bubble solution on their instruments. Upon our request, the crew redirected the machines, which lessened the amount that found their way into the pit.

One year the crew devised a scrim to cover the pit. Although this protected us from the “snow,” it caused a number of other complications. The scrim completely removed us from the view of the audience. Times being what they are, we felt that it was very important for the audience to be aware of the presence of a live orchestra. Additionally, the scrim led to a rather claustrophobic feel for some of the musicians. The cover also caused a steep raise in temperature. For Wisconsin musicians who were often dressed for frigid winter weather, working in a pit whose temperature was in the upper 70s was an unexpected challenge. Midway through the run the scrim was removed. The ballet then granted permission to any musician who seriously objected to the remaining “snow” to move out of harm’s way. Eventually the use of these machines was discontinued.