Life in the Pit

Thanks for your question. The issue of breaks is hotly debated amongst our membership. At the SF Opera some years ago, we were finally able to negotiate a specific break structure for both rehearsals and performances. While most players agree that a consistent break schedule is essential for maintaining one’s health and concentration, when a conductor occasionally requests to be allowed to continue rehearsing beyond the time limit for a break, so that the rehearsal can end early, many musicians decide that it is better to get out early than to have the last break in the middle of the rehearsal. Often, this leads to anarchy, where whoever is the most verbal wins out. This is the type of occurrence that our CBA has tried to address. I will paste our break structure here for your reading enjoyment.

One relatively recent trend is the rampant combining of acts. We are told that this practice is undertaken for dramatic reasons, but some musicians suspect that it is done to avoid paying overtime. As a result, we will often wind up playing for 90 minutes or more before the intermission. This is why we negotiated a “combined acts” penalty. It pays double time after 90 minutes. The Ballet’s combined act penalty begins after 60 minutes (but then, ballets are shorter), the penalty for which is still under negotiation.

I hope this post is not overly long, after pasting the contractual language here. If you would like a copy of our most recent CBA, please let me know, and I will email it to you.
Thanks.

D. INTERMISSIONS

1. Length Defined.

The length of an intermission shall be deemed to be the period extending from the time the break is called (which during a performance shall be deemed when the conductor leaves the pit) until the time of tuning for the next segment of rehearsal (which shall be deemed to be when Musicians are called to the pit during a performance). All break time shall be given during the course of any rehearsal and not saved until the end of such rehearsal with the exception described in D.6. below. Any Musician who is late in returning from breaks may be warned in accordance with Article XI.A. Excessive lateness may be cause for disciplinary action.

2. Waiting in Pit.
It is agreed that Musicians shall be kept in the pit for playing purposes only. Musician shall be dismissed from the pit during change of scenery whenever time permits. At no time shall any waiting period in the pit be counted as intermission time.

3. Total Break Time During Rehearsals.
Intermissions in orchestra rehearsals shall be given as follows:
Length of Rehearsal Intermissions
2 hours 15 minutes
2 1/2 hours 20 minutes
3 hours 30 minutes
3 1/2 hours 35 minutes
Each additional 1/2 hour 5 additional minutes

4. Break Schedule for Readings and Sitzprobes.
During orchestra readings and sitzprobes, the intermissions shall be taken on the following schedule:

Length of Rehearsal Schedule of Intermissions

2 hours Play 45-60 minutes
Break 15 minutes
Play balance
2 1/2 hours Play 45-60 minutes
Break 20 minutes
Play balance
3 hours Play 45-60 minutes
Break 15 minutes
Play 45-60 minutes
Break 15 minutes
Play balance
3 1/2 hours Play 45-60 minutes
Break 20 minutes
Play 45-60 minutes
Break 15 minutes
Play balance
4 hours Play 45-60 minutes
Break 15 minutes
Play 45-60 minutes
Break 15 minutes
Play 45-60 minutes
Break 10 minutes
Play balance

In all the above cases, the conductor is warned at fifty (50) minutes. If the Orchestra Manager is not available to warn the conductor, the Union Steward or his designee may do so.

5. Break Schedule for Stage Action Rehearsals.
In rehearsals with stage action, intermissions as specified in paragraph 3 above may be scheduled to coincide with staging and practical rehearsal requirements, which may include a ten (10) minute break as long as total break time due is given. However, except for performances and rehearsals with stage action of operas such as Salome, Elektra, Don Giovanni, and those by Wagner, consecutive playing time shall not exceed one and three-quarter (1 3/4) hours in the first three (3) hours of performance or rehearsal and one and one-half (1 1/2) hours after the first three (3) hours of performance or rehearsal.

6. Twenty (20) Minute Limit on Stage Action

Rehearsal Breaks.
Rehearsal breaks shall occur during a rehearsal rather than at the end. However, if more than twenty (20) minutes of break time is owed in a stage action rehearsal, the Association shall limit said break to twenty (20) minutes and adjust the end time of the rehearsal by the amount of the break time still owed, except when conditions on the stage require a longer break.

7. Intermission Length During Performances.
During performances, no intermission shall be less than fifteen (15) minutes, except that an intermission following an act lasting over ninety (90) minutes shall be no less than twenty (20) minutes. During final dress rehearsals, intermissions will be given as during a performance.