Wicked Drummer - Matt Vander Ende
New York based drummer Matt Vande Ende speaks a little about the different and challenging world of a Broadway production drummer. 
Working on a Broadway show takes a wide variety of talent, skill and focus. I work on the Broadway show Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre in New York. This particular show requires me to play several different styles of music including Rock, Pop, Reggae, Broadway, Classical and Ethnic Percussion. Knowledge of electronics, reading music and playing with a click track is also essential for this gig. The most important aspect of working on the show is following the conductor. I have three TV monitors in the pit to follow conductor cues and stage cues. Because the drums drive the show, it can be a high stress gig for any drummer. It's also very important that the drummer play consistently. Dance cues, Dance kicks, lighting cues and cues called by the stage management are sometimes entirely based on the drum kicks, fills or a groove. The real difference when performing a Broadway show, as compared to a band on stage, is that you have to follow the conductor. Most Broadway shows do not keep a constant tempo for long periods of time, some shows are run by a click track but most are not. 
Each night I show up 1/2 hour to 15 mins before the show to warm up and get ready to perform for the night. When I got this gig, some of the best advice I received was how to pace myself for the week. On a long running Broadway show like Wicked, I have 8 shows to perform in a week and need to be careful I don't burn out and or injure myself while playing. Trying to keep the show fresh is also a huge challenge from night to night. I try and listen to who is performing the show that night, then I can gauge my playing on that as well as making small adjustments to fit with the other players in the orchestra that night. 
I love working on the show and the benefits you receive from a Broadway company are great!! Great pay, Health and pension plans, and job protection from the Musicians Union. 
For the Wicked on Broadway show, I'm using Josh Freese's H-220. They can always handle the non-stop playing I do during the show and are also great for all the volume/tempo changes that I'm faced with. |
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