Some Academy Awards Show Experiences
George Graham
to have received no negative response to my posting of Academy Award Show
experiences. I was asked as to why I didn't just go ahead and post this,
inasmuch as every one would be interested. Well, I've read some of the
other posts and decided that might be too risky!
I have been a member of the Academy Awards Orchestra 10 of the last 13 years
for Bill Conti. The 3 I missed were the result of different producers being
chosen (for various reasons). I remember the one where the usual producers
were involved with the Atlanta Olympics. That year they chose Quincy Jones
to produce the show, and he wanted Tom Scott. Then there were the Zanucks,
who chose Don Waas for their orchestra leader, and of course this year, the
nod went to John Williams, who, of the 3, in my opinion, was very deserving.
The policy has always been to use someone who writes for movies, and of
course it doesn't need to be said that John Williams has done a few of
those. The only other other time that I was involved with the Academy Awards
was in 1983 (or 84) with Ian Fraser as the leader. Strangely enough, Bill
Conti won the award that year for one of the Rocky movies , perhaps #2 or
#3.
We spend a week rehearsing for the Awards. The 1st 2 days are spent at some
studio (Capitol, Paramount, or?) rehearsing the musical numbers (there are
5), and of course all the playon music for all of the categories. When we
rehearse the musical numbers is determined by the availability of the stars
who will be performing them. So at least we get a brief experience of who
they are and what they are like. The rehearsals are usually very memorable
for one reason or another. I could write a book. As an example: There is the
time when Michael Bolton was rehearsing a song...he and Bill Conti treated
us, during our down time, to an impromptu performance of Michael singing an
"operatic" aria. Of course, the actual show was spared.
Another one: Rick Baptist, who likes to take pictures and get autographs,
had taken a picture of Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion at the Golden Globe
Awards. So when we were rehearsing with them for the Academy, he took the
8x10 of them to their rehearsal booth to get it autographed. Bocelli was
1st, and he signed his name over Selene's head...so when it was her turn,
she naturally signed over his head. That aught to be a collector's item.
Needless to say, everything is rehearsed to death (in our opinions).
Bear in mind that the orchestra members include many of the finest musicians
in the world and they are used to playing everything right the first time.
So further rehearsal, which is what some of the stars require, gets
booooooring. The episode of Itzak Perlman and Yo Yo Ma rehearsing their
number is a story in itself.
We usually rehearse Mon & Tues in the studio. Wed, after rehearsing and
dinner break, we finally went to the venue (either the Shrine Aud or Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion) for our traditional 2 hour call spent trying to fit into
the pit, and nudging to get as much space as we can. I always sat behind
Tommy Johnson (bass trombone and tuba), and I always managed to be a real
pain in his (?) because trumpets usually get in before the trombones. By the
time we do the show on the following Sunday or Monday, we have managed to
reach some kind of agreement regarding our personal domaines. This is also
our traditional "grappa" night. Bill C goes around and buys all the various
brands of grappa he can find, and we spend the 2 hours playing medleys for
the sound check and drinking a lot of grappa. I don't drink myself, so I
always make sure those around me get my share of it. Some of the orchestra
members get pretty s---faced, and sometimes require being driven home. As
you can see, nothing is any different in the "big time."
We spend the next 2-3 days going back and forth between the studio and
the venue. Saturday night we do a complete dress rehearsal run through. We
come back Sunday morning to do another complete run through...always with
actors taking turns accepting awards and making phony speaches. Keep in mind
that nobody knows who the winners will be, so it's random choices for the
rehearsal, and gives us the opportunity to get up to speed. Each category
usually has 5 nominees, so when the presenter is on the stage, reading the
winners name, our eyes are constantly scanning the 5 play ons. This is no
small task involving 50 pairs of eyes trying to get it simultaneously. Bill
C is very good at this, and he will usually holler out "number 1, 2 or 3..."
as soon as the winner is announced. We are also blessed with Rick Baptist,
who has to have the fastest mind in the business (I'm sure glad that I
started him in the music business in Reno).
After the 2nd dress rehearsal on show day, we have dinner, and are very
careful not eat or drink too much, because, when the show starts, there is
NO way out of the pit. I remember a few years ago we were on stage in a mock
version of the Titanic, where they would have to bring stairs out to us,
screw them into the floor so that we could safely board the ship, remove the
stairs, and we sat there for the whole show. When the show was over, they
brought the stairs back so that we could leave. The show that year, as I
remember, lasted 4 hours and 17 minutes, plus a half hour prior to curtain
time. That's a looooong time without a proper break.......We are each
provided with a 2 liter bottle of water, and most us don't even crack the
seal until sometime after the 3rd hour.
Enough of this. If you have questions, I'll be glad to answer them,
other than how much to I weigh and how much does the show pay. Suffice to
say that this IS the highest paying show, and nobody turns it down.
In retrospect, please know that we trumpet players: Rick, Warren
Luening, Bob Findley, and myself, are fully aware of how fortunate we have
been. Of the approximately 1 million trumpet players in the world, we 4 have
been blessed to be included in this production. We do not lose sight of
that.
Best to all of you,
George Graham
Jon Trimble
of him playing the Dunes show in Vegas from the early 70's. I'll be happy to
send it to him..:)
Thanks for the post. Awesome stuff...:)
Jon Trimble
George Graham <geo...@charter.net> wrote in message
news:uhrrb8b...@corp.supernews.com...
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Tim Priddy
On Sat, 29 Jun 2002 13:24:27 -0400, George Graham wrote
(in message <uhrrb8b...@corp.supernews.com>):
>
> This is in response to Tim Priddy, et al. I'm very surprised and gratified
> to have received no negative response to my posting of Academy Award Show
> experiences. I was asked as to why I didn't just go ahead and post this,
> inasmuch as every one would be interested. Well, I've read some of the
> other posts and decided that might be too risky!
Thank you Mr. Graham, for your informative insights into probably the most
pressure-filled gig one can play.
> We spend a week rehearsing for the Awards. The 1st 2 days are spent at some
> studio (Capitol, Paramount, or?) rehearsing the musical numbers (there are
> 5), and of course all the playon music for all of the categories. When we
> rehearse the musical numbers is determined by the availability of the stars
> who will be performing them. So at least we get a brief experience of who
> they are and what they are like. The rehearsals are usually very memorable
> for one reason or another. I could write a book. As an example: There is
First chapter, please?
>This is also our traditional "grappa" night. Bill C goes around
> and buys all the various brands of grappa he can find, and we spend the 2
> hours playing medleys for the sound check and drinking a lot of grappa. I
All pits should be so inviting... ;-)
> don't drink myself, so I always make sure those around me get my share of
> it. Some of the orchestra members get pretty s---faced, and sometimes
> require being driven home.
Same on my gig... heehee
> Enough of this. If you have
> questions, I'll be glad to answer them, other than how much to I weigh and
> how much does the show pay. Suffice to say that this IS the highest paying
> show, and nobody turns it down. In retrospect, please know that we
> trumpet players: Rick, Warren Luening, Bob Findley, and myself, are fully
> aware of how fortunate we have been. Of the approximately 1 million trumpet
> players in the world, we 4 have been blessed to be included in this
> production. We do not lose sight of that. Best to all of you, George Graham
>
Whenever you get the chance in your busy schedule to post, all would welcome it
here, Mr. Graham.
Again, thank you.
Regards,
--
J. Timothy Priddy
trum...@chartermi.net
Lead, Ride, Side--Educator, Arranger, Clinician, Sight-Reader
Central Michigan Region
Larry Smithee
Thanks, George, for sharing your experiences with us.
Larry Smithee
Daveblues
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Dave Moore
Maynard
George Graham <geo...@charter.net> wrote in message > After the 2nd
R. Lerner
So what's a gig like that pay (if it's not rude to ask)?
George Graham
Tahoe, we had a trombone player that definitely marched to a different
drummer. During the shows (the band being on stage) when he needed to
relieve himself, would discreetly do it into his mute right in front of the
audience and then crawl off the bandstand to empty it so that it was
available ffor the rest of the show. I never could figure out why he just
didn't sneak off to go and pee.
GG
"Maynard" <may...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:h9DT8.3827$uT4....@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
George Graham
I already said that I wouldn't answer that. Suffice it to say that none of
us
are dissapointed. The "How long will the show last this year" pool pays
around $600 though.
GG
"R. Lerner" <rusty_...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:899e76df.0206...@posting.google.com...
Tim Priddy
(in message <uhu7uq9...@corp.supernews.com>):
> are dissapointed. The "How long will the show last this year" pool pays
> around $600 though.
>
> GG
>
So who won the pot this year?
Regards,
J. Timothy Priddy
trum...@chartermi.net
Lead, Ride or Side--All Styles--Educator, Arranger, Sight-Reader
George Graham
pool last year though. Only a measly couple hundred.
GG
"Tim Priddy" <trum...@chartermi.net> wrote in message
news:01HW.B9449923005137E906330D40@news...
William E. Graham
The episode of Itzak Perlman and Yo Yo Ma rehearsing their
> number is a story in itself.
>
Great story! - But I'd like to know about Itzak & Yo
Yo....These are two of my favorite musicians.....
William E. Graham
> The tuba remark brought this to mind. When I was working
at Harrahs,
> Tahoe, we had a trombone player that definitely marched to
a different
> drummer. During the shows (the band being on stage) when
he needed to
> relieve himself, would discreetly do it into his mute
right in front of the
> audience and then crawl off the bandstand to empty it so
that it was
> available ffor the rest of the show. I never could figure
out why he just
> didn't sneak off to go and pee.
>
> GG
Reminds me of a joke I just got off the net....
The man came home drunk at four in the morning, and his
wife was all over him, yelling at him, crying because she
thought he was with another woman.
"No, honey, I swear, I was at this bar, and it was so fancy
that even the urinals were made of gold."
She said she didn't believe him so she called the bar.
"Hello," she said, "I just want to ask one question. My
husband
claims to have spent the night at your bar and I have one
question: "Are your urinals covered in gold?"
To which she heard the bartender say, "Hey, Clarence, I
think we found the guy who peed in your saxophone."
Ed Grant
--
Ed Grant
"William E. Graham" <we...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:pTLT8.361930$352.44137@sccrnsc02...
Dave Bacon
Great stuff George! Glad to see you back on the net. How was the Bob
Florence session? Tom Warrington and Steve Houghton were through here
a couple of weeks ago and of course had wonderful stories about your
playing. I hope you will share your insights on trumpet playing with
us! Best to Marilyn, Gail says hi.
Dave Bacon
Jon Trimble
Jon Trimble
Ed Grant <meg...@telusplanet.net> wrote in message
news:L2MT8.9884$YC4....@news0.telusplanet.net...
THE Old Man
I thank you for sharing those experiences with us. They are really
enjoyable to this old guy.
Years ago I was a "wannabe", not a "hasbeen". Now, I'm too old to pretend
to be a "wannabe" so I enjoy reading about how it "couldabeen".
Thanks, again
dd
Jon Trimble
with my grandfather, Kenny Trimble, in Tahoe? Loved that place. Lots of
great music there from time to time.
Jon Trimble
THE Old Man <dda...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%7PT8.5171$uT4....@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
George Graham
late 50's and early 60's. He was still with Welk then. Nice man and good
player.
GG
"Jon Trimble" <trum...@tablerock.net> wrote in message
news:3d1fe...@corp.newsgroups.com...
Jon Trimble
and two coms. No offense, but didn't know you were that old....LOL Guess
you'd have to be to be as good as you've proven yourself to be. Do me a
favor. I'm askin here. On a new thread, can you post all the recordings
you're on?
Thanks,
Jon Trimble
George Graham <geo...@charter.net> wrote in message
news:uhvsqii...@corp.supernews.com...
Ransom716
>you're on?
Go to www.allmusicguide.com and put in George's name. While it might not be
complete it will give you a good idea of what he has done.
Jeff Brenneman
Catzz66
>>can you post all the recordings
>>you're on?
>
also see http://www.trumpetgeorge.com/
Jon Trimble
Jon Trimble
Ransom716 <rans...@aol.com> wrote in message
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