Broadway faces shutdown threat after musicians vote to strike

[no_hypocrisy]

2. IMO, here's the real issue(s):

Producers have been reducing the number of musicians in the orchestra pit for more than a decade. Their choice is to convene a sufficient number of musicians and tape their performance, and then play that tape during Broadway musical performances. Audience members can't tell the difference. ("Is it Memorex or is it real?&quot A conductor will wave his/her arms so it appears that an orchestra/pit band is being directed. Maybe adding a keyboard player and a few trumpets for the audience to see.

In the heyday of musicals (Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, Fiorello, etc.), there would be a full orchestra of maybe 30-40 players. Not anymore. The producers have made better profits by deferring the payment of performance to union members.