IT IS NOT CONSIDERATION…

IT IS PROFESSIONALISM

So there we were, doing a radio show, as you have to do from time to time. The turntable, the weird lineup, and all the other bits that make these shows what they are to us…a pain.

Fortunately, this show was quite well run and we were not trying too hard with too much gear etc. It was going to be easy. My crew were all doing exactly what they were supposed to be, and we got through load in, focus, the usual syncing up with the radio show’s production, and our soundcheck…all on time.

If you are not familiar with this type of show, the stage has a turntable built into it and whilst a band is performing on the A side there is a band setting up on the B side…A video screen dives the two halves and when one performance finishes the turntable spins and the next band starts almost straight away. This obviously allows for a continuous series of shows on one stage. Back in my festival days we had stages side by side and that achieved the same thing (on a much bigger scale). And these two methods share a common problem; one which my artist discovered the hard way.

If you think what is happening concurrently on either side of the turntable. Side A has a band doing their thing. All eyes on them as they deliver their art to their audience. The reason we are in jobs. The SHOW!

Then there is Side B. The next act getting ready to spin and then take their turn upon the stage. My guy was out there giving his all and his timing, his song and his vibe is suddenly disturbed by the sound of a drum…being checked…donk donk donk…

Now I was a pretty dreadful musician, and I do not know about your musical performance abilities dear reader, BUT I think we all know that our artists do perform better when they are in a ‘zone’ if you will…when the vibe is good the band clicks, the music and the performance is better than when these things do not exist. The disturbance of this can really affect a show.

Back to the drum checking. When I became aware that my artist was having difficulty I went quickly to the source of the problem and asked that the drum tech cease his donk donk donk….I was surprised and a little dismayed that there was some push back both from the young drum tech and his audio tech colleague. But without going into the details of it, the situation was rectified and my artist continued without the disturbance.

Now I have encountered this problem before, as many of us have, and for me it used to happen a bit on the festival with the two stages side by side. One band trying to linecheck whilst the other stage was live…

So…there we have the problem…what is my point? Many people may have addressed this issue by asking for consideration. You know, appealing to the good nature of the perpetrator of the overly loud line check….I would say different.

I am not asking you to be considerate. I am asking you to be professional. To carry on like that unknowing is one thing but to resist stopping when it is pointed out is simply unprofessional and makes a case that you do not belong in the position you are holding. The defenses we hear about needing to ‘hear the drum’ in a pre performance linecheck are complete bullshit and simply show a lack of preparedness,

We are only there for the performances….ALL the performances. And on a festival, the bands down the bill are important. They are what makes it a festival. EVERY show must be given its time. It is the very basis of our existence as crew.