Gig Blog: IMAG for a big Orchestra and Choir - preparation is the
key!
64 piece orchestra, 50 strong choir, IMAG, song
words, and a presentation. A potential nightmare? Forewarned is
forearmed!
What made the difference was preparation. Read my report on this gig.
What made the difference was preparation. Read my report on this gig.
I have to admit I was dreading this one. It was
the finale of our festival concerts, and the more I learned the more I started
to panic. This was a PROPER orchestra, who had been on TV and everything. Their
home gig was the Albert Hall in
London.
Safe to say I was a bit intimidated - all my optimism and creativity couldn't make up for the fact that I was, on paper at least, not really qualified to do this job.
THEN I realised what was going to save me. - Preparation.
I had one week to do something about it.
I couldn't make myself a better vision mixer in one week, but I could make myself better prepared to mix this particular show. I emailed the right people and got the stage plot, and the running order. Great start.
I worked out some rough camera positions and listed all the possible shots I might need and checked I could get them all. My wife and I attended another of their concerts in a different city a few days before. We took copious notes about solos, arrangements and met with the production staff to check our ideas with them. We went over the presentation with the presenter before the event. We typed in some of the song words in case they decided they wanted them onscreen (they did), we talked to our pro cameraman to get his input on camera angles and positions.
So.. how did it go?
Well, pretty jolly well actually. Everything ran smoothly, and we received quite a few positive comments about all aspects of the show, including the video.
Yes we made mistakes. I forgot to balance the projector colour, so one was slightly out from the other.
I forgot to focus one of the static cams (on the front of the balcony!!), so we couldn't use it, and I hit a few wrong buttons in moments of panic. But overall it enhanced the event and that, after all is the main purpose.
It has been a watershed event for me, and I will certainly appoach future events with a new focus on pre-event preparation.
Safe to say I was a bit intimidated - all my optimism and creativity couldn't make up for the fact that I was, on paper at least, not really qualified to do this job.
THEN I realised what was going to save me. - Preparation.
I had one week to do something about it.
I couldn't make myself a better vision mixer in one week, but I could make myself better prepared to mix this particular show. I emailed the right people and got the stage plot, and the running order. Great start.
I worked out some rough camera positions and listed all the possible shots I might need and checked I could get them all. My wife and I attended another of their concerts in a different city a few days before. We took copious notes about solos, arrangements and met with the production staff to check our ideas with them. We went over the presentation with the presenter before the event. We typed in some of the song words in case they decided they wanted them onscreen (they did), we talked to our pro cameraman to get his input on camera angles and positions.
So.. how did it go?
Well, pretty jolly well actually. Everything ran smoothly, and we received quite a few positive comments about all aspects of the show, including the video.
Yes we made mistakes. I forgot to balance the projector colour, so one was slightly out from the other.
I forgot to focus one of the static cams (on the front of the balcony!!), so we couldn't use it, and I hit a few wrong buttons in moments of panic. But overall it enhanced the event and that, after all is the main purpose.
It has been a watershed event for me, and I will certainly appoach future events with a new focus on pre-event preparation.
Posted: Sun - August 31, 2003 at 08:38 PM |
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This site contains my personal views, ideas, tips, tricks and rants about doing live video, IMAG or graphics at live events on a very low budget. They are published as I get time, in a style closely approximating a weblog. Dave C.
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My name is Dave Chalmers and I live in Edinburgh in Scotland, UK. My background is in Electronics, but for 10 years I have been helping to put on live video at events in central Scotland in my spare time. Through the course of these events, nearly all on very constrained budgets, I have learned a few things about what works and what doesn't. While I would not claim to be able to give you all the answers, I can at least help you avoid some of the mistakes.
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Except where otherwise stated, all content on this site is either my own views and opinions, or is collated from my own experience or research. Feel free to use the ideas, but please do not rip off the content without permission. No liability is accepted for it all going horribly wrong if you follow any of this advice!
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Published On: Jul 06, 2006 11:37 PM
Total entries in this category: 2
Published On: Jul 06, 2006 11:37 PM