WIth the warm weather season approaching opportunities for amateur and   
   semiprofessional performers to strut their stuff at local festivals are in   
   abundance.  Often these festivals feature a regional or national act as the   
   headliner with the local amateurs and semipros early on the bill.    
      
   Most amateur and semipro performers don't get a chance to work with an   
   organized stage crew that often.  either they expect too much from the crew or   
   don't know how to interact with them and   
   communication problems result.    
      
   AS a professional I can tell you that I use the performances of these acts to   
   fine tune the  performance of the system to optimize everything for the   
   headlining performers later.  OFten these festivals are long hectic  work days   
   for me, as well as any other crew members.  IN the interest of making your   
   experience at these events a pleasant one, and helping the paid stage crew   
   folks as well here are some pointers that any amateur performer should pay   
   heed to when booking one of these engagements this summer.    
      
   ADVANCE THE SHOW!  BE SURE AHEAD OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE EVENT ORGANIZERS AND   
   THEIR TECH PEOPLE WITH A STAGE PLOT AND AN INPUT LIST.  The stage plot doesn't   
   have to be a scale drawing, just a rough sketch of how you like to set up.   
        THe input list is a list of all your instruments and vocals for purposes   
   of microphones needed and channels required.    
        THis is the time to find out how to get to the venue, where you should   
   park to unload etcetera.    
      
   Prepare to set up elements you can backstage before yoursetup time. Minimize   
   elements of your show you have to set up onstage.  IF you use your own drum   
   kit have it assembled offstage.  SAme with keyboards on stands etcetera iff   
   possible.    
      
   Be ready to pack everything away offstage after your set.    WHen your set is   
   over get your gear offstage then wipe instruments down and case them.  Don't   
   spend time onstage taking care of these tasks as the organizers and their   
   stage crew will want to be setting up the next act.   
      
   Bring spare strings and patch cables, plug bars if they're needed etc.  DOn't   
   expect the system provider to have a spare instrument cable etc.  IF you use   
   direct input boxes for keyboards bass etc. Bring those you normally use.  THe   
   system providers may or may not need them.  IF you bring them you'll be   
   covered.    
      
   Be on time for setup and line check.  IF you've advanced the show properly you   
   should have no problem with this.  IF you run late you inconvenience others   
   and shortchange yourself.   
      
   Don't play over your allotted time.  It's rude, it's unprofessional and it   
   won't endear you to the festival organizers and the stage crew.  If you didn't   
   get everything in that you wanted to play either you were disorganized or late   
   getting started.  IF you start late, end on time.    
      
   Don't expect to use elements you haven't rehearsed.  IF your singer wants to   
   play that left handed sewer flute solo rehearse it.  IF you haven't rehearsed   
   it then bring it out at your bar gigs, not in a festival setting or as a   
   supporting act.    
      
   Groups such as choral groups, wind ensembles etc. may not be accustomed to   
   working with microphones.  This may be a necessity when performing at these   
   outdoor venues.  IF you're one of these performers don't handle the   
   microphones placed there to capture your performance, and don't move or   
   displace them.  IF they need to be moved let the sound crew handle it.  IF   
   placement of a   
   microphone is hindering your performance mention it to stage crew and let them   
   deal with solving the problem to everybody's   
   satisfaction.    
      
   AFter the horrendous STation nightclub fire a few years ago many providers of   
   sound lighting and crew for these events are much more safety conscious than   
   in the past.    
   Don't expect to use that instrument amplifier with the safety ground pin   
   removed.  IN the same vein, don't expect to show off your brilliant   
   pyrotechnic display unless you have all the I's dotted and t's crossed in the   
   safety department.    
   Show service providers are still feeling the heat from that   
   incident, though some of us were cautious even before this tragedy. IF it did   
   nothing else it served as a wake up call to  service providers.  IF you took   
   the snips to that ground pin on that plug bar or piece of equipment in the   
   past better repair it before it arrives backstage at the festival.  IF not,   
   you'll probably be told it's not welcome.    
      
   FInally, we can't address this topic  without discussing the semiprofessional   
   act who has their own sound person that works most jobs with them.  System   
   providers are aware that they'll encounter these folks at festivals and   
   similar events.  THey're also aware that skill levels are all over the map   
   from not really competent to expert.  HEre then are some hints for your usual   
   sound person that will help him or her to get off on the right foot with   
   system providers and crew.    
      
   Your regular system operator might not be invited to take the controls at   
   festivals and benefits where a large system is provided by a hire company that   
   doesn't know you.   HOwever there are still ample opportunities for him or her   
   to help your set run more smoothly.  THough your system operator may not be   
   operating the system he or she can help with special effects cues and other   
   details.  IF you didn't bother to give the system operators a song list for   
   your performance your own system operator can help him or her with who is the   
   lead vocalist, who is featured with   
   instrumental solos etcetera.   
      
   Your sound tech can increase his or her chances of being the person with hands   
   on the controls if he or she acts in a professional manner.  IF your system   
   tech is fairly new at this here are some tips for him or her on interacting   
   with system providers and their crew.   
      
   As with most things appearance counts.  Be dressed professionally. THe usual   
   attire at band rehearsals and some of the club gigs you play might be your   
   ragged cut off shorts and a Metallica tee shirt. For this occasion be clean   
   and dress as you would for your day job. YOu're trying to impress a person who   
   is providing a system   
   possibly worth a hundred thousand dollars to let you drive it.  A professional   
   appearance is going to give a favorable first   
   impression.    
        SHow up with your band's stage plot and input list in hand. THough the   
   promoters may have received this information beforehand you shouldn't assume   
   that it's available to the crew.  IF you have this doccumentation in your   
   hands you'll be prepared, and the crew will appreciate it.  Introduce yourself   
   to the system operators. IF the system operator is the tech for the previous   
   act ask him if the system's tech crew are nearby.  IF so make sure you are   
   talking to the chief of the sound crew, introduce yourself, state your   
   business.  GIve him or her your band's stage plot, input  and song lists.    
   Hopefully you made two copies of the stage plot so you can give the stage crew   
   one as well.    
      
   Don't try too hard to impress.  During change over allow the regular system   
   tech to supervise setup and line check.  Comments such as "we usually use a   
   beta 52 on the kick drum," when the sound tech has placed a SEnnheiser 421   
   aren't going to endear you to him or her.  Unless you're a regionally or   
   nationally known act you're going to get the provider's standard setup in most   
   cases, unless they can accomodate you without too much difficulty.  Stand   
   back, make plenty of notes about which microphone is on which channel.    
        IF you've brought effects units you want to have patched for certain   
   channels such as vocalists or the snare drum be sure these are noted on your   
   set list.  Try to have such units already in a small rack with an easily   
   accessible patch panel to make   
   interconnection with the system easier.    
        SHowing up looking professional and with everything in order displays   
   professionalism.  Chances are good that the provider's regular system tech   
   will want to get things started, but after he or she is satisfied everything's   
   running along smoothly he'll turn the controls over to you and go get a soft   
   drink and maybe   
   something to eat while your band finishes.  THis gives him or her an   
   opportunity to listen to the system from other places than behind the console,   
   and this is often appreciated as well.  THe system tech can then make   
   adjustments based on this knowledge to optimize its performance as noted   
   earlier.    
      
   Festivals and benefits are a great way to showcase your act. SOmetimes you'll   
   even get paid, especially true for festivals. Professionalism pays off here as   
   you'll impress the organizers and the stage crew.  Making brownie points with   
   the stage crew isn't an exercise in futility.  THese folks work long hard   
   hours to help the event run smoothly, and an act which is always a problem   
   because of unprofessional behavior might cost the event organizers more money   
   next time, or keep them from hiring the service providers they like.    
   PRofessionalism pays off in getting you hired at other nearby venues where   
   live entertainment is featured as well.   
      
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)