Posted by jakdedert on 09/14/06 22:58

WillStG wrote:
> HiC wrote:
>> I would think the reason they've got the gig on a high profile show is
>> they're supposed to know what they're doing, part of which is being on top
>> of this kind of thing. I can understand a mic dying, even after it's been
>> checked. But this was someone having their thumb up their nose.
>
<snip>
> Sometimes _the talent_ will turn a mic off, or if it gets touched
> by a Stage Manager _they_ can unconciously (and stupidly) inadvertently
> turn a mic off. Even a DGA guy. I use a pull down prefade option if
> it is available on a console, so I can constantly (and nervously) keep
> checking all my mics with a flick of a finger. Some consoles you have
> to punch a button, some consoles don't have a separate prefade speaker
> output and you can only check by interrupting your mix - not optimal by
> any means. If I don't see talent on a camera monitor, I check their
> mic to see if they've left the set and turned it off. If they do then
> it's THEIR FAULT, but my attitude is "not on my watch". Some guys
> figure if they crash and burn because they break the rules, maybe they
> won't do it again. But I figure a lot of people are like you, and will
> choose to blame the audio mixer first and ask questions later.

I've said it a hundred times: NEVER let 'talent' handle any mic
switches. That's what gaffer tape is for. I especially like the Shures
with the 'lockout' feature. Push two buttons, and the external switches
have no effect until....

jak

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