Long Time No Mix?

The world of entertainment in general was put on hold with the start of the pandemic, forcing all technical teams to pack up their gear and wait for that joyous occasion when we will be able to return to our passion. For some it has meant a transition to other fields of interest, for others it has become a seemingly never ending state of hibernation. But all will have to come up with strategies for getting back into the game at least at the level where they left off. This can be extremely challenging, even if you spend this prolonged down time educating yourself on audio concepts or watching every “how-to” video even remotely related to sound. In Slovenia, where I live, we had a brief moment of resuming work after almost six months back in September and I was able to get a few shows in before new restrictions were enforced. Those first shows were very revealing in terms of what seems to be working when getting behind the console after a long time - at least for me - and I thought I would share them with you.

See

Let me preface this by saying that during my off time I was no slouch. I was learning a lot, teaching quite a bit, creating content for my online courses and my You Tube channel. I was working with offline software and had hands on time on the console I am using most often. But when that first show was approaching, I was getting nervous. It was a show I ran literally hundreds of times, but I was still dreading the fact that I might miss a cue or forget to patch something. The thing that actually calmed me down and kept me in check was visualisation. I would take 10-15 minutes to sit in a chair, close my eyes and run the show in my head. I took an old set list as my reference guide and went from song to song, seeing myself doing all the moves I knew I had to do. I focused on the songs that I knew were most crucial and I would visualise myself standing behind the console, imagining the sound, the lights, the smell, the feel of the faders - I included all of my senses in this exercise. I have to admit, the first time I did it it felt a bit of a struggle, but after a few more times I was amazed at the level of detail I was able to remember. I even started making the motions with my hands, as if I was actually touching the buttons and moving the faders. It is like a formula 1 driver memorizing the track. Seeing it go perfectly in my mind made me calmer and when I was actually doing it at the show, it felt like I wasn’t away for such a long time.

“ In Slovenia, where I live, we had a brief moment of resuming work after almost six months back in September and I was able to get a few shows in before new restrictions were enforced. Those first shows were very revealing in terms of what seems to be working when getting behind the console after a long time - at least for me - and I thought I would share them with you.”

Plan

The second aspect of getting that first show under my belt without any major scars was following a plan of action. Most engineers on the highest level that I know have a check list of all the tasks they need to perform on a certain show. It can be as detailed or broad-stroked as you like, but it has to be a logical protocol that you follow on each and every show to ensure nothing has been missed or overlooked. These checklists usually reside taped to the inside of a case or in a rack drawer, where you can easily get to them and have them as reference for your work. If this is something you have not implemented into your workflow yet, I highly recommend you do so during this period. Just go through all the steps you need to take when setting up your gear and list all items that need to be prepped, checked or connected, and put them in a logical order of operations. Not only does that prevent you from forgetting a crucial task, but creating that list can also reveal time saving opportunities. Maybe you can switch a few tasks so that you can better utilise the setup time, or you just realised that you are always waiting for that one rack to complete your setup and can now move it in the loading process to be more accessible. Even if you are running the same show and you have done it several times, the checklist approach is still valid - maybe even more. I find myself making mistakes when I feel I have mastered something and stop paying proper attention to it. Especially for shows that run very repetitively, that can easily become the case. So having that checklist can be a life saver, especially after a long period of not actually performing those tasks that were so second nature to you.

Prep

I am sure you are taking care of your gear during this period, turning it on regularly and checking for signs of possible malfunctions. A lot of people also updated the firmware and software on their devices, checked everything is playing nicely together and then stored it back safely. If not, that is definitely something you should do. What I want to focus on here, is also your personal gear. Batteries that have to be changed, devices that need to be charged, connectors that need to be cleaned and inspected - your gig bag deserves the same amount of meticulous scrutiny as your most valuable console. So plan at least a bimonthly day of gear maintenance, check for anything and everything that might go wrong and get reacquainted with your tools and their placement in your bag. And don't forget the trivial stuff - check if your felt pens are still writing and haven’t dried out, or if your tape has been left in a hot place and is now leaving residue marks on surfaces. Give everything a good inspection and make sure it is ready to go for that glorious day of your first show back.

One of the first shows after the initial break. Photo by Marko Alpner.

Execute

Personal experience from that first show after the break suggests a few things. First of all, make sure you have more time than usual. If our crew was one of precision before, on that first gig we were all running slightly out of sync. Remembering where cases go when unloading, remembering which order to place them in - it all took a few extra moments every time. We were not running smoothly. We were in each other’s way, always waiting on someone, there was no “poetry in motion”. Every task takes just a bit longer than you remember, so make sure you have plenty of time to overcome that initial awkwardness and to get back into the groove. Second of all, simplify as much as you can. Focus on the important things that need to happen and don’t stress about the rest. If you can’t precisely dial in the reverb time, don’t worry about it. Just make sure you hit all important cues. Third, expect to be half a second behind. What I mean by that is that you probably lost the muscle memory for some tasks. If a certain console move was almost an unconscious reaction, there is a chance you will now have to think about it. Just that thought process can make you feel like you are always crunched for time or there is more to do than you remember. Just breathe and take it one task at a time. It will come back to you quickly.

With all these strategies in place, I am convinced that your first show back will be as pleasant as possible. Remember to take a moment and appreciate the opportunity and don’t be surprised if you feel emotional during that show. After all, it is like meeting up with a dear friend after a long separation. I hope it is a fun experience and that it reminds you of all the reasons why you love doing what you do. It certainly was for me.