November

Festival ReviewMichaela Stephens

Start of show One hand-held microphone was

required off – stage for a compare to

announce the beginning of the show.

Act 1 - CheerleadersNo equipment was needed for this

act, however the smoke machine

was used, mats were required and

the pom-poms had to be collected at

the end.

Compares Two hand-held microphones were

required for the compares to

introduce the next three acts.

Act 2 – Katie Dennis

One microphone on a stand is required for the

act, but Katie’s semi-acoustic guitar had to be

plugged into the acoustic amplifier and she

wanted a chair. We also had to check that we

had unplugged the guitar from the amplifier

after the act had finished to prevent it from

being a distraction throughout the next

performance. Stage plans had to be clarified

before the show and when arranging the

equipment we had to ensure it was central.

Act 3 - Confusion

All equipment that was currently on

stage had to be removed for this act.

No equipment was needed for this

act, but again the mats were

required in front of the stage for

safety and the smoke machine was

used, however had to recharge after

approximately 7 seconds.

Act 4 –Neon Rythmix

This act wanted two hand-held microphones

for singers and a bass guitar, as well as a

chair for the guitarist. The bass had to be

plugged into the electric amplifier, and we

had to ensure we unplugged it afterwards to

prevent it from buzzing throughout the next

act. Our stage plans for this act had been

discarded, due to this act being scrapped

previously, so a new one had to be made

and clarified with the members of the act.

Compares Two hand-held microphones were

required for the compares to

introduce the next three acts.

Act 5 – Lyrical

This act required two microphones on

stands, situated to one side of the

stage, to allow space for a dancer on

the other. To obtain this information,

we had to create and clarify our stage

plans. We also used the smoke

machine for this act, as it fitted with

the atmosphere of the song.

Act 6 – Choir

This was the act that required the most equipment, and was therefore the

hardest act to arrange and instruct the crew. As it required 5 microphones

on stands, and two benches for the younger performers to stand on. In

order to understand how the choir wanted their equipment arranged, we

had to make and clarify more stage plans. Another problem to overcome

for this act is the fact that in order for the sound team on the balcony to

know which microphones to turn up at which stage we had to place them

in a certain order. This was:

1. Red

2. Yellow

3. Green

4. White

5. Stripes

However, due to the rush and the pressure, instead the microphones

ended up in the wrong order. This meant that the sound team had to guess

which microphones to adjust at certain times.

Act 7 –

IIRR Bollywood Dance

All equipment from the previous act

had to be removed, as this act –

being a dance act – required nothing

to be on stage. The microphone wires

however, which were being kept on

the side of the stage, had to be

pushed back to prevent the dancers

from tripping up – creating the risk of

them getting tangled together.

Compares Two hand-held microphones were

required for the compares to

introduce the next three acts.

Act 8 - Skyscraper

This act required only one

microphone, on a stand, to be

situated in the centre of the stage.

This meant that one microphone had

to be removed (as two had been

used by the compares) and one

stand had to be placed on stage. Due

to the lack of required equipment,

this was a rather easy act to set up.

Act 9 - Chicago

This act also only required one

microphone on a stand, placed right

at the front of the stage, however the

performer requested that the

microphone’s wire was pulled aside,

so as to not get in the way of the

numerous dancers behind her – and

this was something we had to

remember.

Act 10 – EC Singing

This act required one more

microphone on a stand, placed in the

centre of the stage. However, we had

to ensure that we used the correct

microphones, so that the Sound

Team knew which to turn up.

Compares Two hand-held microphones were

required for the compares to

introduce the next act.

Act 11 – Room 21

Due to having time before this act for the

compares, it was easier for us to set up,

however still required lots of equipment, for

which we required stage plans from the

performers. Since this required a diverse range

of equipment, including an electric guitar, flute,

cajon drum and vocalists microphones, it was

more complicated to set up. We had to ensure

the right microphones were used for the two

vocalists, the flute and the cajon so that the

sound team on the balcony could correctly

adjust the volumes of each.

Interval

During the interval, we had time to remove the

equipment placed on the stage following the prior

act, and also had time to untangle the microphone

wires which were placed at the side of the stage.

Act 12 – GCSE Dance

This act didn’t require any equipment, so was

easy to set up. On the other hand due to the

act requiring a large amount of space, we

had to ensure the microphone leads were not

taking up a large amount of space. This,

however, was easily accomplished as we had

untangled the wires previously (during the

interval) and so were able to remove them

from the dancers way.

Compares Two hand-held microphones were

required for the compares to

congratulate GCSE Dance and introduce

the next three acts.

Act 13 – Sophie & Cael

Since this act directly followed the

compares, we had more time to

arrange two microphones – both on

stands – a chair, and connect an

acoustic guitar to the amp on stage, so

this was done fluently and easily. This

act, however, was rather unprepared in

the days/weeks prior to the show, so

getting equipment lists, stage plans

etc. was more difficult.

Act 14 – The Pointe of Harmony

This act required only two

microphones, which could be carried

forward from the previous act. They

did, however, have to be rearranged as

the act required space for two ballet

dancers, meaning stage plans and

equipment lists had to be collected and

clarified beforehand.

Act 15 – Tabla Drumming

Only 2 microphones were needed for

this act, which were both carried

forward from the last act, however

both had to be moved and lowered to a

reasonable height for the drummers

(who were sitting on the floor). This act

was a late entry so we had to clarify

stage plans and equipment lists on the

day of rehearsal, meaning it was rather

unprepared/unrehearsed.

Compares Two hand-held microphones were

required for the compares to

introduce the next act.

Act 16 – Cheeky Jelly Tots

This act required all 5 microphones, but,

since two were already on stage from the

compares, only three were needed. All 5

were required on stands, in one line,

meaning we required stage plans and

equipment lists. Also due to following the

compares, the team had more time,

making it easier to set up. During this act,

one of the microphones stopped working so

one of the performers moved to another to

sing.

Act 17 – Fifth Symphony

All the stands that were required for the

previous act had to be removed, and 5

stools had to be placed on stage, so this

act was rather difficult to set up in the

short amount of time we had.

Unfortunately, since the performers

wanted to move around whilst still

holding the microphones, the sound

was affected (it started crackling).

Act 18 - Monster

This act required two hand-held

microphones and the drum kit, which had

already been microphoned up, but we

required stage plans and equipment lists

from the performers. Unfortunately, one

performer from this act was suddenly

unable to attend on the night, so had to be

replaced.

Compares Two hand-held microphones were

required for the compares to

introduce the next act.

Act 19 – Em Sings

This act wanted 5 stools and 5 hand-held

microphones (two of which were already on

stage from the compares). We required

stage plans and equipment lists from the

performers, who were unfortunately rather

unprepared in the weeks prior to the show.

Act 20 - Fusion

This act required no equipment on

stage, meaning the equipment from

the previous act had to be cleared and

the microphone wires had to be moved

out of the dancers way.

Act 21 – Danni Whelan

Only one hand-held microphone was

required by this performer, who stood in

the centre of the stage.