Need Advice for first "Guest LD" festival gig!!

[thescally73]

Hey Fellas /Ladys, doing first festival as guest LD and wanted to know the etiket/protocol for coming in and using the main stage desk. Have only used Avo desks, so am dreading turning up to a Hog 3 world!! Any advice or similar storys would be welcomed :)

[woody74]

My opinion is that any touring LD worth his salt will be at least vaguely versed in most popular consoles.

 

And has been my experience, if you are with a band that is just a guest on the main stage, you will be given what lights you can and can't use, and may very well be limited to a couple of submasters to bounce between verse and chorus.

 

Is this a hypothetical question, or are you actually being thrown into this (or hoping to be thrown into)?

 

As is often said on this board: more information please.

 

-w

 

PS: although not imperative when busking, proper spelling and grammar etiQUETTE are appreciated amongst the ladIES and gents that reside here.

[indyld]

The FOH tower on a festival is less of a bear pit that the Blue Room at times, so don't worry about it too much.

 

The etiquette basically comes down to being very friendly and not being an ar*e. Be upfront with the techs, if you don't know the desk don't BS, ask them for a bit of help. (Usual advice though, download HOG simulator beforehand, have a go etc.)

 

The rigs on festival stages are there for ALL the bands to use and are provided by a lighting company who crew it to support the incoming LD's. They op the shows that don't have an LD and help out the ones that do. Obviously, if your band is a minor act, they won't be keen on you clearing the desk but they will have a page of subs free for you use.

 

The "house" op will see your arrival as the chance to take a step back and have a break. Once you have the information you need from them, let them slope off and buy a burger.

 

Hopefully, if you are pleasant enough to the crew, they will reciprocate but maybe not. In my career, however, the tally of "Tw*ts I Have Met" is a lot higher in the "touring LD" column than in the "festival crew" one. Just don't add your name to that list.

[mac.calder]

The main one - if you are given a set amount of time to program, don't go overtime. What you can do is ask if there is a time slot later in the day where you can touch up some stuff, but don't expect it.

 

Ask for a rundown of what is in their rig, ask where you can store things (ie it is often a separate page, but sometimes there will need to be certain faders held over, so you need to know that info)

 

Try and reuse what they already have in there - after all, why make pallets if they already have what you need. Guest LD work is all about efficiency. The more efficient you can be, the faster you free up the desk for the next person.

 

Lastly, make sure you turn up at least 10mins before your set starts, and when you are done, kill your stuff and step away.

[stuartsl]

download HOG simulator beforehand, have a go etc.)

 

 

where can you download the hog simulator? I've searched for it but cannot find it,

 

Thanks

 

Stuart

[london sound]

Also try and speak to provider first and get the spec, you may even be able to advance some of your design/spec beforehand if your approach is correct.

 

The above also applys to anybody doing sound in the same circumstances.

 

 

 

Ian

[indyld]

download HOG simulator beforehand, have a go etc.)

 

 

where can you download the hog simulator? I've searched for it but cannot find it,

 

Thanks

 

Stuart

 

Sorry, wording error that might cause confusion - must be getting old. On the Flying Pig website you will find HogPC, which is not a simulator but the PC version of the popular(?) Hog 3 console. I have really used the PC version of Hog3 but Hog II PC always worked well.

[mrcog]

Phone up and see what desk they will be using maybe?

[vbm]

... And work out how to do your show on one busking page!

[Jivemaster]

Get the info about the rig and desk from the promoter or your contact, as soon as you can! Download the manufacturer's simulated version of the desk, and work out how to do your design with the tools already rigged.

[leofric]

There are several questions that need an answer to give you solid advice but I have several thoughts which I hope will give you a bit of direction.

 

First how big is the festival, the smaller the event the less likely likely you are to have any choice of kit for control but you may get access to more of the rig.

 

How high up the bill are your clients. The higher up the bill you are the more facilities you will be offered/can ask for.

If you are higher up the bill you will be expected to be better prepared! The production/tour manager should be able to advance the show for you they may in the best position to ask for extras, your artist management may be prepared to pay for extras for you. If they do, make sure they are advanced with the festival production in advance don't turn up with a truck load of gear if the stage manager, isn't expecting it, most likely that is exactly where it will stay.

 

Honesty is always the best course of action If you don't know the desk say so. Ask if they have a busking page set up, they will have, try it if it doesn't work for you ask them to programme/copy and paste some bits for you to busk with, but the points above are relevant to how far you can take this. As stated in other posts, be nice the friendlier you are to them the more they will be inclined to help you.

 

If your act is on during the day don't sweat it to much bung up a front wash, flash some par cans and have a beer no one will expect much more and if they do they are an a£$#.

 

Oh and by the way remember to enjoy yourself.

 

Leo

[LampTramp]

Hey Fellas /Ladys, doing first festival as guest LD and wanted to know the etiket/protocol for coming in and using the main stage desk. Have only used Avo desks, so am dreading turning up to a Hog 3 world!! Any advice or similar storys would be welcomed :** laughs out loud **:

Seeing as you are the invited 'guest' they think that you konow what you are doing........me thinks.

So do your thing and..if you dont know what your doing then....dont go for those type of jobs..as for advice...try it see if you can do it..and go for it asking on this forum if you can do it is SILLY!!!! ask ya self..

[vbm]

Hey Fellas /Ladys, doing first festival as guest LD and wanted to know the etiket/protocol for coming in and using the main stage desk. Have only used Avo desks, so am dreading turning up to a Hog 3 world!! Any advice or similar storys would be welcomed ;)

Seeing as you are the invited 'guest' they think that you konow what you are doing........me thinks.

So do your thing and..if you dont know what your doing then....dont go for those type of jobs..as for advice...try it see if you can do it..and go for it asking on this forum if you can do it is SILLY!!!! ask ya self..

Am I the only person who has no idea what this post means?

[Leggy]

Hey Fellas /Ladys, doing first festival as guest LD and wanted to know the etiket/protocol for coming in and using the main stage desk. Have only used Avo desks, so am dreading turning up to a Hog 3 world!! Any advice or similar storys would be welcomed ;)

 

Hey Scally

If you tell us which festival, someone here may be working on it, or be able to tell you which console you will end up with.

Leggy

 

 

VBM,

Iagree, it is a rather mysterious post!

[vbm]

Hey Fellas /Ladys, doing first festival as guest LD and wanted to know the etiket/protocol for coming in and using the main stage desk. Have only used Avo desks, so am dreading turning up to a Hog 3 world!! Any advice or similar storys would be welcomed ;)

 

Hey Scally

If you tell us which festival, someone here may be working on it, or be able to tell you which console you will end up with.

Leggy

 

 

VBM,

Iagree, it is a rather mysterious post!

 

And if anybody can tell you about festival lighting, its Leggy!