Shining Stars Talent Show Stage Team Evaluation

1. Shining Stars Talent ShowStage Team Evaluation Michaela Stephens

2. Start of the Show One hand-held microphone was required off – stage for a compare to announce the beginning of the show. This was prepared in time, and successfully by a member of the stage team.

3. Act 1 - Cheerleaders No electrical 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, all of which were duties to be undertaken by the stage team.

4. Compares Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts, so only one had to be removed to prepare for the following act. We did have to ensure however that the one which remained on stage was the first (the red one), so that the sound team knew which microphone to turn up.

5. Act 2 – Katie Dennis One microphone on a stand was required for this act, but Katie’s semi-acoustic guitar had to be plugged into the acoustic amplifier and she wanted a chair. This equipment was put onto the stage smoothly and in the correct position. Stage plans had to be clarified before the show and when arranging the equipment we had to ensure it was central. 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, which was carried out successfully.

6. Act 3 - Confusion All equipment that was currently on stage had to be removed for this act, as no electrical 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, this however had to recharge after approximately 7 seconds, so use had to be regulated. This act also was deemed a success, as we ensured none of the equipment was in the way of the peformers.

7. Act 4 – Neon Rhythmix This act wanted two microphones on stands for vocalists 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 during the rehearsal. Once this had been done, however, the act ran smoothly and successfully.

8. Compares Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts, both of which were already on stage from the previous act, and were needed for the one to follow. Since we didn’t need to remove either microphone, we did have to ensure that these two microphones were the first and second (red and yellow), for the sake of the sound team.

9. 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. All required equipment was placed on stage correctly and worked well.

10. 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: • Red • Yellow • Green • White • 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. Despite this, the act was a success and this mistake was not made again.

11. Act 7 – IIRR 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. To overcome this, the stage team constantly had to be untangling the wires, a job that, widely, proved to be successful, but as it was a continuous job, tangled wires could not be prevented entirely. To stop this being a problem next time, the wires could be placed on stands, ensuring they don’t become tangled with each other.

12. Compares Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts. One of these microphones were required for the following act so we only had to remove one, which, again, we had to ensure was the yellow microphone.

13. 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, and waas done so successfully.

14. 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, but it was done so successfully.

15. 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; this was done well, as we used the red and yellow microphones.

16. Compares Two microphones, which were already on stage following the previous act, were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts, and since the act before and after the announcement required two microphones on stands, this is how they were left.

17. Act 11 – Room 21 Due to having time before this act for the compares, we had longer to set up, however this act still necessitated lots of equipment, for which we required stage plans from the performers. As a result of the demand for such a diverse range of equipment, including an electric guitar, flute, cajon drum and vocalist microphones, this was one of the more complicated acts. Luckily, we had prepared for this act to great extent prior to the event so that it would run smoothly. We did however, have 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.

18. 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.

19. Act 12 – GCSE Dance This act didn’t require any equipment, so was easy to set up. Although, 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.

20. Compares Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts. Both these microphones were needed for the following act, but both needed to be placed on stands – an act which was carried out smoothly.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Act 15 – Tabla Drumming Only 2 microphones were needed for this act, which again were 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.

24. Compares Two microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts, but since the previous and following act needed two microphones on stands, this is how they remained for the announcement. The following act also wanted the other three microphones – all of which were needed on stands.

25. 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. Unfortunately, since it was preferable for the sound team that all the microphones be placed in the right order, a brief mix-up prolonged the amount of time it took the stage team to set up the act. Also due to following the compares, the team had more time, making it easier to set up. During this act, the red microphone stopped working, and so the performer moved to another to sing.

26. 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). To solve this problem next time, we could try to direct the microphone wires so that they run off the front of the stage, preventing them from both tangling and affecting the sound.

27. Act 18 - Monster This act required two hand-held microphones and the drum kit, which had already been microphoned up, but we still 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.

28. Compares Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts, both of which were already on stage following the previous act. The microphones for the next act were not required to be on stands, so the two compares microphones could be left, but the three other microphones were also required.

29. 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, so these had to composed and confirmed in the final days of rehearsals.All equipment, however, was placed on stage correctly and in time.

30. Act 20 - Fusion This act required no equipment on stage, meaning the equipment from the previous act had to be cleared quickly and the microphone wires had to be moved out of the dancers way. This was done successfully and in time.

31. Act 21 – Dani Whelan Only one hand-held microphone was required by this performer, who stood in the centre of the stage. We did, however, still collect stage plans from the performer to clarify what she wanted.

32. Compares Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next two acts. One however was already on stage, so only the yellow microphone was required.

33. Act 22 – Staff Dance This act didn’t require any equipment on stage, so the two microphones used by the compares had to be removed and placed out of the way. We had to ensure the wires from all the cables were out of the way of the performers, and this was done so successfully.

34. Act 23 – 4 Crystal Stars/Finale This act required for microphones on stands, which had been prepared during the previous act, and were placed, in a line, a the front of the stage – to allow space for the rest of the cast who would gradually make their way onto the stage. Despite the stage entrance/exit reserved for the stage team needed to be used by performers in this act, the equipment was placed on stage smoothly and successfully.

35. Compares/End of Show Two microphones were required for the compares to close the show, but since four microphones were already present on stage, the compares were able to use these.