November Festival Review

1. November Festival Review Michaela Stephens

2. One hand-held microphone was required off – stage for a compare to announce the beginning of the show. Start of show

3. No 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. Act 1 - Cheerleaders

4. Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts. Compares

5. 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 2 – Katie Dennis

6. 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 3 - Confusion

7. 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. Act 4 –Neon Rythmix

8. Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts. Compares

9. 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 5 – Lyrical

10. 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. Act 6 – Choir

11. 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. Act 7 – IIRR Bollywood Dance

12. Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next three acts. Compares

13. 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 8 - Skyscraper

14. 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 9 - Chicago

15. 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. Act 10 – EC Singing

16. Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next act. Compares

17. 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. Act 11 – Room 21

18. 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. Interval

19. 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. Act 12 – GCSE Dance

20. Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to congratulate GCSE Dance and introduce the next three acts. Compares

21. 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 13 – Sophie & Cael

22. 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 14 – The Pointe of Harmony

23. 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. Act 15 – Tabla Drumming

24. Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next act. Compares

25. 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 16 – Cheeky Jelly Tots

26. 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 17 – Fifth Symphony

27. 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. Act 18 - Monster

28. Two hand-held microphones were required for the compares to introduce the next act. Compares

29. 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 19 – Em Sings

30. 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 20 - Fusion

31. Only one hand-held microphone was required by this performer, who stood in the centre of the stage. Act 21 – Danni Whelan