If you work in AV you know that the worst thing that can typically happen during an event isn’t missing a cue. Do that and the event is put off by a beat and we recover. No the worst thing is taking one too early. Do that and you’ve given away the surprise, interrupted the speakers wrap up of his speech, started a twitchy ballyhoo for no reason what so ever, and there are no second chances with pyro.
I guess that’s why in an industry that has its own language from start to finish: On stage, up stage, down stage, out and in. We don’t even typically say goodbye at the end of an event. We know that unless you go insane and get a real job we’ll see you on the road again. However, the most important word we listen for is the word GO. Listening in on the head set everything about every scene is detailed by the show caller. At the right time he or she says GO and everything happens at once. You wait for the go and everything happens at once.
“Up next this goes to screen, that person will be speaking from this microphone, stage wash will go up and house lights will come down, ready? And GO”
Nothing is EVER supposed to happen until you hear that magical word. Go.
Yesterday we lost one of the best and kindest men I’ve met. It was sudden, shocking and tragic and I’m sure we’ll all be recovering from the news of his loss for some time.
But somehow the words that keep coming to my mind are “Damn it Terry, nobody said Go! But if we’re lucky enough to end in the place you deserve to be, we’ll see you down the road.”
Rest well brother.