realistic67

Best Olympic Day... So far.

Earlier this month I had to bail on working the opening Ceremony. The pay sucked anyway... but watching the show on the TV I kinda wished I'd stayed on... But, then again... I never would have met, and worked with Laurie Anderson and been in the presence of Lou Reed. So, things are kind of coolest - event - equaling out a bit here...

I thought that the coolest thing was going to be setting up The VAG ( BC House ) and working all the great dance shows at the QET. But, setting up Lauries tech has been by far the most interesting experience. The LD on the show said at the start of the day that it's a new work so things were changing and to just try to keep up. They introduced themselves and then our Head carpenter introduced the show crew ( which wasn't me I was just grip working for the day...) And we just went right into the focus.

Except for focusing a few lights in the bucket I was on the ground for the most part. Usually the most boring part, except when your surrounded by, and working in the presence of two very famous people the word boring doesn't apply. I was sort inspired just standing their at the bottom of the lift. Laurie was very nice...working mostly with the Video crew. Concentrating with the evils of projection focus, brightness and power that always takes over new work in a theatre where musicians and performers also have to be lit. The lighting was very exacting, little isolated spots. So that the big projection screen images could be realized.

I kind of respond to famous people the way a british butler would treat royalty. Only acknowledge them when they refer to you, and keep working because they might be watching... And that's mostly what he did.

I tried not to look.. Thankfully, I was too involved in helping move the lift around. With all the very delicate equipment, projectors, screens, instruments on stage it was really important to do so. But, every now and then I couldn't help it. I mean... it's Lou Reed...There in the audience, almost empty except for him... The same audience I sat in as a kid on theatre field trips. Watching Playhouse shows and so wanting then to be on that stage and Lou was out there. Sitting in an audience seat...reading.. But mostly just Watching... Observing, everything and all us over his glasses.

He spoke up only once.. They were positioning a projection screen and working lighting focus around it. And he obviously noted something... and tried to get the L.D.'s attention. But with all the techs, band members talking, gear making gear noise...And the bloody lift. So Lou shouted what he saw... And it WAS THAT VOICE...Lou Reed....Shouting.

Everything, and everyone stopped for a brief second.... And the screen was moved... and then he said in that same voice, slightly lower, apologizing to the LD for having to shout. And we went back to work....

Near the end of the setup, we placed wired stand lights out around the set... that wired back to the up centre stage. The LD opened this case and we took them out... and we all just sort of got it.. What the LD wanted... At first, he thought he had to over-explain the idea. The semi randomness of how they were to be added like accents to the stage. And we all, the whole crew just dove into placing the lights..Everyone, us the lighting crew I was on, the sound guys, and the projectionists, helping tape them down. We were having FUN.

During this the band did a sound check piece... and it was like we were all performing...the setting of the lights, taping them down and running back the cables just so, with Laurie and her band playing... was like performance / tech art.

Next thing I knew, I was cut for the day and I went to shake the L.D.'s hand... I asked if I could possibly come see the show...

Something I never do...