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There’s little more to add to this saga, but i couldn’t just end these posts two days before the show! Basically, the Video crew did us proud and with two days to go all the projector were up in the air and well lined up. There was plenty of tweeking done to attain the level quality we finally got on the night but with two days to go there was more than enough time for that.

I on the other hand, programmed my elbows off and by 30 minutes to curtain up all was smooth and shiney. For show photos have a look at this flickrset. Just time for one comedy one however.

Fergus has no problems making friends with the backstage entertainment.

So all in all the show went really well. Take a wander over here to see the L&SI review.

Finally, i should review myself. It’s a real shame its taken me so long to get the stories and photos out, but ultimately i’m really glad that i have and didn’t just give up on the project like i have on other blog series in the past (retropect anyone ?) Hat’s off to the guys involved with Eurovision and the Spectra blog which inspired me to give this a go. My collection of posts have been pale in comparison to their offering and i have no doubt i’ll be a regular reader there when it comes round again. Pulling a 24 projector/16 server show out of the air in less than 2 weeks is a phenomenally tall order and thank goodness we had the crew that we did! I think maybe if we’d had a bigger lead time there would have been a lot less late nights and i’d have had more chances to knock some posts out, but still life goes on – you had to listen to enough moaning from me in my excuses posts so we’ll leave it at that.

Finally a big thanks to Phil for taking over the photography while i was behind the desk. We wouldn’t have had nearly as many decent photos if it was just left up to me. Secondly thanks to Steve at adequately-average.com for the mirror. I’ve had a fair few more readers coming in from there so to anybody new hope you enjoyed the posts!

The programming onslaught rolled steadily on throughout the week. By now the producing system had been wheeled out front and the FOH snake had been laid. The hours of dance rehearsals were not helping concentration at all!

Our crack team of projectionists did themselves proud and all FOH projectors were well hung and sorted. Even the IMAG screens were starting to shape up.

Prossarch projection was beginning to fall into line very nicely

By Thursday everything has swung into action, Rehearsals are going on full tilt. At this point i’ve sold my soul to the operating position and sleep, eating, laughing all became optional extras. Kudos go out to the crew for providing all three at regular intervals oh and LOTS of tea!
Phil our Projectionist takes over the camera duties for the rest of the event whilst i crunch media. For the full Rehearsal Flickr Set have a wander over here.

By the time Monday had wandered by the FOH projector rig was well on its way to being rigged. Back in server land playback city had been assembled.

5 Doremi’s, a betacam player, a 16 way matrix and stacks of monitoring.

Tuesday was more of the same old hard work. By midnight we’d got a couple of our onstage doubles lined up.

So excuses over and done with, let’s pick up from where we left off. I was in the latter part of my pre-programming week. Having spent a very late night recovering our master computer from the virus all went well.

By the weekend our first crew members arrived along with the second shipload of equipment from the French office.

Here are the mandatory photos of stacks of prepped kit :

By Sunday Evening the crew roll onto site. The main thing we achieved before bedtime was the construction of the backstage server farm. Complete with shiny new dexion racking. I know i’m a geek, you know i’m a geek, but there’s something about such a large number of screens that makes me smile.

The “fort” had been tidied up!