Comm is one of the fastest ways to solve a problem during a show. It is also one of the fastest ways to make one worse.
When something goes sideways, the way you bring it up matters. A technical issue can usually be worked through. A bad attitude on the main production channel can turn that same issue into a departmental standoff.
If the camera director has a problem with the lighting, jumping on the main channel and asking, “What’s wrong with the lights?” probably isn’t the best way to start the conversation.
The LD may be tempted to come right back with, “What’s wrong with your cameras?”
And now a technical problem has become a departmental argument that everyone on comm gets to enjoy.
If there’s an issue, address it. Just try to do it without throwing another department under the bus. Better yet, move the conversation to a back channel if one is available.
Instead of “What’s wrong with the lights?”, try something like, “Lighting, can we jump on two? We’re seeing something strange on camera.”
Maybe it’s the lighting. Maybe it’s camera shading, exposure, white balance, or a combination of things. Either way, you’re much more likely to solve it with a conversation than an accusation.
The same goes for audio, video, playback, graphics, stage management, or any other department. The moment one team starts acting like its problems are more important than everyone else’s, cooperation can disappear pretty quickly.
We’re all working on the same show.
Keep the main channel useful. Take the troubleshooting somewhere else when you can. And remember that the person on the other end of comm is probably trying to solve the same problem you are.
Fix the show. Don’t start a department war.
