When You Drink of the
Water Think of the Source*.
I started writing this Derek's
Debris in the first weeks of December before we went on strike
against the PAC-12. But in light of these events the theme of this
debris: Mentors, is all the more timely. For this group has gladly
taught their crafts and just the WAY TO BE on a sports remote
broadcast. These actions establish a legacy that distinguishes this
market.---> It is what we are fighting to maintain against the
armies of beancounters and executives at the PAC-12 network.
We are a guild- A group of
craftspeople who have always set paths of leadership by example; what
they call in the Tao Te Ching, “The teaching without words”.
What I fear (in this most crappy of
winters), is that we will lose the tradition of mentorship that I
grew up in: this market will splinter into two crewers and we will
lose the openness to teach, lest someone usurps our jobs.... But I
have faith we will prevail. We will stick together and ride this wave
of sh*t all the way back to baseball season....
So with that let's
roll the open in 5,4,3,2,1....
I enjoy the past. I am blessed in that
(for me at least) it is a safe place to go. I treasure my strolls
through The Garden of Memory. So this month I will try and link the
past with the present.
My philosophy has always been: 'If
someone is thirsty, give them something to drink'. I learned this
from my mentors. It seems this has been the way things have always
been in this market.
Our skills are very specified - just
because you know how to frame a shot doesn't mean you know how to
shoot sports. You may be a whiz mixing records in the studio, but
those skills might not translate to mobile broadcast audio... And so
on. What amazed me when I started out in this industry was people
were willing to freely answer any question I might have without fear
I would steal their jobs. Why would they do this?
 |
| Mitch, Dustin,Liz, Rick, Frank, Phil and Lief |
I once misheard a Bob Dylan lyric. He
sang, “You are a walking antique” And I thought he said, 'You are
what you can teach'. (I always liked my interpretation better)... How
does this apply in reflection back upon my teachers?
My early A2 career didn't go so well. I
promptly messed up my first show then didn't a2 again until JACO (the
precursor to SAMMCO) took over crewing a year later. I a2ed
(exclusively) for 6 years. During this time, I would ask questions of
mixers and try to soak up as much as I could.... In June of 1999 (I
didn't know it the day of the event) but I was about to mix my first
game.
There was a scheduling
misunderstanding. Thom Mechlin thought he was a2ing a visiting soccer
show at Spartan. When he showed up someone said, “No you are
mixing!” Thom asked me if I wanted to mix the game. My heart
palpitated as I said, “I guess?” So Thom led me into the truck
and set it up for me, then once I had my sea legs under me, he went
out and a2ed the show while I mixed. I had always been terrified of
'sitting in the chair'. So thank you Thom for forcing me to face my
fears... Not much longer after this Mark Ehrlich calls and says, (I
quote) “Derek, I don't know what you want to do with your life, but
if you want to mix I have a few gigs for you.” And the rest is
(stressed out) History.
In Martial Arts they speak of lineage.
This teacher studied with that master marching back through the
generations. So I would like to take a moment and list my audio
mentors (It is spooky to note out of these eleven people (including
Thom) only four of them still mix in this market. Why would that
be?): Wes Weaver, Rom Rosenblum, Vic Thomas, John 'Sherm' Sheridan,
Roger Inman, Kevin Flock, Carolyn Bowden, Mike Wilson, Stefan Moirao,
Dave Albiol. (If I forgot any other elder audiots, my apologies go
out to you. Of course there are other mentors from directors and
producers to my brethren in the tape room, to other current mixers
and a2s----> too many to name individually... I am just the sum of
my teachers.)
One of the reasons I have been thinking
about mentors is the PAC-12 'Olympic Sports'. Who is mentoring all
those technicians,students and operators? Who is teaching them the
safest way to run a cable or secure a camera tripod? The fact is
someday many of those people working those PAC-12 events will evolve
up to more frequent SAMMCO work. Will they adapt to our safety
protocols? Or will they fall back on what they have learned on their
own? Has BAFA's training/mentoring legacy become a permanent resident
of the past? Who will teach the students pulling cables for PAC-12
events how to over/under so they don't trip any athletes? Will it
take a tragedy at a PAC-12 event to institute the OSHA safety
principles we have fought so hard to have included in our contracts?
Who will teach these kids that broadcasting a live sporting event has
moments of fun mixed in with the terror --That there is time for
laughter amongst the machinery?
I know in our union coffers there is
money set aside for training. When and how will this get used? We had
in the past set up training days-- I don't know if they will happen
again... Regardless, the best learning is self motivated. Like Life,
what you put in is what you get out. If one really wants to learn a
craft one has to come in and ask the questions. Experience is a great
teacher, but it should not be had at the expense of a client who
expects a competent operator.
Finally, there are two reasons why we
are so deep with talent in this market: 1) Steady year round work and
2) people willing to teach their crafts to people who wanted to
learn.
Stop and think about your own story.
Who were your mentors? What does the future hold?
“Good Night Herr Doktor. Good
Night Frau Blucher.(NEIGH!)”
 |
| Rom |
P.S..
(from Rom)...Towards the end,
where you stress the safety factor for those
up-and-coming
kids working the PAC-12 fast-track...I'd mention safety, but
stress
the craft and the small, cybernetic steps we all take as we move
forward
in our professional journey. Blowing on the chrysalis will make
the
butterfly come out quicker, but it will come out wet and deformed
and
not survive.
The
tried/true apprentice system we all came up in works for a few very
good
reasons. Not the least of which is no one learns everything on
their
first day...or first month...or year. We need that organic process
to
get all the ducks lined up to make the best choices for our career
and
for the show.
 |
| "Purple" Hazen and Wes "Dream" Weaver |
*The
title “When You Drink of the Water Think of the Source” is a
quote from my Tai Chi teacher. It refers to an attitude of gratitude
towards the lineage, traditions and teachings that are being shared
with the student.
 |
| My Teacher, Dr. Alex Feng and I |
