When You Drink of the Water Think of the Source*.

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!)”

http://www.hark.com/clips/rqrjdjybkq-good-night

 

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