MCing an outdoor event

Subject: RE: MCing an outdoor event
From: Mo the caller
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 05:20 PM

I think the risk assessment said that the Sound man is in charge of deciding if it was too wet to continue.

Nothing did go wrong unless you count having 16 members of the public lined up and holding ribbons ready to start after much cajoling (old,young and Japanese tourists) and then having to abandon it to a downpour.

Most of the time the covered stage was dry. And we stopped when the rain started bouncing in.

Subject: RE: MCing an outdoor event
From: stallion
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 05:39 AM

mmmm RAMS, the HSE will want to see the risk assessment if things go badly wrong. If it's an organised event it should have a risk assessment. Now, where did I leave me coat!

Subject: RE: MCing an outdoor event
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 02:18 AM

The organiser has said that the Sound man has the say-so on when to halt the event. Fair enough.
But I have no intention of carrying on in a thunder storm, even though the Maypole will be surrounded by buildings which are much taller (the Town Hall clock-tower is not far away).
Public safety is not a new thought.

The question I thought Mudcat might help with is what usually happens to the schedule AFTER a delay for rain. Do you just tell someone 'hard luck, you've missed your spot'

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. It was tipping down at 4 this morning, now (at 7) it is clear.

Subject: RE: MCing an outdoor event
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper away from home computer
Date: 27 Jul 13 - 08:20 PM

Oh, and the mc'ing thing. Try to find out about who you're introducing. Try to keep things moving while the stage is being set up to avoid dead air time. Try to keep the acts ending on time to not mess up the schedule. This is if the weather is good.

Subject: RE: MCing an outdoor event
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper away from home computer
Date: 27 Jul 13 - 08:17 PM

Anytime there's lightning electric sound stuff should be shut down. The organizers should have thought of that and not stuck you with the problem. A lot of festivals have rain contingency plans, but if this one doesn't the schedule isn't going to mean anything. It'd be nice if there were a rain location or tents already,but that costs money, if this is a low budget event.

Subject: RE: MCing an outdoor event
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 27 Jul 13 - 06:00 PM

"Has anyone got any advice or thoughts."

Well, yeah! My thought is that this is a heck of a time to be thinking about public safety at an event which is scheduled for tomorrow.

Thunderstorms in the evening? Mo, you need a plan for deciding when to pull the plug, and I mean that literally. Being outdoors with an electrical sound system when there could be lightning is a really bad idea.

Talk to the cops, to City Hall, to the TV weatherman, to SOMEBODY and find out what to do.

A thought - how do people in your area decide when to call off a sports event?

Subject: RE: MCing an outdoor event
From: Old Grey Wolf
Date: 27 Jul 13 - 05:12 PM

Plan B: If there is thunder & lightning about I would stay away from the maypole; as they say with the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team - "If wet -, indoors".

Subject: RE: MCing an outdoor event
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jul 13 - 05:02 PM

Has anyone got any advice or thoughts.

Subject: MCing an outdoor event
From: Mo the caller
Date: 27 Jul 13 - 07:17 AM

I volunteered to do some Maypole dance teaching at the Northgate Street Festival tomorrow.
Well, that's what I thought I volunteered for but I might be in charge of that stage and MCing too.

Any tips from people who've done this MC lark before?

In particular what happens to the running order if 'rain stops PA'
According to the overall organiser
"In the event of rain, the most likely occurrence is that the show will re-commence with the event that is due on stage at that time, and the intervening acts will be lost."

Is that what usually happens? It doesn't seem very fair to artists who have come into town to perform (at their own expense).
The event is happening in a road that has to be reopened to traffic so there is not much leeway. And there will be programmes handed out in the street with times on for each act.

The weather forecast changes each time I look at it. Just now it says thunderstorms in the evening, so maybe we'll be OK for the afternoon but I want a Plan B.

This is what is supposed to happen. Well, my view of it, anyway.