Some of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of event production, as told by members of the crew
Remote Control
Setting up a marquee on a small island and the various inventive ways of getting kit out there: helicopter, small ferry, dinghy & JCB dragging over sand at low tide.
Navigating to an even smaller island at 3 in the morning in the same dinghy with a less than powerful outboard motor - the only method of guidance by means of another crew member standing on the shore wearing a pair of James Bond style 'torch spectacles' which looked like a set of weakly glowing bug's eyes in the distance!
When the going gets tough...
We salute anyone who has had the spirit to take part in the Caladonian Challenge, they are truly worth all the sponsor money they earn. It is a terrific but very tough event. For us too! 3 days straight driving various vehicles from site to site, all with open sided marquees and all many miles apart - all of this entirely bearable, were it not for the bloodthirsty little midges who launched a constant attack during the day, and went for nothing short of epic all out war at night!
Never a dull moment
Event is well up and running, band has started, the party is in full swing and our client is elated. I get the chance to sit down for five minutes and rest weary feet which are aching as I have covered MILES in this venue today.....but the client radios....he is having such a good time and demands I join him on the dancefloor to join in the fun.....back on my feet, and limp down to the dancefloor smiling all the way....
Making it all worthwhile
The MS Society Scotland Ball about four years ago, the auction was taking place and the prizes and bids were phenomenal...our clients had hoped to raise about £100 - 150k, and before we knew it we were up over £200k - the buzz was amazing - we all had headsets on and there was huge excitement and intakes of breath as the figure continued to rise as guests spontaneously 'donated' further unique prizes to the auction table. It was a moment where all the months of hard work in preparing for the event just disappeared as the elation of what we had all succeeded in creating took over.
What to do?
A fantastic evening of Chinese entertainers, a running order written in Chinese, all supporting cds labelled in Chinese, and a promised bi-lingual stage manager who had gone AWOL!
Hairy
Setting up lighting in the middle of the night on a train track....fair enough the trains weren't running....but it still just didn't feel like the right place to be...
Dedication
First ever Stirling Castle job I did. Standing in the courtyard for the whole night in the pouring rain and gale force winds, trying to keep flaming braziers alight. Suddenly, I had a little insight into the life of the spider that Robert the Bruce watched all those years ago!