Donna Lee @donna-lee-sea - Tumblr Blog

Broadbeach.

Week Two

"We don't experience that in which we haven't listened." -anonymous I have always loved this quote. It reminds me to hear people out. Whenever I think I'm always right (which is most of the time), I think back to whomever wrote it. They remained anonymous, probably because they really wanted us to listen. I'm sitting in the rain right now waiting for the bus, another thing I don't do often. It's been nice not having the freedom of a car, I have to find my own way sometimes. This week was a little easier, I'm getting used to my classes, don't feel as much of an outsider feeling, and not so much like a freshman. I've been practicing soccer with the men's team which has taught me never to complain about soccer practice at home. Being away, I mean so far away from home has taught me so much already. I've never been a planner but I had to make a budget and create weekend trips. I had to think of someone other then myself when traveling. I don't like to think of myself as a selfish person, but I do know I come off this way sometimes. I'm excited for what's in store for me these next few months. I feel as though I've already been gone so long. Cheers.

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Behind the Scenes

You’ve been there. Staring down at the stage, listening to your favorite artist sing a song you know every word to. They seem so far, yet so close from where you are sitting. What about behind the scenes? What happens when the encore is over, the confetti is swept up, and the lights are turned off for the night. George Perna spent the last 10 years creating the show behind the lights, sound, and lipstick. Starting off as a landscaper, making his way into the entertainment, he has a creative mind very different from those in the business. George Perna tells a story of how the magic behind the music is created.

Me: What is the exact title of your job George?

George Perna: I am the Sound/Light music production manager at Mohegan Sun.

Me: What is a typical concert night entail at Mohegan?

George Perna: Well, depending on who is playing, how long the set is, ummm, how many costume changes, set designs, and money that is involved (laughs), my day can turn into a whole week production. Umm, when we book a performance, ummm, we first set up a budget with the client. Ummm, after the client’s production manager gives us an outline of what they want for their client’s show we then begin to brainstorm how the show will be set up. Ummm, the clients we have usually have their own lighting/sound guys, but I oversee all the details. We usually set up the stage two days in advance and the performer comes to do a dress rehearsal the day of their concert.

Me: You said they have their own sound/lighting guys, do they supply all their own equipment?

GP: No, no, no (laughs). That would take about five moving trucks to haul around. We supply the stage, audio production equipment, mics, stands, sometimes props, and even stand in musicians at times. They bring their own costumes, set designs that are particular for each show, and soundboard.

Me: Who was the most difficult client you have had at Mohegan?

GP: (Laughs) Well, ummm, this won’t be difficult. We have had many clients that are (puts in air quotes) hollywoodized, but the most extravagant and worst client we have ever had was Drake. He wanted lighting that we didn’t have, umm, treated our employees with disrespect, trashed our backstage room, and ughhh I could list a hundred things that went wrong that night, but all in all our clients are usually very well spoken, and helpful.

Me: Who was the best client you’ve ever had?

GP: Well this could just be bias, believe it or not Maroon 5 was one of my favorite nights. Their crew and stage team were really helpful and ummm Adam Levine was way less of a diva then I thought he was going to be (laughs). I really enjoy their music and I usually don’t like having clients when I actually listen to their music because if they are a pain in the ass it ruins my opinion on them (laughs).

Me: Do you have to know the performers songs inside and out in order to give them proper lighting and sound?

GP: In some ways yes. They usually have their own sound and lighting guys, but ummm we do learn just in case we are needed as a back up. Timing is key when you are in sound and lighting. I had a guy that forgot to turn Justin Bieber’s mic off when he went backstage, and lets just say it wasn’t pretty (laughs).

Me: What do you mean it wasn’t pretty?

GP: Well Justin is mainly watched by young preteen girls and he must have messed up a note or something because a nice old F bomb was about to be dropped in the microphone for all to hear. Luckily it was caught midsentence because that would have caused a huge stink not just for the sound guy, but the entire audience.

Me: What is your favorite part about having this job?

GP: I have always loved music, and dreamt of one day being up on a stage myself. Once that dream fell threw, I knew I had to get into the music industry somehow. I had many jobs before this, but realized that I could be a part of the show just as much as the singers themselves through this job. What people don’t realize is sound and lighting are some of the key reasons they love the concerts in general. Ummm, without the lighting the show would be boring and not entertaining. These shows umm rely on a good sound guy, and a hell of a lighting tech. People like an experience, ummm, and that is what my job is. Giving people the experience they will walk away from, and ummm come back wanting more.

#katied

Time to Reevaluate your Road Trip

Forget the radio. Forget Billboard's Top 100. Forget the auto tune, computer instruments, and whatever dubstep is. Do I sound like your Dad talking about the glory days? Good. The glory days were where real music lies. It died there, and is now turning over in its grave listening to Call Me Maybe climb up the charts. In an era of the British invasion, electric guitars, lyrics that tell the story of the decade, and long untamed hair, bring timeless classics. Here’s to turning up your Dre Beats, crankin’ the bass, and rolling the windows down, because a new decade of sound is about to put Mrs. Carly Rae to shame.

The Cars Just What I Needed 1978

When I was in the 7th grade I heard this song for the first time in my Dad’s 1989 Chevy Camaro. So you can picture it, windows down, highway winds, my dog’s head out the sunroof, and my converse sneakers up on the dashboard. Okay, well maybe my dad told me to take my feet down, but for all intensive purposes picture them there. This was THE SONG. It never got old. This is short road trip material; you should be wearing converse and ray bans. Don’t bother listening to this one in a minivan. It will NOT have the same effect.

Simon and Garfunkel: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard 1972

A feel good song that you don’t have to pretend to hate. You know the songs I’m talking about. The ones where when no one else is in the car with you, YOU SING EVERY NOTE in or out of key. You hit notes you didn't even know existed. That’s okay, no shame here. Me and Julio will be that song, but you can blast it while waiting at a red light. Go ahead. Make that awkward eye contact; there will be jealousy of the glorious sound blasting from your speakers. WARNING: This song does not go well with hot drinks; you will be dancing, and if you are anything like me, the vanilla mocha latte will go all over your seats. You have been warned.

The Proclaimers: I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) 1988

If you have ever seen How I Met Your Mother you will automatically get the reference to this song. This song has a constant beat that will make it hard for you not to stomp your feet in time. If you are not the driver, I say go for it, move those hands and feet in a consistent motion. If you are the driver, well, good luck to you. “And I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more…” will be your go to tune to sing out loud for at least the next 48 hours.

The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter 1969

Directions: Get a ticket to Las Vegas, rent a ridiculous colored mustang convertible; Put on aviators, black boots, and dark wash jeans. Drive down Las Vegas Boulevard blasting this song, giving people accepting nods, with one hand on the wheel the other on the stick shift. You are untouchable in this song. It is filled with overlapping guitars, and ambient loop petal parts that will make it difficult to control your overwhelming cool factor. The Rolling Stones are putting on a private concert for you in this setting. People will stare, for all the right reasons.

The Beatles: Here Comes the Sun 1969

Starting off your playlist with the basics. The parent trap had it right, Here Comes the Sun is a Beatles classic. Harrison tells us, “Here Comes the Sun was written at the time when Apple Records was getting like school, where we had to go and be businessmen: 'Sign this' and 'sign that'. Anyway, it seems as if winter in England goes on forever, by the time spring comes you really deserve it” (Wikipedia). Relatable. So unless you are road tripping to Alaska, 99% chance your destination doesn't look snowy. This song is a guaranteed good mood, and is advised to go well with popsicles and homemade sandwiches, and a road trip involving the beach.

Kickin' it Old School

“Vinyl is the real deal. I've always felt like, until you buy the vinyl record, you don't really own the album. And it's not just me or a little pet thing or some kind of retro romantic thing from the past. It is still alive,” Jack White said back in 2001. Music is alive. The energy of the instruments, the diary of the lyrics, and the heart beat of the sound connect differently for each individual. I know one of my favorite memories as a child involved my Grandma's insistent voice, "Katie, records are not just music, they are history." Still to this day I remember the smell of coffee in the kitchen and her not-so-in-key voice singing along to Here Comes the Sun blasting off the turning table. So history it has become in the generation of ipods and pandora, but in the past few years vinyl as come around again. The New York TImes tells us "When Daft Punk released their album, Random Access Memories, in May, 19,000 out of 339,000 were on vinyl." So maybe its the sound, or the memories attached to the sound, or maybe its just cool. For Erik, Charles, and Katie music on vinyl is a far superior sound and experience for three different reasons. This old school sound is creating a new identity for the music scene. It has found a new generation.

“The way music is supposed to sound,” says Erik. “The sound on it is just so crisp, so clear that I kept wanting to get more.” Erik describes his love for vinyl started with his mother. She brought home her old record player, and started Erik’s collection of vinyl with Abbey Road. Erik says, “if people are going to own records they better have Abbey Road,” for Erik not having Abbey Road just isn’t an option. “It almost feels like when you’re listening to a record, it feels like the band is right in front of you.” Erik says vinyl about the overall quality of sound, and being a musician himself he appreciates the musicianship put behind the story of the sound.

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Podcast.m4a?w=AACliZyyTJ9dTaBs1y0D-OPswUJITn3TkpBhGgTRW9me0w

For Charles vinyl records are more about the social aspect. “Vinyl is more personable, I like to listen to my records with an environment with people.” His father, who still collects records, started Charles’ love of vinyl at an early age. Charles says, “Listening to a record is all about who you are with.” He explains he mostly listens to calm music when he is with friends and family. For Charles’ the experience of the vinyl is what the music is all about. Records create this comfortable feeling for Charles, it brings him back to that little boy listening to his father's records. “The album tells a story", he says, "it takes you on a journey that is best shared with friends and family."

https://www.dropbox.com/s/edmbjyidn4r5l2g/Podcast%20Charles.m4a

Katie shares that vinyl is all about the original records. “It was how it was original meant to be listened to,” she explains, “the evolution of the album.” She explains that the original album wished to tell a story, and it was supposed to be listened to from beginning to end. “The creative process of the artist is exposed through their album.” Her main love of the vinyl came about through the story, not so much the sound.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/467jgxtoi1gk03a/Podcast%20Katie.m4a

#katied

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