Happy New Year! The news is back, and due to the ingenious way the media filled in with two years of election coverage, barely anyone noticed that it was even missing. Before the start of the election coverage there was a good two years of Britney, Paris and Lindsay gracing the headlines with their partying ways—flashing skin, doing jail time, going to rehab—basically entertaining the masses with their wild and crazy antics.
Then suddenly, and thankfully, they were gone from the television and newspaper headlines only to be replaced with two years of Hillary, Barack, John and Sarah as they all battled it out on the presidential trail to a historic and headline-making finish.
Since there was no other news that made it to the papers, radio or television, I assume that for the last four years of the current political administration there was not much going on around the world and nothing to report. Oh sure, there were wars, bombings, a monumental financial collapse worldwide and all the standard horrors that people inflict upon each other, but it all seemed to take a back seat to celebrity party girls and the race for the American presidency.
Then suddenly, and thankfully, they were gone from the television and newspaper headlines only to be replaced with two years of Hillary, Barack, John and Sarah as they all battled it out on the presidential trail to a historic and headline-making finish.
Since there was no other news that made it to the papers, radio or television, I assume that for the last four years of the current political administration there was not much going on around the world and nothing to report. Oh sure, there were wars, bombings, a monumental financial collapse worldwide and all the standard horrors that people inflict upon each other, but it all seemed to take a back seat to celebrity party girls and the race for the American presidency.
The News Is Back
Fortunately, that’s all behind us now and the news is back. Unfortunately, the news is not all that good, and in the last four years that we were preoccupied with the three party girls and the minute-by-minute election coverage, a lot of news has taken place. First of all, the government has finally declared that the country is officially in a recession. Woo, Woo! This means that all of our worst fears over the past year are validated and we can move on from worrying to being downright terrified. That’s the big news; the other big news is that Brit is back. After her big and public breakdown, she laid low for a while (while the election was being covered) preparing to restart her career (and news coverage) directly after the election. Well done!
In other vital news, it has been reported that football star Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg and killed his career, Oprah is fat again and weighs in at 200 pounds, and O.J. is finally doing time. Crime is on the rise in most major cities and a Wal-Mart guard was trampled to death by overzealous Christmas shoppers. Tina Fey is now on the “A” list, while Hilary and Barrack are now in bed together (so to speak) after a brutal two years of bickering. Gov. Patterson of New York is taking into consideration Caroline Kennedy as a replacement for the Senate seat once held by Hilary Clinton, while an Illinois governor is being brought up on corruption charges that he allegedly was involved in selling the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. The big three car manufacturers need a bailout in the form of billions of dollars, and to show their solidarity with the millions of people who have lost their jobs, as well as their savings, the three CEOs travel from Detroit to Washington in their private jets to plead their case before congress.
Yes, it appears that the news is back and just in time to report that the economy is gone and soon to be forgotten. It’s true that many lower echelon workers in the banking and investment field have lost their savings, but the real devastation is being wreaked upon the very rich and those that they supported. This is where we start to see a real trickledown effect as the uber-rich cut back and the service businesses such as hair stylists, clothing stores and restaurants begin to feel the pinch. The arts, which are usually well funded by the wealthy, suffer as well as the event and party scene. Less people can afford concert tickets, and business negotiations at every level break down to a point where vendors are slashing prices and giving away gear to get new clients or just to keep a client from even looking elsewhere to fulfill their needs.
Desperate Times Calls For…
Unfortunately, it is desperate times such as these that, in many cases, cause a lapse in integrity. While it was greed that unhinged the honor of the wealthy and brought down the economy, I refer more to the loss of perspective in how we go about doing our jobs when confronted with economic stress. While the calls for the service that I provide have not ceased to come in, I do find that there are more people calling in and fishing for the lowest dollar amount. No one outwardly wants to sacrifice quality but—more often than not—bids that just a year ago went unquestioned are being scrutinized in regard to the bottom line. To survive, I have had to keep my ego in check and figure out a new model for placing bids. During the gilded age of only a few years ago, I would bid a show according to what I thought was the correct audio system in accord with the necessary labor for the event. Most clients placed their trust and faith in me and money was no object. Regrettably, after the fall, people became wary of all bids and tended to question each and every cost involved with an event. To a fault, I try to accommodate them knowing full well that there are 10 other vendors who would be willing to slash their costs just to get the show.
Negotiating budget is fine, but slashing costs and compromising service should not be synonymous. As an example, I found myself in an awkward position when one of my clients—a well known national act—called upon me to provide audio for an event they were doing in a small venue in Manhattan. I have done a few shows at the venue and I am familiar with the quirks of the club. The system I recommended was the correct system for the space, as well as the act. We opted for only the PM5D to be used as both the monitor and FOH console, as there were only six or seven mixes being used on stage The production manager, being budget-conscious, told me that he would rather use the house system instead of my system for FOH, even though I, along with my trusted crew, pointed out that it was flown inappropriately for a live show. I even offered my system for a cut rate, but he declined the offer, and against my better judgment, I accepted the cut.
Maintain Pride and Integrity
I say against my better judgment because I knew that the club system was not suitable for what they wanted to do. Instead of just sending the racks ‘n’ stacks at no charge, or for an unreasonably cut rate, I let him hang himself because he was so uncompromising and insistent. On a business level, I may have been correct in my actions, but in circumstances such as these we all hang by the same rope. The show was difficult and not as good as it should have been. As predicted, the house system was not set up properly for a live show. Afterwards, the tour manager apologized and told me that the next time he called he would take my advice, but it was a lesson for both of us in learning to deal in a new financial environment. Keeping a budget within limit is more important now than ever before, but that does not mean that either buyer or seller should compromise quality of service for lack of quantity in the wallet. It may be hard times, but let’s not lose sight of what we do and how we do it. We need to figure out a way to maintain the quality that we all expect since no one wants or needs their name associated with an inferior product. Remember, we are only as good as our last show! In volatile times such as these, if we decide to do a show—even when the budget is lacking-—we must still maintain our pride and integrity and do it right.
