Friday, October 24, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
S'pore Grand Prix - F1 Night Race '08
Thanks Doris for the lobang!
Yeah, I got myself dumped into the pits of F1 and have got no idea what until D-day itself.
Prelude
Assigned to a team doing Artistes Hospitality, and frankly speaking, it was my 1st time hearing that. And further more, yours truly doing anything vaguely similar to the term ‘Hospitality’ I thought was the joke of the year.
Attended a couple of recces on the F1 route, led by the F1 technical guy in charge with loads of F1-good-to-knows which I couldn’t give a flying macaroni-with-cheese about, was a waste of time.
D-day
Have got no idea how to make it to the Gate on foot. But still made it somehow, and 30mins late. Yeah sure I felt bad about it, but kinda figured that it doesn’t really matter, since we were sitting around doing jack-shit for the next couple of hours.
But then again, jack-shit in Singapore’s very own F1 circuit is some shit.
Amidst all the hype and praises about Singapore’s effort in making the night race a success, it’s very interesting to note some bloopers.
On the very 1st day, any Ah Ngeow, Ah Bhee and Ah Quah can just walk right into the circuit in the morning at 10am without any checks or questions asked. That’s because at 10am, that’s when all staff reports for work, security and gate ushers, ticketing likewise. Good point to remember for next year’s race, that early birds catches the fastest ride in town.
Although we were promised buggies to ferry artistes to their respective stages/rest area, some goondu didn’t charge the buggies the day before. Towards the end of Day 01, we were risking half-charged buggies around as some divas couldn’t walk on anything that’s not a stage.
We were supposed to be given food coupons to redeem food at staff canteen, and somehow nobody has ever seen a food coupon before. At the staff canteen, the canteen supervisor was strict enough to refuse serving without food coupons. The punchline here was that he hadn’t even seen one until Day 02. So it was the arguments that were heating up the food on Day 01. This isn’t my complaint, as I was enjoying VIP food(nicely dressed in Vogue type) in one of the Sky Suites for all 3 days.
Some personnel in charge of ferrying artistes to different locations openly declare that they do not know how to read maps.
The next couple of days were just the same, except with lesser hiccups. Anyway, I’m quite sure my experience was only the tip of the ice-berg. As desperate as the gah-men is, this F1 festival was kinda like the ‘Just for Laughs on speed’. Although it’s very interesting to be doing something that’s totally non-tech. And hell yeah…
Some of my highlights
Ran around the whole Northern Loop looking for someone who was hired just to drive buggies around the circuit park because he got lost. So much professionalism at it’s very least.
Demanded for tags at the Paddock Club to give my artistes free flow of food and booze, although they weren’t allowed to.
Stood behind the buggy racing at full speed around the Northern Loop, just like the villagers at Kanchanaburi.
Seems like it's a natural reflex to give the 'peace' sign even when your fingers are not up during photo-taking. (See above pic)
Yeah, I got myself dumped into the pits of F1 and have got no idea what until D-day itself.
Prelude
Assigned to a team doing Artistes Hospitality, and frankly speaking, it was my 1st time hearing that. And further more, yours truly doing anything vaguely similar to the term ‘Hospitality’ I thought was the joke of the year.
Attended a couple of recces on the F1 route, led by the F1 technical guy in charge with loads of F1-good-to-knows which I couldn’t give a flying macaroni-with-cheese about, was a waste of time.
D-day
Have got no idea how to make it to the Gate on foot. But still made it somehow, and 30mins late. Yeah sure I felt bad about it, but kinda figured that it doesn’t really matter, since we were sitting around doing jack-shit for the next couple of hours.
But then again, jack-shit in Singapore’s very own F1 circuit is some shit.
Amidst all the hype and praises about Singapore’s effort in making the night race a success, it’s very interesting to note some bloopers.
On the very 1st day, any Ah Ngeow, Ah Bhee and Ah Quah can just walk right into the circuit in the morning at 10am without any checks or questions asked. That’s because at 10am, that’s when all staff reports for work, security and gate ushers, ticketing likewise. Good point to remember for next year’s race, that early birds catches the fastest ride in town.
Although we were promised buggies to ferry artistes to their respective stages/rest area, some goondu didn’t charge the buggies the day before. Towards the end of Day 01, we were risking half-charged buggies around as some divas couldn’t walk on anything that’s not a stage.
We were supposed to be given food coupons to redeem food at staff canteen, and somehow nobody has ever seen a food coupon before. At the staff canteen, the canteen supervisor was strict enough to refuse serving without food coupons. The punchline here was that he hadn’t even seen one until Day 02. So it was the arguments that were heating up the food on Day 01. This isn’t my complaint, as I was enjoying VIP food(nicely dressed in Vogue type) in one of the Sky Suites for all 3 days.
Some personnel in charge of ferrying artistes to different locations openly declare that they do not know how to read maps.
The next couple of days were just the same, except with lesser hiccups. Anyway, I’m quite sure my experience was only the tip of the ice-berg. As desperate as the gah-men is, this F1 festival was kinda like the ‘Just for Laughs on speed’. Although it’s very interesting to be doing something that’s totally non-tech. And hell yeah…
Some of my highlights
Ran around the whole Northern Loop looking for someone who was hired just to drive buggies around the circuit park because he got lost. So much professionalism at it’s very least.
Demanded for tags at the Paddock Club to give my artistes free flow of food and booze, although they weren’t allowed to.
Stood behind the buggy racing at full speed around the Northern Loop, just like the villagers at Kanchanaburi.
Seems like it's a natural reflex to give the 'peace' sign even when your fingers are not up during photo-taking. (See above pic)
Buggies' dreaming of someday...
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Skid Row - I Remember You
Sounds of the tattto pub donkey years ago.
Classic vocals during rock and roll's wasted years.
Skid Row
"I Remember You "
Woke up to the sound of pouring rain
The wind would whisper and I'd think of you
And all the tears you cried, that called my name
And when you needed me I came through
I paint a picture of the days gone by
When love went blind and you would make me see
I'd stare a lifetime into your eyes
So that I knew you were there for me
Time after time you were there for me
Remember yesterday - walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
Through the sleepless nights and every endless day
I'd wanna hear you say - I remember you
We spend the summer with the top rolled down
Wished ever after would be like this
You said I love you babe, without a sound
I said I'd give my life for just one kiss
I'd live for your smile and die for your kiss
Remember yesterday - walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
Through the sleepless nights and every endless day
I'd wanna hear you say - I remember you
We've had our share of hard times
But thats the price we paid
And through it all we kept the promise that we made
I swear youll never be lonely
Woke up to the sound of pouring rain
Washed away a dream of you
But nothing else could ever take you away
cause you'll always be my dream come true
Oh my darling, I love you
Remember yesterday - walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
Through the sleepless nights and every endless day
I'd wanna hear you say - I remember you
Remember yesterday - walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
Through the sleepless nights and every endless day
I'd wanna hear you say - I remember you
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Esplanade Theatre's Audio Shootout
Yup, this is reality TV for audio industry. More so for this small little island where there’s not much spaces to hang a line array, although I would love to have one in my living room. :) When Singapore’s top performing arts venue is looking for a system overhaul, nobody wants to be left out of the picture. So here we have a 1 week’s worth of ‘survivor-style’ line array shootout for 7 kingpins of line arrays, right inside Esplanade Theatre.
d&b audiotechnik
L Acoustics
Adamsons
JBL
EV
Meyer
Nexo
Setting up wasn’t difficult for everyone. But it’s the brains behind the array calculation that’s stressed. For one, it’s A/B comparison with your direct competitors. But stepping aside from the winning mentality, who knows you might be blown away by your competitor’s array, and submit your resume right on the spot! Secondly, it’s the pressure from your boss, coz you know your year-end bonus is hanging on the tip of your fingers.
For consumers like me, it was a great chance to compare how different manufacturers emphasize on different aspects of audio technology. Like for some, coupling of subs proved to be very effective, while others bulldoze by numbers. It was also a good display for rigging techniques as preferred by each manufacturer.
For day 01, all 7 line arrays were put to the test which consisted of a huge variety of music playbacks ranging from symphonies, pop and rock music, and vocal microphone. Venue coverage were also taken into consideration. The tribal council, which consisted of Esplanade’s Head of Sound, Robin Shuttleworth, and a few others from the sound department, took time to rate the performance of each array on a piece of paper in point system format. At the end of day 01, 3 arrays will be eliminated based on the overall score.
After Meyer, EV and Nexo got eliminated, the rest of the contenders got to work again to fine tuned their system. The pressure seem to have climbed another level as making to the 2nd round doesn’t mean anything. Since I’m helping d&b audiotechnik, I was hoping that they can make it through. Then at least I can stay to the finals of the survivor series and find out the results. And personally, d&b’s performance is quite amazing.
Colourful CROWN amps driving JBL's Vertec
At the end of the day, the results came as a shock to everyone. Yeah… d&b got eliminated, leaving Adamsons and JBL to race to the end. Now, both Adamsons and JBL will have to rig up stereo configurations and go through another round of evaluation.
On the grounds we heard a lot about political issues and frankly speaking, I don’t give a damn. But which ever the house system, it better justify Esplanade’s status, and especially the expensive tickets.
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