Working as a sound and video technician – start here!

1. [Multiple choice]

Opera North is based in theatres for

Answers for Quiz [1].

• 1. a quarter of the year.
• 2. a third of the year.
• 3. half of the year.
• 4. two thirds of the year. (correct)
• 5. all of the year.

2. [Multiple choice]

Part of John’s job involves putting microphones

(The circle is above the ground floor, usually on the first floor. The upper circle is above that, so usually on the second floor.
The pit is often called ‘the orchestra pit’.)

Answers for Quiz [2].

• 1. in the stalls.
• 2. in the gods.
• 3. in the circle.
• 4. in the pit. (correct)
• 5. in the dressing-rooms.

3. [Multiple choice]

The microphones John sets up

(The microphones relay the sound of the orchestra from the pit to the stage where the singers are.)

Answers for Quiz [3].

• 1. enable the singers on stage to hear what’s going on. (correct)
• 2. enable the conductor to hear what’s going on on stage.
• 3. enable the orchestral players to hear what’s going on.

4. [Multiple choice]

What is the verb John uses meaning to transmit of sounds or images?

(To relay means to pass on, for example information. It also means to transmit.)

Answers for Quiz [4].

• 1. relate
• 2. rely
• 3. reveal
• 4. relay (correct)
• 5. relax

5. [Multiple choice]

Relaying a picture of the conductor ensures that singers can

(The singers can folow the conductor’s beat, and not wait for the sound of the music to come back to the stage, which would be delated.)

Answers for Quiz [5].

• 1. remain in time with the orchestra. (correct)
• 2. remain in tune with the orchestra.

6. [Multiple choice]

Providing offstage choruses and bands with feeds of video and sound means they can sing and play

Answers for Quiz [6].

• 1. in time with the conductor.
• 2. in time with the singers on stage.
• 3. in tune with singers on stage.
• 4. in time and in tune with each other and the singers on stage. (correct)

7. [Multiple choice]

John sets up radio communications links

(The stage management crew needs to be able to communicate with each other to convey instructions about timing stage instructions – when to fade lights, when to raise the house lights (i.e. the lights in the theatre auditorium), when to open or shut the theatre curtain, or lower the firecurtain etc.)

Answers for Quiz [7].

• 1. for the benefit of the stagecrew. (correct)
• 2. for the benefit of the conductor.
• 3. so the orchestra can hear what sound they’re making.

8. [Multiple choice]

John describes his background as

(John says he is interested in music – he plays the cello and piano and also sings – but describes his background as mathematical and scientific.)

Answers for Quiz [8].

• 1. musical.
• 2. mathematical and scientific. (correct)

9. [Multiple choice]

John took the Tonmeister Music And Sound Recording course

(Did you notice the silent ‘d’ in the first d in Guildford?)

Answers for Quiz [9].

• 1. at the university of Surrey. (correct)
• 2. at Sheffield university.
• 3. at the university of Sunderland.
• 4. at Southampton.university

10. [Multiple choice]

He didn’t have to study music on his degree.

(He did the same music modules as for a conventional music degree, but also completed modules in electronics, physics, acoustics and recording techniques
)

Answers for Quiz [10].

• 1. True.
• 2. False. (correct)

11. [Multiple choice]

John worked for Chandos Records in Colchester

Answers for Quiz [11].

• 1. as a sound technician.
• 2. as a classical editor.
• 3. in marketing.
• 4. in the sales department.
• 5. as a classical editor and recording assistant. (correct)
• 6. as a recording assistant.

12. [Multiple choice]

John Benton was unemployed for several months before getting this job.

(He got the job straight out of university.)

Answers for Quiz [12].

• 1. True.
• 2. False. (correct)

13. [Multiple choice]

The degree John studied at university

(The reason he was employed so quickly was because the course is ‘well thought-of’.)

Answers for Quiz [13].

• 1. is highly regarded. (correct)
• 2. is viewed with some reservation by employers.
• 3. has a poor reputation.

14. [Multiple choice]

‘Feeling your way’ means

Answers for Quiz [14].

• 1. you usually work in darkness backstage, so it’s necessary to grope your way.
• 2. you’re not yet sure of what is involved at each stage of the job. (correct)

15. [Multiple choice]

Does John have a permanent contract?

(Although he says he does not have a permanent contract, he also explains that the equipment they use is very difficult to manage, because it is highly specialised. This means Opera North needs technicians who know how to operate this specific equipment – and as such knowledge and specialist training wouldn’t come quickly to newcomers, John is in a good position to remain employed – “they couldn’t do without me’ is what he means by ‘they couldn’t do away with me”.)

Answers for Quiz [15].

• 1. Yes.
• 2. No. (correct)

16. [Multiple choice]

John is paid

Answers for Quiz [16].

• 1. a wage. (correct)
• 2. a salary.
• 3. a wage plus tips.
• 4. a salary plus bonuses.

17. [Multiple choice]

Opera North doesn’t make enough money to be self-financing.

(It depends on grants. Most of their funding relies on arts councils.)

Answers for Quiz [17].

• 1. True. (correct)
• 2. False.

18. [Multiple choice]

Most theatres are organised

(Most theatres have a similar set-up – set-up = system, organisation.)

Answers for Quiz [18].

• 1. very differently from each other.
• 2. very similarly to each other. (correct)

19. [Multiple choice]

Which of the following was not included in the set of three operas the week John Benton was touring with Opera North?

Answers for Quiz [19].

• 1. Othello. (correct)
• 2. A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
• 3. Macbeth.
• 4. Romeo and Juliet.

20. [Multiple choice]

What makes a lot of difference to a changeover?

(The set has a bearing on what happens to everything else on the technical side – for instance, the lights, where the sound equipment has to be placed etc.
The cast = the number of performers.
)

Answers for Quiz [20].

• 1. The type of opera being performed.
• 2. The amount of sound and light equipment to be installed.
• 3. The size of the orchestra.
• 4. The plot.
• 5. The set. (correct)
• 6. The amount of different lighting involved.
• 7. The size of the stage.
• 8. The size of the cast.

21. [Multiple choice]

During a changeover, which of the following dictates the rest?

(Nothing can be done with sound and video equipment until the new set is in place – and for that, the old set has to have been dismantled and then removed!)

Answers for Quiz [21].

• 1. The dismantling of the old set.
• 2. The building of the new set.
• 3. The removal of everything in the wings.
• 4. Dismantling and removing the old set, and building the new set. (correct)
• 5. The positioning of the television, speakers and lights .
• 6. Removing the old set.

22. [Multiple choice]

In a typical week on tour, does John often work a nightshift?

(Usually John works a nightshift every night there is a performance. As the operas change every day, the stage crew has to complete the work involved in each change from one show to the next.)

Answers for Quiz [22].

• 1. Yes. (correct)
• 2. No.

23. [Multiple choice]

What is the latest time that John mentions a night shift finishing?

(He mentions working from curtain-down at about 10.30pm until 4, 5 or 6am.)

Answers for Quiz [23].

• 1. 2am.
• 2. 3am.
• 3. 4am.
• 4. 5am.
• 5. 6am. (correct)

24. [Multiple choice]

What speeds up the process of preparing the stage for performances?

(The fact that once the set has been built in a theatre for the first time, positions for lights and other equipment have been marked, so it is just a question of placing it in the positions already marked.
John uses the phrase ‘from there on in’ after the first changeover
meaning ‘from that point onwards’.
To ‘show someone the ropes’ means to initiate someone into how things are done.
)

Answers for Quiz [24].

• 1. having already marked positions for lights and other equipment. (correct)
• 2. working in a theatre you’re familiar with.
• 3. having helpful theatre-staff who can show you the ropes.

25. [Multiple choice]

What phrase does John use meaning he ‘got the chance’ to do this job?

Answers for Quiz [25].

• 1. I was lucky.
• 2. The opportunity arose. (correct)
• 3. The job cropped up.