When I was first learning to mix, I learned a bunch of new terms like phasing alignment, compression, threshold and many others. I was reading everything I could get my hands on and learning as much as I could about what I was doing. I didn't realize it, but eventually I began to speak a new language. I think everyone that works in an A/V booth has experienced this, as they continually increase their knowledge of their area. There is a moment when you are so engulfed in your field that you start to use different words because you actually know what you are talking about. The good side to this is that you are becoming better at what you do, the bad side is that the more you know the harder it can be to communicate with those who haven't spent the time to learn the same things you have. As we expand our understanding of audio, video, and lighting, we begin to speak gibberish to everyone else. So how do we grow, but also bridge the gap to communicate with others that are on the stage or in another tech area? Here are a few tips:
Communicate don't just to regurgitate.
When you are sitting in the sound booth trying to explain to the singer why the microphone can't get louder, or why you can't light the girl with your intelligent lights because she wants to stand in a different spot than she is supposed to, remember that just because you are talking doesn't mean you are communicating. Communicating is not just you talking in a way that makes sense to you, it is speaking in a way that makes sense to the other person. If you will stop, think about how to explain it the right way and then talk you may get a lot further. Just pretend that they know absolutely nothing about what you do. This is typically the case anyway. I know this seems overly simple but when tech guys are frustrated typically we ramble off things that no one but other tech guys understand.
Timing is everything.
So you have taken the time to think of the perfect way to explain the reason why the guitar player's amp won't sound the same this week, or explaining to the pastor who doesn't understand why you can't reprogram the lights last minute, but for some reason they just aren't getting it. This might be due to your timing. Timing is every thing. For people on stage, Sundays can be the most exciting and stressful time of the week. When people are already stressed and frustrated, it may not be a good time to explain what is going on. I have learned that musicians have a better understanding of technical issues on Monday. So, I recommend telling them it is a long story and hard to explain and you will get with them the following week to better explain or you will have the issue fixed by the next week.
Don't forget to remain calm.
No doubt it can be difficult to communicate with people who don't seem to get it. This is especially true when you are dealing with people who may be a little arrogant. However, we can often become our own greatest obstacle when communicating --- especially when we are irritated. The truth is that it is scientifically proven that our communication skills dramatically weaken when we are stressed. So, if you can remain calm, then you will communicate what they need to know much more effectively.
Learning to communicate to A/V civilians can be very difficult. However, if we focus on the best way to explain what is going on, wait for the right timing and we can remain calm, we will be able to get our point across, eventually anyway. It takes some time to get the hang of it, but, if you are patient, it not only will help with the quality of your production, it will also make a difference in your relationships.
