The Dannevirke Brass Band is here warming up. And I’m busy writing an email while there’s a lull before the performance begins.
Tonight it’s a community carol singing event. Yep… it’s that time of year.
This is the first stop for the band. They’ve got another 4 performances around town over the next couple of weeks.
And I’m running the sound desk tonight.
Not my usual thing. But this time if it’s not me… it’s no one.
We’ve recently got a new digital sound desk.
And it’s simply amaaazing compared to the 20 year old analog one we just retired.
Now, if you hadn’t used the new desk before it could be quite bamboozling to operate.
What with lights and knobs and confusing acronyms written all over it.
I’ve had just enough training — and time to fiddle around with it beforehand.
So I know how to get the desk switched on. To turn up the front of house speakers. And get a microphone or two working. And that’s about it.
Fortunately we don’t need any more than that tonight.
But if I’d been thrown in the deep end without a little training…
Well… even this supposed geek could be struggling to get any sound out of it.
While I’ve been sitting here marvelling at this electronic wonder…
It reminded me so much of the weird and wonderful world of freelancing.
There’s just so many options. And so many twinkling distractions.
I mean…
As a copywriter I can write emails. Sales letters. Case studies. And a million other types of copy.
There’s this niche I could focus on… or that one… or the other.
And I can help my clients in many ways I’ve probably not even thought of.
So many choices.
But just like me and the sound desk…
With a little direction… some training perhaps… and staying away from the tempting shiny, twinky lights and buttons…
It’s possible to make it provide just the right level of amplification that’s needed for the performance.
People may even give a clap afterwards. 😁
Well, I KNOW they will. And as “sound guy” tonight… I’ll take 5% of those claps as payment for my ego.
With freelancing… keeping away from distractions — and focusing on the core stuff — can be such a help in making fast progress.
Just a little self-discipline to stay the course for a while before considering any direction change can help so much with skill-building…
And being able to make more well-considered decisions about our freelancing business.
No time to say much more today because the performance starts in 5mins.
So, time to say “bye” and slam the laptop lid.
Now where did that unmute button get to?…
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Chris Milham