Rubik's Cube

Today proved to me that I have so much to learn and such a long ways to go.

I was so overwhelmed. Right now the tech world is like a rubik's cube in my hands, and I'm colorblind.

I will not complain because it will take too long...

But I am tired of making mistakes.

Today was the CMC Live Show and the artists did a great job. All their songs are in my head. :)

I watched from the lighting computer. I am kind of glad they didn't give me responsibility because I would've freaked and because I was enjoying watching the artists perform.

But I am ready to LEARN!

Tomorrow we watch the tape of the performance and get critiqued; it should be interesting.

"PUT THE DISCO BALL ON"

WOWSERS! I'M SURROUNDED!

I don’t even know where to start............

Summary of today: I really need to step up.

Poor Joe, I feel like he thinks I’m an idiot.

Today started with a Critical Listening class at 9:30. We had a pop quiz on how many songs we knew and their bands. You get a point for the title, a point for the band name. Max you can get is 120. Candice got 34. Papa Schlaegel would be disappointed in me lol. It was fun to listen to Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Katy Perry, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Brandon Heath, The Kinks, Buffalo Springfield, the Beatles and other awesome artists.

Then we had our track class. We discussed the show tomorrow and then Warren taught us about lighting. I felt at home! I felt like I was back in Olentangy High School Braves Theatre. :) We talked about parkhands, LED lights, Pucks, Sparklers, and the moving lights. Warren went over how to make them do certain things and how to program it. I look forward to working with the lights. Hopefully I will get some free time in the future to play around with it. We even messed with the fog machine!!!!

Then I had lunch. Cheese Manicotti and White Cheddar Cheez-Its. Be jealous. ;)

Then Joe helped me set up for the Demo Derby…

I WAS TERRIBLE AT RECORDING! I was messing up and my headphones didn’t work. AHH! The artists and their managers were nice about it though. I have decided to research more about mixing in ProTools and with 002 racks because, yeah…I could have DEFINITELY done better. Grr.

After I recorded Meredith, Kylie, and Dan, I bounced the file to disk and then put the converted mp3s up on the Community computer.

After that was successful, I helped Joe start setting up the stage for our arranging tonight.

Tonight is also the Open House at John and Jenny’s house. I look forward to it hanging with them.

Tom and Warren told us that we would get sick of music and get frustrated with people after a while. Is it bad that I feel that way already? Not music, exactly, but just…I don’t know. You know me, I work so hard. And this semester is something that I do not know well so I’m working as hard as I can…which makes a short temper. I’m stressed that I won’t understand everything. I’m scared the artists and managers won’t want to use me because I suck. RAWR!

Now Mom and Dad, don’t go calling me…I’m not depressed everyone. Just frustrated. My attitude needs to skyrocket or people are going to think I’m crazy. Haha. Maybe I am…

The CMC is where I want to be though. I am proud of myself that I haven’t gone insane with homesickness. THAT IS REALLY GOOD.  I’m proud at how much I’m trying to pick up.

But I expect the BEST from myself. I can’t be so hard on myself or I will break.

Another thing…silence is difficult here. Haha. I’m in the mailroom at school right now and it STILL isn’t quiet. Ashley is practicing on the Main Stage and I can hear as if she’s at the door (she is UPstairs).

I will get better at this. *sigh* haha.

Until next time…I’ll tell you about the show :)

“SET IT ONSTAGE…”

The Reference Guide to ProTools

Today, Today, Oh Today. Today felt like two days. 

9:30 we had class. We talked about our purpose (goals, wants, needs). I enjoyed my high school breakfast- Starbucks chilled Mocha. :)

10:30 we had our track classes. Today was Demo Derby. This is where artists have thirty minutes to record five songs in one of the 002 rooms- this is difficult to do in half an hour. So the techs listened to Marcus explain the software ProTools since that is what we use for recording. It was so fun! *sarcasm* I was soooo lost. I was not following a lot of things that the guys seemed to know and ask about. Boo. We also during this time moved equipment into the studio rooms.

Lunch was dominated by situating the rooms and ran into our next class at 1:00.

1:00 we had class about how to make a living as an artist. We talked about royalties and getting paid for what you record.

2:00 DEMO DERBY. I have been told not to gossip or complain. So I won’t. But I will say one thing: People irritate me more than they should. My fellow tech, Joe, had to tell me several times, “It’s alright, Candice, everything will work out.” You know I’m a worrier! I was supposed to be in the room with my fellow tech Evan but because of space, I stayed in the hallway while the artists and techs were in the studios recording. I listened to Maxine, Stephanie, Mike, and AnnaMarie do their demos. Let me say AGAIN, these artists are amazing.

After the demo derby, Evan talked to me about not being too hard on myself for not knowing a lot yet. Then I watched fellow tech, Josh, “bounce the tracks to disk.” I watched both he and Evan because tomorrow will be my turn to record the artists and I don’t want to look like an idiot.

I don’t want to look like an idiot so much that I actually took The Reference Guide of ProTools down to one of the 002 rooms and read it. This book is the size of the fifth or sixth Harry Potter. Let’s just say I didn’t read the WHOLE thing.

So after my almost aneurysm, I decided to see if our director, Warren, needed help. He did. And was happy to have it. Josh and I helped him clean and organize the Main Stage and monitor area next to the stage.  I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL WITH THE MAN IN CHARGE! Josh and I learned a lot! Haha. We learned what snippers and cable ties are. It was awesome. I loved being able to help Warren- I didn’t feel useless.

Sooo  1.) he knew I was dedicated and 2.) he learned my name really quick because he kept asking me to do stuff :D YAY!

After that, Josh and I put equipment and cables away to make the stage look decent. Let us see how long that lasts ;)

Today was so awesome but long (I just ate dinner at 8) and tomorrow will be an adventure.

Now leave me to my research on ProTools and technical music terms…

“WHY AM I SUCH A LOSER?!” (asked this to myself MANY times today)

Hammer Time! (Not MC Hammer...sorry)

Today was the first day of classes. Execs had class with Tom, Artists with Rick Elias, and techs with Marcus.

Marcus talked about a lot of stuff I didn't understand. I'm kinda looking forward to being thrown into where I have to know what I'm doing. THAT is how I will learn...unless I went over to his house and had him explain things for hours...which I WON'T do. So I believe I will be the one learning the most. BUT THAT'S OKAY :)

After class I helped Marcus set up for Hammer Time. Hammer Time is when all the artists and their bands or accompaniment take the stage and practice their songs. THEN Tom and Warren (mostly Warren) help/critique to make them better. Today was mild with the helping and critiquing. I've heard sometimes Warren makes people cry. But I think we have a good and talented group...so maybe that won't happen.

During Hammer Time, I was on monitors, the wedges that help the artists hear themselves or another instrument onstage. I didn't do much while they were performing but Marcus wanted me there just in case.

This morning and afternoon was exciting. I can't wait to learn more and be a big help. But it will take time.

Tonight we have a community dinner of spaghetti. YUM!

Everybody ready?

And it finally happened!

Today I thought would be a big waste of time for me, a tech, but it wasn't!

First I set up my computer to print off one of the printers at CMC. Then I ate lunch, listened to Dan Alle practice, and read a book.

I then listened to my roommates Meredith and Whitney with Audrey, Alex, and Luke practice for the show on Thursday. GOODNESS GRACIOUS, it was beautiful. I am looking forward to Meredith's performance!

Then Jason Blasing and I changed a Concept light since the one that was hanging had it's mirror shattered. So I helped Jason change it and went back to reading.

BUT THEN Marcus got there and I followed him around the rest of the day. He talked to me about FOH (Front of House), MON (Monitor), snakes for FOH and MON, and the how to wrap the cables (since I need MUCHO practice). We also organized the stage and tuned the drums of the drum kit. He was so nice and explained everything I asked about. It's going to be great working with him.

...And not until right now did I realize that being the only tech who doesn't play ACTUALLY is a good thing because Marcus knows I am dedicated all the time.

Next we went to one of the recording rooms (W02) and figured out how to set up the mics and ProTools. ProTools is the program we will work with this semester with engineering. :) I'm excited!!!!

And I learned today that my guitar strings are thicker than everyone else's. :( New guitar? Or just new strings? I guess my birthday list and Christmas list next year will be guitar-related.

TICK TICK CHECK CHECK!

*Looks around*...

So today we had a meeting and then we were released to that artists and execs could meet with each other since every artist was assigned to a exec/manager.

And what did I do? I tried to find something to do.

Since I can't play my guitar well, no one will be asking me to accompany them. It's fine but it meant I didn't have anything to do.

So I went back to the apt, practiced my guitar since I felt like a failure, listened to people practice, went to Kroger than ate dinner and read a book.

Summary of this day? I am beginning to realize that I do not fit in with these talented people.

The artists can sing and play and write. The executives are doing a great job of managing their artists and making plans. And the guys (aka techs) know SOMETHING about tech when it comes to music.

Candice does not. My experience is a beginners book on guitar, Lakeside (which I didn't touch the sound or light board), and theatre (once again no touching of sound or lights).

Sooooo....hmmmm... who is going to look like the blonde valley girl when we start doing tech stuff? ME!

*sigh* I have been looking forward to this semester forever. But now that I'm here, I'm not sure if I can do it. Am I cut out for this? Can I learn from this semester or am I going to get fed up?

I want this to be the experience I've been dreaming of.

Please get off stage...

Would have been better in a comfy chair...

Today started off with Tom talking to us about how to make money as an artist. It's interesting to hear about the information for the artists and execs.

After lunch we went to Blackbird Studios, one of the top notch studios in Nashville. We met with Vance Powell who talked to us about editing and producing songs. He works with Jack White, from The White Stripes and Raconteurs. He had great stories about Jack and all his connections to music. He also talked about The Quantum of Solace song that he created and how cut up it got in the movie version. We listened to the instrumental version (without Alicia Keyes and Jack White's voice); it was amazing! I enjoyed myself but had to sit on the floor which made it uncomfortable. I tried to focus on what he was saying but it was hard. Their bathrooms were nice! Haha.

Next we went to the Grammy's Nashville Office and talked with an alum from CMC from Semester 2. We talked about Grammy U, a program for college students in the music industry, and talked about the Grammy's.

THEN we got caught in snow and traffic. John was driving and he made the hour and a half drive fun. "PLEASE DRIVE FASTER!"

Today was fun. Tomorrow classes kind of start.

This has been such a great experience and I can't wait to get my hands dirty!

ROCK OUT!