BBC Work Experience - Episode VII - 3rd February, 2014

Second day behind the sound desk!

Today's proceedings was overseen by Tom. At first, he gaged my rough knowledge from previous days...But in preperation for the 1300 start, issues were arising from one of the outside sources. It seemed like he wasn't sure how much I knew...But he was more focused on the broadcast anyway (and rightly so). Between the heads and the proms, he recapped a few things for me in terms of sound channel functionality on the desk...Watching the half-past broadcast made me understand a bit more of the role whilst the broadcast was going out (making sure the right microphones and channels are heard at the right time, etc.)

During lunch, I conversed with Carly, who informed me that the same supervisor from her previous time was supervising her again. Apparently she had done more with a camera operating position quicker than I was when I was in the studio! Perhaps this may be differences in how we learn, but I suspect that it was because of the same supervisor...Because a supervisor who has taught previously has more knowledge of how much the 'trainee' (as it were) knows or has learnt. To me there's always a feeling that with every new supervisor, there's less confidence than there would be for a repeat supervisor. With Tom, this was no different. However, I do see the benefit of a new supervisor each week, as it does make me feel obligated to explain what I have learned previously. As such, it depends on a level of recall, which would fundamentally indicate how much has been learned. Having said that, it does seem that the two-week gap in between each session may not be very convenient for learning for me personally.

After lunch (before and after the production meeting) Tom explained more of the functionality on the sound board. Very helpfully, he tested my knowledge every so often, which I very much appreciated (regardless of how my successful I was). There is a level of complex terminology involved and how the terminology informs the electronic functionality of the sound, etc. and to help me get a better understanding, Tom doodled a variety of diagrams and notes to help illustrate (quite literally) the complex terminology. I did begin to understand more, however much I have forgotten now. Funnily enough, it was more of a case of seeing how much Tom was educated in this field...! But I definitely did feel like he was encouraging and would make a good mentor for me on a more regular basis.

AM