Let’s face it – Sunday morning is game time.  It doesn’t matter if you’re running sound, lights, video presentation, or manning a camera – it’s time to focus.

But there’s one problem.  The space in which you operate is a pit, and it looks like your sisters closet did in high school.  It’s very hard to think clearly, and react quickly when there is junk all around your work space that doesn’t need to be there.  It’s amazing the impact that a messy work environment can have on your performance.

Here a 3 things you can start doing today that will minimize the clutter in your work space:

1. KEEP A TRASH CAN UNDER THE PRODUCTION DESK.

How many wadded up pieces of paper, paper scraps, candy wrappers, empty coffee cups, and old pieces of gaff tape have taunted you over the years because you didn’t have the convenience of a trash can?  You can’t really leave your post when people depend on mics being on, and lights and video cues happening .  So, get a trash can that fits neatly under the desk, and change your life.  Oh, and don’t forget to empty it!

2. KEEP A PEN HOLDER ON THE PRODUCTION DESK.

If you’re anything like me, then you like to make notes on the service order.  If you’re even more like me, then you manage to grab a new pen, pencil or marker every Sunday instead of using the same one from last week.  That’s usually because I couldn’t find the one(s) from last week.  I couldn’t find them because I never had a place to put them when I was done.  Go to an office supply store and pick up a pen holder or two, and quit having writing utensils scattered across the desk and on the floor.

3. KEEP THE PLACE DUSTED.

Once you have all the trash thrown away in your new awesome trash can, and all the chicken scratch utensils neatly tucked away in your new mahogany pen holders, you will be shocked by the number of dust bunnies roaming about.  All over the desk, the keyboards, the monitors, and the mixing console.  Dust is the enemy of everything tech volunteers stand for.  Get a feather duster (or similar), get a can of compressed air, use them.  The process is simple, but effective.  Results may vary.

BONUS:

4. COVER YOUR CONSOLE.

This is really an aside, and could be its own post, but please use the dust cover that came with your mixing, lighting and video consoles.  The manufacturers didn’t give you one so that you had something with their logo on it.  It is not only meant to keep dust off of, but also out of your console.  Remember what we said about dust (see #3 above).  Dust covers should go on after the rehearsal and the weekend service is finished.  It will prolong the life of your gear.

Until next time.