The COVID-19 pandemic has stirred up a lot of strife for many people - me included - having lost my job in the hospitality and production services industry, as world-wide lockdowns required people to stay grounded at home. However on the contrary, the need for audio / visual services has shot up - with businesses and organisations scrambling to create their digital front.
COVID-19 easing restrictions in Australia meant that people could not gather in large groups. As a result, weddings too have gone digital, through YouTube live streams, and through Zoom - dubbed “Zoom Weddings”.
Over the course of this year, my brother and I have been approached by 6 engaged couples to help provide audio visual and/or livestreaming services for their wedding. We agreed to do these services pro bono, as they were close friends - though we were invited to the reception so I guess that’s our payment.
We also get cute gifts like these
Generally, we’d be asked to run the sound, lighting and video for the event, as well setting up either a YouTube livestream, or a Zoom call with audio feedback. We’d also have multiple cameras (some static and some portable) being fed into the streams via HDMI capture cards, NDI, or a mixture of both (and then some more). Maybe one day we can get wireless transceivers ($$$$$).
Most of these weddings have been in an environment with a known audio/visual system, however later this year we’ll be doing a livestream at a church which neither my brother nor I have been to. Hopefully the rehearsal day will give us the information we need (Floor plan, lighting, sound system, video system, power locations, network connectivity)
Perhaps I’ll need to jerry-rig something like this again.
(I forgot to bring my XLR to 3.5mm adapter. OOPS)
PS. Weddings are great
They also give you a chance to dress up and look pretty :)
Anyhow, signing out!
That said, here’s a few more photos for your perousal
And here’s to watching someone else’s wedding whilst you’re running a wedding ~
