Start your engines!

Today is the first official day of rigging! It's been a busy day, I have been helping unload equipment, and start to set up cables ready for install.

Myself and Howard, the engineer here, had been investigating a wallbox that doesn't seem to be working properly. We used a cable tester, to find that the cables do end somewhere, as they do not work in their place in CAR. Howard is currently checking over the diagrams to see if he can locate the cable numbers, and I will be helping him find them in CAR.

Things are hectic, so it's time to sign off my blog. NB to Marker, there is an 'older post' button at the bottom of the page, unfortunately it is not very clear, and is in black font.

Basic Cable Schedule

This is the basic cable schedule for Rave 2012. There will be smaller ones around, but these are the longer cables that will be needed, so it will be easier for us to keep track of how they are going.

One Week To Go!

Oh my, we only have a week till the actual event, and things aren't going well as a whole. Unfortunately we are unable to broadcast on freeview this year, as it was ambitious to try and do it in HD, and we were unable to procure the equipment needed. This is a shame, but we still need to get on with our respective jobs.

I've heard the tools and equipment should be here tomorrow, so I can't wait to get them, and get ready to test and install everything.

I think my weaknesses during this whole year have been:
- Reliance on cable making skills of students
- Being quite a lax leader - but still getting the job done
- I could have been more efficient in chasing up some of the matters.

However my strengths have been:
- Efficient problem solving
- Commitment to following through on what I promise
- Able to get the bigger picture, very quickly
- Able to lead very well, as well as a great team player.

Here's to a great Degree Show!

Check out http://ravensbourne2012.com/!

Patch Scheduling!

These are the patching schedules for one of my assistants who will be around CAR most of the day, ready to patch these new MUSA cables as the link show moves to its new location. 

The ones in yellow are high priority for looking at/testing.

Sigh

Turns out my tools and equipment (including cable and other things) never got ordered till a few days ago! Now they won't be arriving for a little while! However, I will make the most of what I can.

I have had a meeting with our Engineering Manager, and the guy who's in charge of the link show, to discuss where they can have locations around the uni. I believe I used the word 'basher' at least 2000 times in this meeting. The link show plans to film on pretty much every level. The pictures aren't the problem, but all the cables will need to be made sure they stay safe. They will be going across elevator doors, fire doors and there will be lots of people around. This is the reason I have stressed how important cable bashers will be to the managers. I will do my best to make sure that this message sticks in the mind of the right people!

I will create a patching schedule, and then cable schedule, although things are still changing only a few weeks before the events happen!

Order, order!

So it was time for me to order tools and stuff that we need. However, I was not given a budget as such, and so I was asked to pass on the order forms, and then would be told yes or no. After a week had passed, I chased it up with our Assistant Engineering Manager, Emma, as she was the one who passed on the form to the financial people. She said she'd let me know what's happening with it!

In other news, We've heard about this link show that will happen between all the different things that are going on. Last year they were just on Level 4, with a few sofas. This year they want to film from literally all over uni! Pretty much a logistical nightmare at our uni!

Bring it on!

So now 3D is over, it's time to look forward to the degree show. Details are still sketchy. We know there will be at least 4 fashion shows on Level 4. We've heard rumours that tri-ax points are going to be put on level 4, as they are currently only on level 0. This is fantastic news, but we are all a bit dubious as to whether this will happen before the event. If they are there, they will really help in terms of not having to have such long cables from BNC, and we can just use the triax from the Studio!

Other things I may need to do will include setting up cameras that look over level 4 and 0, like we have done in previous events. This is a great shot to put in the background of slates.