Just what are they saying to me in that IFB (ear piece)?
When it is live television, just about anything because anything can happen without warning.
The way the show works at The Liquidation Channel, there are actually three of us working in the studio and many people working behind the scenes every minute of the day.
Prior to the show, we sit down with the jewelry and have a meeting about the show. We’ll storybook the order of the show so we all know where we are going. But when it’s live, we all know that the order, the plan, will most likely change when the show starts.
The Producer’s job is to execute the show. They run the auction, answer emails as they come from customers, the call center, and even the President of the company (who watches all the time). They keep track of who is entering the auction and what people are interested in. The producer usually says:
- Our next item is the Garnet Ring Item# 254931
- There are 122 diamonds in the ring
- We’re taking the price down…
- Two minute clock is coming
- Last call
- Jenny, Barbara, and Jack just came in on the item.
- Greg is on the line.
- Judy from Georgia emailed in with a question. She wants to know…
The Director steers the ship. They are all about presentation: How does the show look? How does the jewelry look? They are in charge of three cameras, all the shots, music and images.
Typically the director is giving me directions in my ear:
- You can pick it up as in the jewelry
- Going to Camera 1… which means it’s going to the shot of me so I need to look at the camera
- Your hand is free… giving me a chance to get the next piece ready
- Can you wipe the jewelry, your hand print is on it.
- Can you put that up against a white background?
- Careful when you play with the necklace, it is too close to you mic.
- Sting… I still haven’t figured out what the means yet, but they say it before every auction
- Mics up/Mics down
And while they say all these things, I still talk to viewers (hopefully) seamlessly. With both my producer and director, it is a dance…
I’ll say, “I’d love to show you how this ring looks on my finger,” or “I can’t wait to show you how this necklace looks on my neck.” Not only am I talking to the audience, but I’m also talking to my director, letting him know what I’m about to do with the jewelry so he can get the camera ready. Then he’ll say, “you can pick it up,” or “ready,” or “I’ll see the shot change on the monitor, and I know I can take the jewelry to my desired destination.
I’ll say, “Wow this piece has so many diamonds in it!” Not only am I earnestly in awe about the amount of diamonds, but I am also asking the producer how many diamonds. The producer will respond to me, “122 diamonds.”
I’ll say, “Coming up, we have some earrings.” That could mean I don’t remember what set of earring are next. The producer will tell me Item #349898, so I can get it ready.
But the coolest thing about the Producers and Directors I work with is that they really are about “team.” And having them in my ear is really invaluable. I realized this on day when I my IFB was too low, and I couldn’t hear them at all–I totally felt like I was alone on an island!
The Producer and Director will laugh at my jokes (even when I’m not funny), tell me I’m doing a great job as we enter hour four on air, and they even cover my rookie mistakes, the Producer will surprise me with an awesome price drop, the director will bust my on camera with my dancing. It’s like a triangle of no judgment which makes a square once you add the viewers in, of fun.
Next time you watch, The Liquidation Channel, I’m on Sunday from 2am-6am CST, you’ll see what I mean…
I love this “behind the scenes” look! I have no idea how you do it… I would be so confused.