I did work experience in Belfast with my Uncle at a Kevin Bridges show. I got to see and do lots of interesting things such as, helping to build a LED screen for the show, helping build the two cameras used on site and even got to operate one of the cameras during the show.
We started work on the Wednesday at about 9:30 am, the day of the first show. We went to the SSE Arena where the shows were taking place and began the “rigging”. The rigging is the setup of the arena preparing for the show, as the arena is usually an ice rink. There was about 20 crew members on site who travel with Kevin Bridges and do all the technical stuff; lighting, sound and video (my Uncle was part of the video team). So the first thing I did was help build the cameras for the show. There were only two cameras needed so it didn’t take long. The parts are all moved in big boxes so I assisted my Uncle and his co-worker in assembling the different parts to make the cameras. I learnt about the different parts of the camera and how they work; zoom, focus etc. I was allowed the opportunity to operate one of the cameras during two of the shows.
Next I helped in building one of the huge LED screens that are hung from the ceiling during the show. The screens come in parts too like the cameras however are much larger and heavier therefore more workmen were needed. There were two crew members and two “locals”, construction workers who arrived on site to help with the rigging. The screens need to be hung from chains to keep it upright, so it doesn’t come crashing down. I learnt about the different plugs and sockets used to power the screen and got to witness how it is built. The first show was on the Wednesday so I sat back stage with my uncle with a pair of headphones on to listen to all the talk between the crew behind stage and at the cameras and enjoyed the show.
