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Any regular ABC TD's here? I have a question for ya!

1 reply [Last post]
Wed, 12/19/2007 - 20:37
kalypsotd
User offline. Last seen 14 years 23 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 19 Dec 2007

OK...

So I am about to TD my first ABC show. It has been kinda strange with ESPN scheduling me for the job but the gig is with ABC's (NABET?) union contract.

I have mostly been doing local news and some sports and with this being my first real network gig I am kinda curious about the differences (if any) between a small ABC network show and a local sports / news show. I am originally from the UK, where we are called vision mixers and I have vision mixed a lot of big shows "over there" and gained some contacts at ESPN.

My call time is when the truck parks and power but the rest of crew, including the A-1, is called 1 hour later. Am I supposed to be doing anything before the truck is powered up? Attending a meeting maybe? (but there is no meeting in the schedule at that time)

Also, the tech manager said he has to leave for a conference call during setup, leaving me to get things going!?!?. Should I charge more for this? Being a stand in tech manager instead of being just a TD (vision mixer)? Besides I know nothing about video feeds, routers etc.

Does this happen to you regular ABC TD's? I am new in the US (married a US woman!) but in the UK I have never been told to do anything but vision mixing the show. And in the UK we don't even have to control any video servers like the Fast Forward etc and the truck engineer takes care of mapping the swithcer, recalling the setup etc.

So what is this ABC business about being responisble for the setup and the crew???
Sounds like they need a second tech manager but are trying to get me to double as such AND being the vision mixer (TD). Or what do you all think? It is unheard of for me. But none the less, should I charge extra for this?

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Wed, 12/19/2007 - 22:17
#1
sahonen
User offline. Last seen 14 years 23 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Um, if you're not even used to building your own switcher I think you're kind of screwed... That's part of what the extra hour before everybody else's call time is for, and no you don't get to charge extra for it. Having the TD act as crew chief is pretty standard as well. For a client like ABC, I'd think about finding a replacement rather than learning on the job and possibly harming your reputation if things hit the fan. Spend some more time at the local/regional level learning how Americans do things before you try and make it on the national level.
- Stephan Ahonen
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