School & Teen Events Graduation Ceremony

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BlueLineDJ

DJ Extraordinaire
Jan 25, 2015
1,248
1,657
Got the call yesterday for a high school graduation ceremony. It's a Catholic High school and they have found a way to have a graduation ceremony with guests. They are having it at the end of a mass, and therefore since mass is involved, they can have over 50 people in attendance. They must practice distancing and wear masks, but at least they can do something.
Weather permitting they are having it on the high school football field with the students seated in chairs on the field, and all the guests will be in the stands.
They are not impressed with the house system, so they have contacted me for the speakers and mics. They also want to use 3 cold spark fountains as a surprise at the end as they announce and congratulate the class of 2020.
 
I used to do the PA for graduations at a couple high schools and my college. Nice easy work as long as you have the right equipment, just a lot of waiting.

I remember my first graduation PA gig a long time ago. I planned for everything except, rain. And course it rained. I was able to cover up everything except the mics so the grad wasn’t interrupted. But they were a hell of a lot of wet people and my shattered nerves. I was only 22 at the time, last minute, so I never gave a thought to ask what happens if it rains.
 
The production company I work for, does two every year.
Both a (normally) really big... and require a lot of gear.
Both were cancelled this year....so enjoy the work if you can get it!
And do a good job, because there's a good chance they'll call you NEXT year.
 
Every year in the past the graduation has been inside a nearby sportscaster gymnasium that will seat 5,000. They have received so much positive feedback that this may be the new norm, on the football field with all the family in the stands and behind them. The class was only 99 students (with 8 sets of twins) and it was still impressive looking.
 
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I guess it's a circle .. my HS graduation was on the football field as well, though the family were on the field and the graduates in the stands. We had 230.
 
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It's a numbers thing.
My HS class was 500, so the football field was a better venue than the field house. College - 5,000 so the football stadium is the only venue that can accommodate that.

I just finished three gigs that were town meetings held on the HS football fields. It's essentially the only good way to assemble 200-300 people all socially distanced by 10ft. The bleechers are used as the stage, and town meeting members are all seated on the field.

They're good practice - last one was 17 mics, Mains, side fill, front fill, monitors, and video feed to a camera 250Ft away. (He must have had one hell of a lens.)
 
It's a numbers thing.
My HS class was 500, so the football field was a better venue than the field house. College - 5,000 so the football stadium is the only venue that can accommodate that.

I just finished three gigs that were town meetings held on the HS football fields. It's essentially the only good way to assemble 200-300 people all socially distanced by 10ft. The bleechers are used as the stage, and town meeting members are all seated on the field.

They're good practice - last one was 17 mics, Mains, side fill, front fill, monitors, and video feed to a camera 250Ft away. (He must have had one hell of a lens.)
17 mics? I think Mix got a box of 17 for $20 .. maybe you can take him on as an apprentice ...