For this round of #BehindTheScenes, we pull back the curtain to step inside the experience of producers, the fairy-like wizards who make sure every last detail is taken care of before and after a competition.

So what goes on from their perspective, besides serious allotments of pixie dust? 

They Start Thinking About It Way Before You Do 

Well before the first note is sung, or sometimes even selected, the producer is hard at work. The preseason can start even before the previous year’s event is complete. Things such as postmortems on previous events, scheduling, and securing the venue all happen months, if not years, before the event itself. On paper, these tasks can look like simple steps, and sometimes they can be. But let’s break it down a little further, as these are crucial to the success of a competition. 

The Postmortem 

While the competing groups and their fans are enjoying the moment, your producer’s mind is actively evaluating how everything is going and taking notes on what can be done better for next time. No aspect of the event goes without scrutiny, from the competition itself to the judges, the venue, the staff, the food, the sound system, the schedule… the list is endless. With every small tweak, the event grows stronger, stays relevant, and continues to be a positive experience for all involved. 

The Scheduling 

A competition is much more fun and exciting when there are enough quality groups to put on a show. Most competitions have a general time frame in which they need to happen. And for singers, it’s the same time that about a dozen other events need to happen as well. Working around the community schedule, multiple school schedules, the availability of your staff and venue, traditional holidays, and any other event that might draw attention away from your event is science best done early. 

The Venue 

Every producer has probably fantasized about owning their own perfectly sized, perfectly located venue at least once. The long list of considerations here can include location, seating capacity, size of the stage, amenities, and, everyone’s favorite, cost. Finding that perfect little overlap on the Venn diagram is a tricky beast, which is often why producers will stick around when a venue meets most of their wish list. 

They are the First to Arrive and the Last to Leave 

Competition days are long. Meetings, sound checks, breaks, and the competition itself can be an eight-hour marathon or longer. Tack on a couple of hours of last-minute prep, wrap-up, cleanup, and maybe even some travel time and you’ve got the day of your producer. It’s part of the job they all sign up for, but remember this before asking anything extra of your producer the day of the event. 

They are Expert Firefighters 

Everyone appreciates a well-planned and well-executed event. If you don’t, you should. 

As most producers know, even the best laid plans can go awry. The best producers plan ahead but are flexible enough to address problems in the moment. Most times the fires are small and easily resolved, but it takes quick thinking, levelheadedness, and expert communication skills. You know the analogy about the duck? Calm on the surface and peddling like mad just under the surface? Yep, it applies here. 

They Rely on a Team 

The art of producing can often feel like being a head coach. You’ve got the host group, a list of volunteers, maybe a few staff, a sound engineer, judges, facilities personnel, maybe even a full tech crew. Watching them move throughout the day is not unlike watching a beautifully choreographed ballet. While leadership skills come into play, a strong capable team makes everyone’s day a little easier. 

They Care Deeply 

The day or days of a competition can feel like a blur of tasks, but the end of it is one of the best times to be a producer. Most producers got involved because they love it. After many hours of work, watching the competitors accomplish great things on stage and off and seeing happy patrons leave at the end of the night is usually when the emotions come. And it’s fantastic.