This week I had the privilege of being part of a pre-recorded cocktail tasting for an event in January 2021 that will host more than 600 virtual guests.  When I arrived on set I immediately got that sense of deja vu.  For most of my professional career, I have been on the other side of the camera.  Helping make it all happen.  I’m very familiar with the level of time, effort, and energy it takes to create a production of this scale.  Multiple cameras, dozens of channels of audio, large crews, soundstages, it’s nothing short of organized chaos.  

However, this time was different, I was to be the host, the guest, the on-screen cocktail expert.  I was the one in front of the camera.  Just before we started filming I had this fascinating realization.  

I realized the camera cannot capture the context.  It’s intentionally not designed to do so. 

The camera captures only a small “cube” a small “window-sized” frame of what is actually happening around it.  

The camera can not see the chaos, in reality,  it is only there to capture the carefully crafted.  

I realize this holiday is going to be a challenging one for some of us.  A lot of us will not get to see friends and family, some may be in isolation.  Here is what I can tell you! Technology is an amazing servant, but a wicked master.  This is coming from a tech guy, mind you.  

Comparison is a wicked game that is designed to beat you every time.  Don’t spend all your time this holiday comparing yourself and your situation to everyone else on IG, Facebook, and Tik Tock.  

A very important lesson I’ve learned about mixing audio.  Sometimes the best thing you can do to fix your mix is to walk away from it and come back to it later.  Coming back after being well-rested, with a fresh perspective is sometimes all it takes.  I’m sure if we thought about it, most of us need could use a day or two away from our tech. 

I genuinely believe the grass is greener where you water it.  So why not try to water your own grass!  Learn to be content in every season, even when there is chaos all around you.  You are doing better than you think you are.  The people who think have it all together don’t. Don’t be misled, I’m here to serve notice, The “curated cubes” we spend so much time idolizing and identifying ourselves with have a major shortcoming.   The camera cannot capture the context.