One Year Later

TEDx

Last year, around this time in fact, I had my first exposure to an actual TEDx event (the x means that this is a licensed affiliate event - it's not officially TED, but it's inspired by it and a lot like it). It was . . . interesting. 

The fact of the matter is that participation in the production of an event robs the event of all mystique, of all the aura, that the event represents in people's minds. I loved many of the speakers, but seeing how it all came together . . . The overall level of impressiveness came down. As a lighting guy, I was stoked that thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of people would see my lighting. The only problem was that theatre, live-streaming video, and mostly talented amateur presenters equals highly compromised lighting choices. The lights need to be bright enough for the video to be effective, but they can't be so bright that they overawe the presenters, most of whom have never been in the center of that much light in their entire lives. We tamped it down and tamped it down and the video guys adjusted and I was utterly unhappy because it all looked dim. Everyone assured me that it was fine and we moved on.

One year later, the video guys are telling me about something weird that happened when the video was transcoded for the web: it was too dim. *Sigh*

Let's see what happens now. Now that two thirds of the staff agree that it can be brighter. Will we dim it down for the presenters? Or will we make it bright enough for the web to truly enjoy it and let the presenters feel like actors? Tune in to the TEDx Mid-Atlantic feed this weekend to find out.

Cocktail of the Day:

The Golden Dream:

1. Galliano - 2 cl
2. Triple sec - 2 cl
3. Orange juice - 2 cl
4. Cream - 1 cl

It's a creamsicle. It's an alcoholic creamsicle. The proportions here are a great place to start, but I think I need to scale it up. A lot.