I want to shed a little light on something that's becoming more and more of an issue with each passing year and the proliferation of multimedia events and the inter-web. It seems to be caused by a combination of many factors including the quality of video equipment, the relative ease of video editing, and of course YouTube and other means of mass distributing video.
Often, as a live FOH mixer I am asked to provide a "feed" for recording, most times for synchronization with video. Some times it is something that is just for personal use of the artist or client, but lately, it is most often for promotional or commercial use. This is where the problem starts. Many people assume that you are obliged to provide them with the output of your work, just because they ask. I have been outright lied to as to what was going to happen with the end result of what I was producing. "It's just for archive." has turned into DVDs for sale. "It's just for the band." has turned into YouTube artist or promoter website videos. This may all seem harmless, but I believe it goes to how the production technical contributions of individuals is seen as insignificant in the eyes of many that we work with.
This is a double sided issue. The first is a lack of control over the quality of what gets mass distributed with your name attached. The second is when you do a substantial job on a production, and receive no additional compensation for said output, and no credit. I have been doing this for quite a while, and am still finding myself in situations where I can't say no to providing this service without appearing to be a trouble maker, mostly because many out there continue to do this with no questions asked. Unless otherwise agreed upon, I should be able to control the output of my work and be compensated and credited accordingly. It does matter. I would be unsure, but hearing others in similar situations making the same observations tells me people need to start changing the way they work.
I recently supervised audio and mixed FOH sound for "The 2012 Saint John Arts Awards" at Imperial Theatre. It's a complicated setup with many elements of live and recorded materials, much like any typical large "awards" show. On the setup day, I'm approached by a rep from Hemmings House who will be doing a video recording of the event, and asked what I can provide. Because of the schedule, I have very little to offer other than a slightly modified send of my PA mix out, and whatever help I can be in and around getting what I am actually there for which is producing audio for the actual event. In this kind of situation, I would much rather see a proper full split going to a record rig, because I know what is going to happen next on a high profile show like this, with a proper video production company in attendance. I understand the budget was non existent, but....
It came to my attention yesterday that videos of the performances are now on YouTube, on the director's account. It is clearly promotional material, and each video I've seen includes credits for each artist included, the artists who produced background elements of AV, Hemmings House, and Judith Mackin. I don't expect them to name every person who was involved in a production, but in this case, as part of an event lauded as a way of recognizing those who work in our community in this business, I would at least expect a nod to Jason Kinney who lit the show, and myself for mixing the music performances, both of which are critical elements in what are now promotional materials for everyone else named. If these videos were the kind of thing that nobody was going to see or hear, I wouldn't care, but I know that won't be the case. The selective inclusion of credits shows where consideration of value lies, at least in this case. I just thought this a good demonstration of what happens unless you take steps to make sure your are credited for your work wherever possible.
I know that this will always be an issue in this business, but this one particular deal, because of the purpose of the whole event, seemed pretty ironic. Something that complicated this particular date for me was that I was working for Imperial Theatre, not the company(s) producing the event, and thereby couldn't make any substantial noise about what I saw coming without putting my client in the middle.... no pun intended.
I want to be clear that I am not singling people out as the only cause of this issue in the business, but merely as a recent obvious example of how this is happening. I don't have the answer, just a lot of questions.