Morning!
How was last week?
Mince pies all gone?
Shock to the system getting dressed before midday?
Same here.
I hope you managed a restful weekend — the first week back is always a lot.
That storm brought some of us a whole new world of weather, and the fluffy menace had some real nobhead moments… it really has been a lot.
But all that chaos leads me nicely into talking about Showcallers.
No matter what’s happening – sideways hail, a furry terrorist hurtling through puddles, a missed VT cue, or an AWOL presenter – when a Showcaller is in control, you know you’re safe.
What I learned last week…
The beginning of Jan is always a weird one.
Everyone is optimistic, hopeful, slightly feral, and pretending they’re fine.
And every year I’m reminded:
Forget putting in more systems.
Events need good people.
- People who communicate clearly.
- People who think ahead.
- People who stop chaos spreading.
- People who say “Don’t worry, I’ve got this,” and actually mean it.
People who fix things before they go wrong.
People like… Showcallers.
So this week’s newsletter belongs to them.
A Showcaller will save your show.
#1: They’re the eye of the storm.
While everyone else is flapping, spiralling or aggressively rewriting slides,
your Showcaller is:
- 110% focused
- aware of all timings
- tracking cues
- spotting problems
- anticipating issues
- quietly preventing carnage
They can keep an entire room calm with nothing more than a headset and a look.
Storm Goretti?
Try surviving Presenter Goretti – Showcallers do it daily.
#2: They translate panic into clarity
A brilliant Showcaller can take:
“Oh god, oh god, something’s wrong…
why is this VT not playing…
turn the MCs mic on…
that walk up is happening NOW?!”
and respond with:
“Switch to the Holding Slide – GO…
Video, let me know once it’s fixed…
Standby mic 1 for the MC…
Walk-up sting 2 – GO.”
Olympic-level composure.
Full on unflappable calm.
#3: They protect everyone by being one step ahead
They notice:
- the presenter who definitely isn’t ready
- that lapel mic hanging on by sheer optimism
- the walk-on that doesn’t quite work
- the presenter on the wrong slide
- the script change nobody told anyone about
They’re not just calling cues.
They’re engineering a smooth show.
If you’re curious about how the showcaller fits alongside the rest of the crew on a live event, this overview of who’s really holding things together backstage is a good place to start.
Reflection
This week reminded me how much the right people matter.
- The weather is chaos.
- Life is chaos.
- January is chaos.
- The fluffy menace is… well… a menace.
But when you’ve got the right humans around you – the ones who stay calm, communicate well, think ahead, and keep things moving – everything becomes manageable.
It really is about the work you do… and who you do it with!
Snow, Rain, Wind, Mud
The weather over the past few days has spooked the fluffy menace.
The first sight of snow made him stop, look back at me as if to say, “Mum… help!” And then ran around like a nobhead.
Then came the epic winds – rustling everything on our walk just enough to convince him a wind monster was coming!
And then we are back to rain and mud.
Every dog walkers favourite thing.
At least the bitter freezing weather means no muddy Doodles!
Maverick Magic Moment!
A producer pinged me in full December meltdown mode:
“Jill, we need a Showcaller TOMORROW.”
Hold the phone.
Flick through a few pages.
A small prayer to the scheduling gods.
Twenty minutes later:
Booked. Confirmed. Briefed.
- Show: flawless.
- Client: delighted.
- Me: slightly smug and always polite.
That’s the power of having the right people in Maverick’s Little Black Book.
Need a Showcaller to steady the storm?
Ping me a message.
I’ve got legends in Maverick’s Little Black Book.
Freelancers. Found. Fast.
Call or WhatsApp: 07764 460008
Email: jill@maverickesc.com
