Simply put, accurate documentation can make or break your day. In some cases, it’s the determining factor of a performance even taking place. One of the key components of this documentation is an input list. A well-made input list significantly reduces patching mistakes, and your colleagues will appreciate your efficiency and organization.
On the surface, input lists are pretty straightforward. The most basic input list will give you a channel count, and a list of all the inputs on stage. But things get technical fairly quickly, and proper documentation will save you from confusion and frustration down the road.
The extent of how detailed an input list is depends on the person making it, and the demands of the production itself. When planning a tour or other live production, a well-designed input list can give you a good idea of what to expect on stage. How many microphones and stands are required for the job? The location of each input on stage is sometimes listed here as well, which will help you determine sub snake patching and required stage cabling.
A four-piece band splitting twenty-four inputs to the front of house and monitor consoles will be fairly simple. But imagine a large-scale production with over a hundred inputs or more. One miss-patch could lead to hours of troubleshooting! This is where a proper, well-made, input list is critical. Think of shows like the Grammy’s, or the Super bowl. Well over one hundred channels are being used on these types of shows. All the technicians involved must have a very clear idea of how everything is patched, and this clarity is achieved using detailed documentation.
If the artist you’re touring with is not carrying a stage package, your input list can save precious time on show day. This can be crucial when playing a fly date or festival. Providing the on-site production team with an accurate, detailed stage plot and input list before show day can mean the difference between getting a line check or not. If (more accurately, when) you run into flight delays or other travel issues en route to a show, having the ability for local production to patch the stage before your arrival may even determine if you’re allowed to play a set at all.
If you’re fortunate enough to be working with a band or artist that can carry a stage package, an accurate and well-detailed input list will save everyone time and frustrations during rehearsals. For various reasons, rehearsals are always very busy, and often hectic. There never seems to be enough time in a day, and everyone is working up until the last minute to get ready for the tour. Troubleshooting a miss-patched stage can add unnecessary stress and work to an already long day.
When advancing with a venue or festival production manager, it’s completely within reason to expect them to send you a proper tech pack. And in return, you should provide them with detailed, clear to understand specs as well.
To create these documents as accurately as possible, you’ll need to have a few information gathering conversations with the artist's musical director or other representatives. Once you have the necessary information, these documents do take time to create, so I recommend starting the process early when you have some downtime so you’re not stuck putting something together last minute. Any rushed job is likely to produce errors, defeating the purpose of your preparation.
Planning ahead is important to the success of any production. Use detailed documentation to your advantage!