The first hint of fresh paint and chlorine hit my nose before I even crossed the door’s threshold. The chlorine helped sanitize the pool; the paint offered a facelift to the walls of the building. Walking into school for the first time after a summer break was always a bit surreal. By the time I arrived, students filled the hallways, getting reacquainted with both the building and their peers. Some were conversing loudly to grab attention, others doing all they could to go unnoticed.
There is a specific back-to-school buzz that only happens one day a year. You know all of these people but haven't seen most of them since the last day of school. Lots of awkward small talk happens, and you concede that it has been longer than it feels since school let out for the summer.
My body would subconsciously tense up when I made my final turn onto Tenth Avenue North and headed towards the building. As I pulled into the parking lot, it felt good to see familiar faces, and I'd wave at friends while admiring all the cars purchased with cash from summer jobs. Internally, I was consumed with conflicting feelings of excitement and anxiety, and my mind would race as I pulled the door open and walked inside for the first time. It would only take one nasty teacher or classmate to make the next nine months unbearable, but there was always the potential for something great as well. A subtle smile from last year’s crush or the attractive new student always seemed to make it worth getting out of bed early. At least for the first day back.
Even after a summer away, muscle memory would kick in, and chores like opening a locker and navigating the lunch line felt like second nature. But the crisp white walls and my lack of direction were a not-so-subtle reminder that an entire summer had passed since I last walked these halls. Although similar in so many ways, it became evident that this was a new and different season, and it was going to take some time to settle in. I’d need to learn the quickest way to transition to and from each class on my schedule, adjust to having a bottom locker after two years on the upper level, and get to know the new students. This realization was a lot for my brain to process after a summer focused on music videos, skateboarding, and trips to the pool.

I recently re-experienced this first day of school feeling when offered the opportunity to mix front-of-house audio for a live performance that would take place outside of the United States. Due to the Coronavirus induced quarantine, more than a year had passed since I last operated an audio console or experienced international travel.  It seemed like a no-brainer; I could finally use my audio skills to generate some income while traveling outside the United States. My immediate thought was, “yes, of course I will do this gig!”
But the excitement was short-lived as the bigger picture came into focus. Yes, this gig would allow me the opportunity to earn some income and travel. However, it also required that I mix audio for an artist I hadn't worked with before, on a console I have limited experience operating. And I would be the new guy on an established crew of professionals that I wouldn’t meet until I arrived in the Dominican Republic. It was the first day of school all over again, but this break had been significantly longer than the three months of summer, and the stakes were much higher.
I was also still a bit uncertain about travel. Before the pandemic, I knew what to expect at airports and the preparations necessary for customs clearance. But my most recent international trip had been over eighteen months ago, and things were different now. This trip would be my first international travel experience in a world where COVID-19 exists. Many countries had implemented travel restrictions directly related to our COVID test results and the time frame in which the testing took place. Nearly as significant to me personally was a refresher on traveling efficiently. In the past, I traveled so regularly that packing for a trip could be done by muscle memory alone. Now I was out of practice and couldn’t just phone it in. It all felt like a lot to navigate.
There was a lot to take in and consider, but I didn’t waste much time weighing my options. This job offer was my first opportunity to work in the live production industry in over a year, and I was eager to return. It wouldn't be the first time I'd jumped into the deep end to work with a band and crew who I didn't meet until landing in a foreign country. I'd been through this scenario multiple times. I could research the travel restrictions and requirements, refer to packing lists I’d used in the past, and listen to the artist’s music over and over again to familiarize myself with it. It was the first day back to school, and I was ready to meet the new students, get acquainted with my class schedule, and get to work.

"Mask Off, please."

It was the first time I’d ever heard that request. The Dominican Republic immigration officer needed to see my face to confirm that I was the person my passport claimed I was. A confirming glance, a new stamp in my passport, and I was on my way. Over the next twelve hours or so, I met the band and crew as they arrived at the hotel. Everyone was friendly, and my early inclination was that I'd be able to work with this crew without any problem.
A show in any foreign country is not without its own unique set of obstacles and curveballs, and this one was no exception. Even if we’d been touring for months up to this point, this day would’ve been tough. The local production equipment was perhaps rustier than my audio skills. We had to troubleshoot several audio issues and were unable to keep the day’s production schedule. The hot island sun beat down, and dust from the gravel lot we were working in clung to the sweat on our bare skin. But everyone was professional and performed their jobs to the best of their ability. We made it through sound check with enough time to return to the hotel for dinner.
When we returned to the venue, the guests had arrived and were slowly taking their seats in the bleachers. The show itself was uneventful, although the multi-track audio recording stopped working at one point. This issue turned out to be a relatively quick fix, but some of the show's audio was not captured as a result.
After an extended summer break, we had all survived our first day back to school. And just like returning to school in the fall, the concerns that triggered all the anxiety and uncertainty were far worse than the reality. There were no nasty teachers or classmates, and it was great to get back to work with a group of professionals who were all happy to be doing what they do best.