Child Protection and Microphones

[paulears]

On another forum I look after a topic just came up that had us all stumped, but I figured here would be a good place to air it.

Backstage we have one job often called A2 (or A3) in musicals, pantos and busy technology heavy shows - this is the on-stage person who looks after radio microphones, and when there is a problem, they are the ones who grab an actor as they walk offstage, quickly fixing the moved microphone, dislodged plug and the most common problem - flat batteries. One had been doing an amateur show where he'd been quizzed about his CRB status, and in true backstage form declared he didn't even know what a CRB was. On the forum the views were mixed. Those in amateur organisations, or venues with frequent amateur shows had all had this problem analysed, and the solution seemed to be that the A2 would sort the mic on the headline, or wig etc, but the chaperone would check the pack. Others felt that all things technical MUST be fixed by the technical person, with the chaperone supervising. The people who only did professional shows just said they did it and nobody had ever raised an eyebrow. In view of the concern level rising again, I wonder how these things have been tackled in your experience. The technical people clearly have one aim, and in fact, it's pretty well in their job description. Fix it - Quickly! Getting the chaperone involved adds time, or does it? Many of the older people had always just done it themselves, totally unaware of any of the potential problems - but the newspapers were suggesting that even innocent work could be perceived as dodgy. Their view is that as the action is always so frantic and unplanned - the dodgyness factor is zero. The kind of thing I myself have done before, and would now perhaps stand back from is, for example - where a mic pack is under their clothes, and the dangling mic has to go up undermeath and out of their vest (does it have a modern name) somebody - chaperone or dresser perhaps, pushes the mic upwards, while the sound person goes downwards, the two hands meeting in the middle, grabbing the clip end, and pulling it up. The sound person then attaches it while the other person tucks it into the pouch and dresses it properly so it can't be seen. This involves two adults kind of manhandling the poor child (or any age actor to think about it). The actor is rarely able to assist, so needs people rummaging about underneath for them.

Has any of this been an issue for you?
Do you have any suitable systems that work for these emergency kinds of procedures - often only having seconds to do, rather than minutes?
Would you expect the person doing it to be female, perhaps or have some kind of badge saying they are CRB checked. This I think would be a bit daft because as members of the team not tasked with direct contact with the kids, who would actually do the CRB and be responsible?

Would JS have been able to get a CRB check? I suspect he would have had no problems getting one if he had no record.

[riverdancefan]

I think it is getting CRAZY CRAZY!!

DS has often had mic sorted and secured, strapped etc, I am in no doubt this was quick and in full view of backstage crew etc, no time or opportunity for anything untowards and I am positve the guys and girls involved would be totally horrified if anyone thought otherwise.

soon there will be NO child performers because any adult involved will be flippin terrified to lay themselves open to accusations..bit dramatic but I fell it could head that way.. Why would staff open themselves up to potential trouble??

CRB checks are a good concept but not worth the paper they are printed on in reality...like you say, JS would have got one no problem !!!...let's CRB the whole of Britain!

It makes my head spin with it all now.....

[Flosmom]

A CRB check only identifies a conviction, so it only 'works' for people who have been caught and convicted or cautioned.

I think we need to keep some balance in this. I am not troubled by the idea that someone might need to make physical contact with my child in the course of their work when it happens in full view of others and is a very straightforward, purposeful action. I'd be very concerned about someone who wanted to take my child into a private space, unchaperoned, for any reason, whether CRB checked or not.

When I have had to be miked for anything, the techies have been very reluctant to stick their hands up my jumper.

Deb x

[riverdancefan]

A CRB check only identifies a conviction, so it only 'works' for people who have been caught and convicted or cautioned.

I think we need to keep some balance in this. I am not troubled by the idea that someone might need to make physical contact with my child in the course of their work when it happens in full view of others and is a very straightforward, purposeful action. I'd be very concerned about someone who wanted to take my child into a private space, unchaperoned, for any reason, whether CRB checked or not.

When I have had to be miked for anything, the techies have been very reluctant to stick their hands up my jumper.

Deb x

EXACTLY and that is why I am formally inviting Deb to stand for Parliament ...

[paulears]

Great - that's really good to hear. Common sense. I did hope, but just wasn't sure - my attitude was ok and up to date.

Some of the approaches being talked about involve so many stages - have a read and see if you can make head or tail of it.
http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?s ... ntry454875

We have very few non-technical people, so it's good to get the extra input from people who really know from the kids perspective.

I'll put a link to this topic on the other one, I think.

Thanks
Paul

[siohip]

"When I have had to be miked for anything, the techies have been very reluctant to stick their hands up my jumper."

So sorry I misread this first as : when I had to be milked for anything....... note to self- sleep and specsavers!!!

[islandofsodor]

I've recently chaperoned for a show where dd had a lot of quick changes & mic changes. I wasn't actually chaperoning her as the company preferred parents not to chaperone their own children but at the start if th run she was told if you are too modest etc this isn't gong to work.

As far as dd is concerned she just gets on with it. If a mc needs fixing it needs don't ASAP. I'm a complete technophobe & wouldn't be happy fiddling with expensive equipment.

I've not chaperoned amateur shows only dance school, tours & pro panto.

[Flosmom]

"When I have had to be miked for anything, the techies have been very reluctant to stick their hands up my jumper."

So sorry I misread this first as : when I had to be milked for anything....... note to self- sleep and specsavers!!!

Just a quick reminder that if you are at all concerned about anyone who has access to your children, 'Sarah's Law' allows you to ask the police to check them out and advise you. Go to:

http://www.sarahslaw.co.uk/how-it-works/

for info. Although it still only 'works' in respect of people who have been caught and convicted or cautioned.

So CRB checks, or Sarah's Law, are no substitute for common sense and staying alert. Cases of child abuse by strangers are rare, so keeping a watchful eye on people who seem to be making friends with kids, or using positions of trust to obtain private access to them, is always a good idea. And please be very aware that its not all about men. Sadly, cases of female perpetrators on enablers are becoming more frequent - or maybe more reported.

But...think on...a child is statistically more likely to be harmed by a badly-fitted mike than by the person fitting it.

Deb x

[islandofsodor]

One precaution I sometimes take if costume changed side stage or mic changes are needed is for dd to wear a leotard or bodysuit after having to tell dd off for a quick change.

I did have to tell dd off when she came off for a quick change and her chaperone was late getting to her she stripped off in the wings (no vest & has nothingbto put in a bra yet)rather than waiting to be screened as she knew it was a very quick change.

[Fruitcake]

In my experience with DS, the 'A2' may deal with the pack, but certainly NOT without the presence of a chaperone. In some cases, chaperones have been responsible for doing everything, and have just been handed the pack, wires etc before the show and left to sort it out themselves.

I think, as long as there is a chaperone present, there is no harm in a member of the stage crew sorting out the mic (within reason, and, of course, like anything, under close supervision from the chaperone and at their discretion), but I would probably have to say that I would feel happier if they were CRB checked.

I think you'll find in most cases that the stage crew are very aware and sensitive to child protection issues and wouldn't do anything they felt could be deemed as crossing the boundaries in any way.

[paulears]

I agree - but the technical people are now starting to get very edgy about this. Their professionalism and dedication to sound says that many people insist that they need to set the mic position, and dress the cables properly - yet they have to trust this to a non-technical person to do under supervision - yet proper supervision might be just as invasive as doing it themselves. Even the girls are becoming less keen to touch the kids in any way, and recent events have made everybody feel as if they are guilty - when doing their job. When they're older and able to make their own decisions, it's much easier - you can actually ask before doing it. Most stage people do have a kind of modesty switch off when it's appropriate, and it's never even thought about. Working with kids has now become even harder, and now almost a hazard. It won't be long before there is some kind of insurance available to cover people. If some venues are indeed implementing a no mics on kids policy - that is a bit sad, but in the present climate, understandable.

Quite a few backstage staff would rather not work with kids than have a CRB - others embrace it as some kind of 'passport', but as we've all seen, it's pretty useless on first offenders, who've never been caught.

I think that the central path with the chaperones being well, the chaperone while it happens seems best. I do wonder though if some parents would be happy?

[Welsh Mum]

In my DD's experience this sort of thing has been done in the wings with other people around. i think that makes a difference. If it was being done in private - whole other reaction . It's usually so quick and frantic and busy that its bene done before it started (if you see what I mean).

We must make sure that protectiveness is sensible and does not end up making our children paranoid about ALL adults.

[Flosmom]

Quite a few backstage staff would rather not work with kids than have a CRB - others embrace it as some kind of 'passport', but as we've all seen, it's pretty useless on first offenders, who've never been caught.

Having worked with very sharp end safeguarding issues for many years now, I and all my team members are CRBd to the hilt. But our CRBs are all-revealing, so as an employer I have to be able to make sensible judgment calls about who can be employed and who cannot - it's neither fair nor appropriate to disqualify everyone with any conviction whatsoever. However, I imagine that in some industries it's easier for employers to say 'no' rather than take someone on with a conviction disclosed, which may be why some very talented people are reluctant to provide a CRB.

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about serious, relevant and recent convictions. Let me give you an example. I have recruited women with breach of the peace, disorder and similar convictions. The women were stereotypical respectable people, the convictions were quite old. There common source? Greenham Common. Get my point?

I think that the central path with the chaperones being well, the chaperone while it happens seems best. I do wonder though if some parents would be happy?

I don't see why not. If we can't rely on the chaperones then we've lost the plot, haven't we?

Hope this helps

Deb x