It’s that time of the year again – kids are on holidays (not mine – they’re all grown), shopping centres are crawling with gift seekers, cash registers a-ringing and here in Singapore, the monsoon season is upon us. It’s almost like we have four seasons in a day. Okay, three since the lowest temperature recorded here in recent years was 22 degrees Celsius, hardly what anyone would call winter.
Year-end travels are not the norm in my family because of my husband’s work commitments. This year is different though; we’re looking forward to a toasty Christmas down under where we will reunite with family. Our daughter moved there at the end of last year and isn’t able to be here for the holidays so my husband managed to get special permission to go on leave during this period. In the lead up to our departure I made a concerted effort to fulfil my Christmas duties early.
Write and send Christmas cards: checked.
Buying of gifts: checked.
Meet up with family and close friends: checked.
And then comes the pre travel things – visas, driving permits, travel insurance, data roaming, and finally, the dreaded packing. Speaking of packing, I normally pack a microphone in my suitcase and bring my laptop when I travel, just in case – and this brings to mind an incident a few years ago when we went on holiday in Phuket. I packed my cardioid condenser mic, a desk stand and pop filter in my carry-on luggage and, as usual, we had to get through security clearance before boarding. Officers conducting security checks proceeded to pulled me aside and quizzed me about this contraption that looked like something out of a Bruce Lee film – it was just the pop filter. After some minutes of me explaining what I do for a living, I was let through. I don’t know about you but I absolutely abhor those security checks where they make you remove watches, boots, belts and jackets and leave you holding your jeans up for dear life so they don’t slip off your derrière while you frantically search for a place to lean against and put your boots on while trying to get that belt back on as well so you don’t then get arrested for flashing.
Of late, my travel mic of choice has been my trusty Audio-Technica AT897 shotgun mic which really is a safer bet when travelling as I don’t know how quiet (or noisy) the area we’re staying in is going to be. Shotgun mics are highly directional with a narrow sound pickup, meaning they are more sensitive to sound right in front of the microphone than from the side or behind it. In addition, they’re not as delicate as their cardioid condenser cousins and that certainly helps put my mind at ease. I’ve also dropped the pop filter from the kit – for obvious reasons. I do suss out the studio scene in my destination as well to make sure that I can also call upon a studio if it becomes necessary.
Of course, while I do travel prepared, I’d much rather put work aside and enjoy my holiday and the precious time with family and friends. However, I also understand the nature of the beast that is the production industry, so only if absolutely necessary (and worth my time), I will avail myself for a quick recording while on my travels. Otherwise, it’s officially ‘Closed for business’ until I return.
All that being said, and with it being the holiday season and all, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous 2024! As I’ll be on holidays, I’ll be taking a break from posting blogs for the rest of the year, but do stay tuned for more rambling in the new year.
Finally, I’d like to leave you with a song I recorded and a little music video I put together – it’s an old favourite called Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I hope it’s not too hard on your ears!