If you are a company about to use the services of an audio
describer, there are a few things that you should be prepared
to do in order to make the service more enjoyable for your
patrons.
The sequence of events usually goes like this;
The describers will come and see the show.
You will provide tickets with seats that give a good clear view
of the stage from a central point of view, not too near the
front.
The describers will watch the performance and take notes
about the set, costumes and the characters.
These notes will then be recorded in the form of an audio
introduction, that you can burn onto a CD and send to your
customers when they book for the AD performance.
Sometimes a web link can be made available to listen to
online.
This gives your patrons the opportunity to hear the notes well
in advance and become familiar with the set, costumes and
characters.
You provide the describer with a copy of the play script - hard
copy or e-mail - and a DVD recording of a recent
performance of the show.
The DVD should be filmed in one sequence giving a clear
view of the whole of the performance area.
There is no need for close up shots, or following characters
around the stage, this is not helpful to the describer.
Just press record and let it run.
When there are two describers working on a show it might be
helpful to provide a separate DVD of the first and second half
of the show, provided there’s an interval.
The describers will then watch the dvd and write the
description of the show alongside the play script in order to
be as accurate as they can and, as much as possible, to
avoid clashing with the dialogue.
The evening before the performance, the describers will
come to the theatre early and do a sound check of the
equipment, followed by a dry run of the show, in order to
rehearse and listen to each other and to give each other
notes.
You should provide a ticket that the describers can share.
On the day of the performance a touch tour can be arranged
usually an hour and a half before curtain up in order for the
patrons to get a sense of the space and know, physically,
where everything is onstage. It's an opportunity to look at
props and costume and at times, meet the actors.
This can be invaluable for tuning in to the voices of the actors
when they are performing.
The touch tour would normally last twenty minutes, or so.
The describers would liaise with front of house and company
stage managers.
Fifteen minutes before curtain up, the audio introduction will
be read live, for those patrons who have not heard it yet and
in order to make sure that the headsets are all working.
Then, it's showtime!