The Purpose of the Pre-Opening
We have found it extremely helpful to “start the stream” two full hours before the official start time. Here’s why:1. The audience and the speakers like to check their computers to see if they can hear and view. It helps to “settle the crowd”, especially as we are determined that when the curtain comes up at 00:01 the crowd is quiet, and the production gets underway. If we don’t do that, radio broadcasters will shun us.
2. In the weeks running up to the Opening, using the Pre-Opening segment as a testing ground and practice “playground” is a very good thing. For example, I would like to send a cassette tape - somewhere? - that should be converted to digital, uploaded, and stored for use during the event - and in advance of it. Where do I send? When can I hear on line? How do we get that segment into a “place” where it can be inserted during the event in real time.
3. Most of the really, really good stuff is already recorded and we should work to identify it, get “used” to it, and use it for purposes of training those who will “push” segments that are “stored” in the Pre Opening slot. For example, we have a great recording of “Albert” from the Saharra, that would be lovely to hear during the Pre-period, and might be inserted into the real time event “in cases of emergency”.
4. The pre-opening slot gives us a good place to point those having an interest in GLD, well prior to the event. In some ways it serves as an archive; in some ways as preview. Both are highly effective ways to sell the event.
5. Practice sessions with the Crew that will “push pages” (a bad word, but what else to call them) should be held, several times, well in advance of the event.
6. We should set up a Pre-Opening Index Page where Very Important Segments are stored and identified.
All this should be done urgently.