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Calling in sick


Christian Spaeth

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As production sound mixers, our job brings a lot of responsibility with itself. We bring our own equipment to the job with all our custom bits and pieces, so effectively only we can fully operate our own gear with not too much preparation time. So what if we wake up one morning with the flu or some other sickness and can't go to work? Who will/can replace us? What would you guys consider an appropriate strategy? Try to have the boom op be able to be PSM in such a case of emergency? Or just let production take care of the problem? Or just "never get sick" and drag yourself to work anyway? It's probably a bit of a taboo topic in our business, but I'm really interested to hear what you guys think about this.

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It's a great idea to have your boom op or utility to be familiar with the gear, and to be able to mix in your stead. That way you can call on a boom op or utility to fill in.

When I was moving up, I became familiar with multiple machines and mixers so I could fill in for colleagues if required.

I think I have filled in a few times for several mixers, and have had someone fill in for me once that I can remember. But it was a pretty extreme situation.

Shit happens. Sadly, our job is one of the hardest to walk into on the day. Almost anyone else can miss a day.

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The few times I've been severely sick for a job I've always either been able to find a last minute replacement or I just sucked it up and went in. It is definitely a tricky situation because as you said, we hold so much responsibility as a sound mixer.

 

The only time I had to totally bail was when my wife went into labor with our 3rd child. With each pregnancy I made sure I had backup plans (a handful of local mixers ready to jump in) for any job I took within a few weeks of the due date. Fortunately, they both came during off days. But with our 3rd I got called for a job a month before the due date, so risk was low and a replacement mixer wasn't really possible (this show involves kids, so a background check is needed and the "talent" is very difficult to work with, so prior experience on the show is a must). I made sure to inform the production coordinator of the situation and let them decide if they still wanted to book me. They said they were fine with the risk. Well it happened. My wife went into labor the day before and delivered the morning of said job. The production company was great and told me not worry and enjoy it.  While of course it was the right thing to do, I have NEVER missed a day of work and I still felt terrible. Fortunately, this show always has two full crews ( two cameras/two mixers) so the only impact was the crews couldn't split up (which they apparently didn't really need to do that day anyway). If I had to totally bail last minute on a job this was the best one to do it on.

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I personally have only missed 1 day in my entire career.... That day I was so sick I was not able to go.. It still haunts me..

  No matter what I have made it in to work....  Funny, I always think of Guys at war.... They can't take a day off...what would I do... Stick it out somehow... so that's what I have done...

 

  If sick I try to make sure I can go the night before... if possible replace yourself then... Once past that point...  The launch is a go...  no matter what...  

 

They make some great medicine these days for a wide range of ailments... I know my favorites and use them... Huge help...

 

 The one thing is, if your ill you don't want to be a part of the problem...  so... I stay away from all and the craft table... don't touch or get close to anyone if possible... keep your mouth shut and get through the day... It's all you can do...

 

And, to boot.... never been one minute late... my only claim to fame...LOL

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I've missed 3 days in 20 years - one, I woke up extremely ill, and scrambled to get a replacement - fortunately, a good friend of mine who got me into the business was able to fill in for the day. I had to give a very brief rundown of my setup and all was well.

The other two days were when my daughter was born - same situation, same guy filled in for me, with production insisting I take the 2 days off.

Other than that, I've always treated it like unless I physically can not make it, I show up, and get the job done. I've had some pretty miserable "sick days" on set, but I got through it.

AFMY has some great advice here - be preemptive and do whatever you can to stay healthy.

Granted, likely no one will die if we don't show up, but the consequences of our absence as PSM's definitely weighs heavier than for most other positions on set.

One of the biggest facets of our line of work is reliability. Compromising that is career suicide, IMHO.

~tt

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I have never personally missed a day, but I did have a mixer friend pass away and not show up for a job. I had set the job up for him so when production called wondering where he was, it became my responsibility. I was however on a job. Fortunately I have a good network of mixer friends, and I know their gear and experience, and keep constant tabs on their availability. So I was able to get someone in and cover the day. I took over for the rest of the shoot.

My advice: get to know other mixers and build a strong community. If that day comes, know who is available and appropriate for the job, and like others have stated, try to take care of everything ahead of time if you feel it coming on.

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Last April, I was in a car accident. I am in the ER and I am a little out of it because of injuries and the painkillers. I turn to my girlfriend and say "Where is my phone? I need my phone". She said "It's ok, I called your brother. He is calling the rest of the family". I said "I need my phone". She said, "It's ok, I called your ex and she is bringing your daughter up to see you". I said, "You don't understand, I have a 8am call time tomorrow morning. I need to call my boom op so he can call the coordinator and they can find a replacement by morning". I am sure many others in this forum would have done the same thing (and got the same eye-roll from their significant other) :)

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Last April, I was in a car accident. I am in the ER and I am a little out of it because of injuries and the painkillers. I turn to my girlfriend and say "Where is my phone? I need my phone". She said "It's ok, I called your brother. He is calling the rest of the family". I said "I need my phone". She said, "It's ok, I called your ex and she is bringing your daughter up to see you". I said, "You don't understand, I have a 8am call time tomorrow morning. I need to call my boom op so he can call the coordinator and they can find a replacement by morning". I am sure many others in this forum would have done the same thing (and got the same eye-roll from their significant other) :)

This is why my (adult) son knows my phone/computer password, I'm not at home a lot when off the clock so need a backup plan. He knows to check my calender if anything ever happens to me. And yes, I trust him to not go snooping.

 

Grant.

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We learn to be sick when we don't have work, don't we ?

 

I was took off guard last december with a bad flu. I had a gig 10 days later so figured that I'll be fine.

I was better after a week, but the night before the gig was difficult, and I found myself at 4 am (call at 6 am) wondering who can I call to replace me ? 

I made the gig, but it was tough...

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