PSA: THE BIGGER PICTURE
THE PSA TOURING PRODUCTION GROUP Andy Lenthall discusses the formation of the PSA TPG.
They say that, if you want something doing, you should ask a busy person. That kind of works in normal times but in these strange times of lockdown and virtually no gigs (apart from the virtual ones), those normally busy people are not busy. You do find groups of them though, usually on a screen, discussing ‘the situation’. To that end, what can only be described as a bunch of Premier League managers from the touring production profession had gravitated toward discussion in the new normal Zoomosphere to do… something? What if, said we, you all got together and collated your thoughts on just how a production might work in a COVID-19 secure kind of way. With apologies to those of a linguistically pure disposition, the reworking of the opening phrase should perhaps read; if you want shit doing, ask people whose job it is to get shit done. This is supposed to be a story of how it all unfolded, but we’re not entirely sure. We spoke in earlier email missives about repurposing skills; you’ve probably seen the memes – ‘if crew ran the world/airport/space programme’ – but the end result was swift and decisive and it’s on the PSA website. Let’s just say it happened and it’s a list of procedures that you
might want to adopt if you’re going to work to guidance that may come from government before we’re allowed to proceed with ‘normal’ shows. Of course, the most challenging part of the process was choosing a name for the group. Great suggestions were made, all variants of the People’s Front of Judea having been dismissed, the PSA Tour Production Group was born; the album had been written, the band had a name, only two or three remixes, a sleeve design and ready for release. Featuring hits such as I’m Forever Touring Bubbles and 2,4,6,8 more trucks to enable 2m distancing whilst unloading, the guide is designed to enable working practices informed by risk assessments. It’s certainly not a ‘how to’ guide for every element of a show; this is designed to be tour safe and show ready. Early on in the process, it became clear that our part of the workplace, from warehouse to load out, could perhaps be managed utilising existing workplace guidance, including that aimed at the construction sector, hence the more job-specific nature of the guide, interpreting what exists into our language and our practices. Perhaps it’s best encapsulated by the wise words of Wob Roberts who, in normal times, will be Sam Smith’s PM. “COVID-19 is an unwelcome 74
