3BO: 10 Mistakes Boom Operators Make - Sound Speeds

Boom operators can be difficult to pin down and ask questions of and to have one tell you what not to do is so incredibly valuable. Even more rare will they list mistakes and tell you why they are habits to avoid but in this video, that's exactly what you'll find. Master boom operator and educator Ken Strain joins us again in this episode to help create this list of 10 mistakes that boom operators make.
It's easy for boom operators to make mistakes on set. Perhaps they didn't spend enough time as a utility before moving up, perhaps they aren't open to learning from other boom operators or maybe they are just inexperienced - whatever the case there are many reasons you may not know what you don't know. It's OK to make mistakes but it's important to not just know what to do but what not to do. Staying open to learning is also critical. There are many things that could have made the list but these are the 10 we dialed in on. Serious boom operators should pay attention and and learn.
If you have any questions about anything in this video, be sure to write them in the comments below.
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[@elblopex]

Man, I can't get enough of this. Such valuable information and so pleasing to hear these two talking!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you Roedor. Ken is a wonderful person and a total pro. Make sure you checkout the other video we did together too.

[@VideografixStudios]

Great session BTW, a lot of really useful information (as usual). Really appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos :)

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. Ken is great and if you haven't checked out his Masterboom class on Video Mantis, you should

[@aussernllc]

I'm always worried about being fired and having to explain to perspective employer about having said "NO" to a "boss". Not safe, can't be done that way, won't work... and then someone else gets injured, thrown under the bus. The "boss" that made a bad call is golden and continues to get other people injured, company sued.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I would rather be fired than stay quiet and watch someone get hurt ot killed. I've seen both happen on set and will take the personal risk of firing to see that again. Watch my video "The Safety Card" for details on how to identify and handle safety concerns on set. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4mvkp6LapJom5Y If you follow safety protocol and are fired for it, you have a law suit.

[@aussernllc]

@@SoundSpeeds I've watched it. Lightning strikes, boom pole (lighning rod), someone trying to call you into the office for having production stopped because of safety. I've rolled the dice on safety and got away with it, for the most part. Did get several back injuries, which I still feel years later, but no one else was injured while I was working.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Occupational hazard. It can be a punishing job. Take care of yourself. I've thought about yoga and meditation and contemplated asking someone to help me design a morning stretch routine for boom ops.

[@KY-zerSOH-zay]

these 2 parts are GOLDEN!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thanks. Ken is awesome.

[@223Mattc]

Great tips guys! Took some notes and looking forward to using your advice at work :)

[@SoundSpeeds]

Let us know how your using this advice. There's also a 10 Things Boom Ops Need To Know too. Check that video out as well.

[@GotKEYStudio]

I loved this

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thanks for watching.

[@Insignistrue]

Thank you guys! Some of the mistakes you mentioned I was actually taught to make when I just have began.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Well, use your best judgement then. I've found these to be best practices

[@Insignistrue]

@@SoundSpeeds I do now. But I didn't know better back then and those people were with decades of experience. I'm glad I came across your channel and Ken!

[@SoundSpeeds]

@@Insignistrue Thank you.

[@kappabravomusic2101]

great video. 22:40 Agree about saying "I'll try" without any remarks. I usually say, "I'll try but don't expect too much from this angle, it's pretty wide and risky, I'll keep it safe distance in case if they go wider". Though often you'll get a rehearsal for those cases, that's when you can come to an agreement, where boom because pretty useless and the wire have to step in. But yeah, iften there is no rehearsals either.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Wires make great safety nets but boom in the hands of a skilled operator is still very much king.

[@kappabravomusic2101]

@@SoundSpeeds surely

[@andrewvandervoort]

So glad I found this channel. I just quit my soul crushing job and I'm going to dedicate myself to location sound and take a real shot at making a career out of film audio. Your videos have been super insightful and have given me a lot of inspiration and information about what kind of kit to put together. Thanks!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Excellent. Glad to help. Let me know if you have any questions and welcome aboard.

[@andrewvandervoort]

@@SoundSpeeds I really appreciate that. I'm thinking about a mix pre 3 II and a MKH416 mic as I think they will both be good for a variety of projects.

[@SoundSpeeds]

@@andrewvandervoort Not going to go wrong with that combination.

[@andrewvandervoort]

@@SoundSpeeds any recommendations for a bag? I really like your chest bag set up, I think with the mix pre 3 I need something compact and I found the hip bags totally flop around like you mentioned in a video.

[@SoundSpeeds]

@@andrewvandervoort I'm not a bag mixer so I don't really know what's best for a MixPre. Have you asked in the MixPre user group on Facebook or on JWSound?

[@charlesisrecording]

I want more videos like this for xmas

[@SoundSpeeds]

Have you been naughty or nice?

[@LuisMoreno-yg3ec]

hahahahahahah. This is absolutely great! Thank you so much!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Certainly! Thanks for watching!

[@medionvsbigmopz]

guys thanks alot! whats about strengthen/preparing your back? do you go to the gym or do yoga before you start a movie?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Great question and no, I don't but I know many people that do. If the first setup of the day isn't easy, I'll do stretches.

[@ColinZiemer1]

It’s actually the opposite where if you’re not checking monitors to see your boundaries is a bad practice. 19:23

[@SoundSpeeds]

Ok

[@SoundSpeeding]

@17:15 do you use your phone attached to your boom pole yourself Allen? Quite a few of my sets recently have had QTAKE as well. Definitely been thinking about it. Especially after booming one TVC recently, when the communication feedback I got from the Mixer was very very minimal (and he didn't even have a monitor at all on his mini-cart anyway!!). But they did have QTAKE....

[@SoundSpeeds]

If they got with the 21st century and made an Android interface, I'd try it. Until then, no.

[@SoundSpeeding]

@@SoundSpeeds w-o-w!! You're even more of a died hard android fan / apple hatter, than I am! Never ever used an iPhone myself (except for a few years as bike messenger, because it was work supplied, and necessary for the job, but was never my personal phone), always been Android! But even I give in when there is no other option. I just today purchased from eBay an iPod Touch for well under fifty bucks. Runs iOS, that's all I care about. Don't mind how little the storage is, or how slow the processor is, or the sh*t camera, or the lack of 4K.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Have fun with that one. ;-) I'm eyeing the Teradek app. I think someone if using it on their tablet and it works great. They can switch cameras easily.

[@scarletbegonias2359]

Know your screen direction, once the camera-clowns set up the master then you'll know what the rest of the coverage is. Put your sound cart in the right spot, don't let those PA's tell you where to set up.

[@SoundSpeeds]

All great advice

[@mieczyslawherba2723]

Harness-is it worth buying?

[@SoundSpeeds]

What harness?

[@mieczyslawherba2723]

@@SoundSpeeds K-tek, or Orca. K-tek seems to be heavy, but solid. I don't know Orca's harness. Are they necessary? Do you use it? Some advice, how to use it?

[@SoundSpeeds]

I do not use them but if I were to buy one, I'd probably go for the K-Tek for the back support of the included spine.

[@mieczyslawherba2723]

@@SoundSpeeds Thank you!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Try them both though. Don't let my preference become yours. I haven't tried either.

[@GL-uy3fd]

Ken seems as if he could be a character from Joe Dirt, maybe one of the radio employees hahahaha

[@SoundSpeeds]

Never saw it. Ken's a cool dude though.

[@GL-uy3fd]

Sound Speeds catch it on netflix the next time you can’t sleep, it’s super silly but captivating. Christopher Walken is in it, so that oughtta make it worth haha

[@GL-uy3fd]

Americans have a funny concern with hydration, pretty curious being from Brazil, which is far hotter than anywhere in the US

[@SoundSpeeds]

We see people pass out from dehydration every year multiple times so yeah, it's something we try to prevent.

[@GL-uy3fd]

Sound Speeds yeah, and that’s really weird, such preoccupations never cross an average brazilian’s mind, for example, and we endure far tougher climate here, maybe gennetics lol we’re a miscellanea of DNA from all over the world, could be the resilience from our african ancestors 🤘

[@nickr5213]

How about the mistake of hitting the talent with the mic? Does that actually ever happen, or just a joke?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It's happened. I know people who have but that's not a behavior to be corrected thru information. I don't need to tell you not to hit actors with your boom for it to click. ;-)

[@nickr5213]

Sound Speeds Yes! I’m sure it’s addressed immediately! :)