What is ‘Comms’ and what does it include?
In recent years production communications have changed dramatically and the scope of services have widened greatly. Clients want to be able to do more and more with the services we can offer.
The moment the first truck rolls in on-site, the first thing is to get the production internet up and running, connect the VoIP phones to the outside world and hand out site wide radios for the fit-up.
Comms will usually include a mix of wired and wireless technologies along with internet, data and network links which can include options such as CCTV.

What Comms offer does DeltaLive have?
Our services are pretty diverse, but the main headings are radio hire, Matrix and party line comms, point to point links, wide area CCTV, mast hire and scalable networks which carry, audio, video & data services.

How did you get into Comms?
Like most of us in this industry I worked my way up from the warehouse floor to becoming an audio project manager at the company. Although it was early days, I found the comms side of things interesting. In 2003 I moved into the communications department, it was a baptism of fire, but I was hooked and have been enjoying the role ever since.
Phil now heads up the comms team, which has seen consistent growth year on year in the size (big and small) and the complexity of projects.

How does Comms make or break an event?
Communications are so important these days. They can make or break a production and system design plays a big part in the success of an event. Well deployed comms can make an event run extremely smoothly and safely because it enables the clients, production, crew and site management to carry out their tasks and communicate effectively.
Also, another important area is stewarding and site security, focusing on crowd management. This could be through the use of hundreds of radios interfaced to a matrix comms system in a remote control room scenario. The London New Year’s Eve project is an example of where we use our mobile truck to supply a closed system media network which includes CCTV cameras around central London as well as secure audio links and data links using Riedel MediorNet.
Obviously, internet and VoIP are also required at events these days and it needs to be secure and stable. We are able to provide this service by supplying temporary internet connections via point to point links to your site. For example, at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show we provide internet services. We erect two 28 metre mobile masts, one at Hampton Court Palace and one at DeltaLive HQ, both masts are then lined up. The secure internet we provide is then fragmented down onsite into areas of Wifi, internet for VOIP and PDQ devices for point of sale and ATM machines.

How long have you been in the industry and when did you come to work at DeltaLive?
I started at Delta Sound (now DeltaLive) in 1990. Prior to that I was at Unit 1 Production Services and before that I was at Paul Farrah Sound (PFS), which is where I met Paul and Mark. I was on day-release to PFS from the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) on a theatre sound engineers course. And no, that doesn’t mean I’d done something wrong, that was the term used then.

What element of Comms should people be getting really excited about?
The advancements in wireless communications are really exciting. We are able to increase functionality, range and quality, ultimately offering a better service to our clients as a result. We’ve invested in Riedel Bolero, which is fully expandable and integrates with the Artist digital matrix. It’s a game-changer when it comes to functionality and includes features such as Bluetooth, allowing users to connect their phones. In addition to that clients are now able to have an App on their smart phone so they can listen (and talk) into the comms wherever they happen or want to be. Recently I was listening and talking to the show caller on an event via my iphone taking place in the UAE which was pretty impressive.

What is the biggest challenge in the Comms industry today?
Each year we see the introduction of new technologies, which keeps my role interesting and keeps me on my toes and my head down in a manual.

… And how are DeltaLive overcoming this?
We keep up to date by investing in the latest technology, and we firmly believe our clients can see the benefits when on-site using the equipment on-site. Year on year the user feature sets just gets better and better.

What are your career highlights?
Some of my career highlights include working on the 2011 Olympics test events and of course the 2012 Olympic Games and Ceremonies. There have been many Royal events and weddings over the years the photo above is of me at Windsor Castle during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. But an event that I’m particularly proud of was one of my first big communications projects, the 2007 Tour de France, which started in London and travelled to Canterbury.

Where do you see Comms heading in the future?
The scope of communications is becoming wider in terms of the services we can offer. It is certainly heading towards a convergence of different technologies with additional IT based solutions as more and more products are becoming digital.

Finally, what do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
Spending time with my family and I enjoy a BBQ and a beer.
(To prove it there was an artfully taken photo of a BBQ in my inbox the next morning).