My experience as part of a live audience on Much on Demand (MOD) was quite interesting. If it is one thing that I learned there, it was that what you actually see on TV as a viewer is nothing like the experience of actually being at the television studio and seeing the production of the show.
As a viewer you see so little of what actually goes on. You aren't even exposed to the director, who is a more important part of the show than most people might think. He tells the hosts and at times, even the audience, what to do and when to do it. People have to listen to what he says and the outcome of his directions create what we see on TV. Everything is extremely set up.
The directors of MOD were Kuami and J.P. When we first walked in, Kuami asked us to clap and cheer like huge fans of a celebrity. This was about an hour before the show was even to go on air. He showed us a hand motion. Every time Kuami did that, the audience was to respond by clapping and screaming, so the viewers at home would get a sense that we were really huge fans of the guests, who would soon arrive. However, the environment at the studio was really nothing like that. The two directors also held up big cards every little while, telling the hosts what was coming up next e.g. a commercial, phone question and the cards even informed the hosts what to say every once in a while. For example, one time Matt was talking to the members of N.E.R.D., who were the guests of the show that day, and kept pushing for the answer to a question, all the while J.P. continuously signaled him to look over at Kuami who was holding a card with what Matt needed to say next written on it. At another point in the show, once N.E.R.D. had left, one of the hosts was brought in to sit in one of the audience members' place and interact with another audience member. The person that had to be moved ended up being me. The director came up to me, asked me if I could do him a favour, I said, “sure” and then he asked me to stand on the side and that this was only temporary. I complied and host Hannah sat in my place and asked my friend who'd been sitting beside me a question.
Another thing that was really different about watching TV and actually being in the studio watching it unfold, is that you notice that everything is extremely set up. From the screaming and clapping right down to when the hosts are going to laugh. Every single thing: what the hosts say, who asks the questions and what part of the room they ask it from, the audience answers to hosts' questions and even my getting up for Hannah and then sitting back down afterwards was rehearsed. This is to ensure that everything runs smoothly during the live take.
The lights, cameras and screen graphics are all operated by different people. They know exactly what their jobs are. For example, the person responsible for the lighting has to ensure that the lights are bright enough for high definition viewing and light enough to be able to see everyones' faces properly on TV. The cameraman, of course, are also important. At MuchMusic there were several cameras in the room taking footage from their own part of the room, so that every camera's footage is from a different angle. Another very important job is that of the producer. They have to pick through the takes of each camera and then decide which one is going to go live on air.
During commercials, everyone is busy ensuring that the next time they're on air, everything runs smoothly. For example, Leah would get her hair fixed, the hosts would rehearse their lines as well as chat to audience members and take pictures with them and the director would talk to the hosts and audience members, telling them what they were supposed to do and when. Because the hosts are rehearsing a lot of the times, I would sometimes get confused about whether we were on air or if we were at a commercial break. The environment at all times during the show is quite busy, but casual. People are always doing something.
In my opinion, I think working at MuchMusic would be a pretty exciting place to work because you get to meet different people everyday and while I was there, it looked more like they were having fun than actually working.
Unknown artist. “MuchMusic.” No date. Online image. Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 15 June 2008.
Unknown artist. “Much on Demand.” No date. Online image. Forum.CONNpost.com. 15 June 2008.
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