Airshow Commentary good or bad?

[Nathan]

I really never had a problem with announcers. Remember they're being paid to keep the crowd informed, interested and entertained. If the public has a good time, they'll come back. And hopefully that means the difference between an airshow surviving or not. I like to see people around me at a show enjoying watching airplanes, maybe even at a show for the first time, and that they may come away with a greater appreciation. I compare the announcer to a DJ who can make or break a block party or wedding. I've been to some where a DJ anemicaly spins records and everyone goes home early, or one who gets everyone in the mood and dancing where the party goes on for hours.

There is a trend I'm seeing at shows that I don't like. It used to be you had tents with food or merchandise vendors only. Now there are simulators, recruitment theaters on trailers, amusement areas, and larger food vendors and they all seem to be running generators for power or a/c. It seems you really have to try hard to get away from that constant diesel drone. The other thing at the bigger shows is the JUMBOTRON. Who was the brilliant one that decided that these are needed at an airshow? All they do is ruin photography and the view for those who dont have the prime center seating. Anything you need to see at a show is in the sky not on a TV! It's things like these that make me prefer the smaller local shows. (Give me Gennie anyday!)

If there is one complaint about announcers its when they loose situational awarness. They get so caught up in their lecture that they totally miss the flight of 4 mustangs coming in stage right for a bananna pass. Of course my camera is nowhere near ready and I miss the shot. Then of course the flight just returns to land and the opportunity is lost. Grrrrrrrrr!

Pete

Interested Pete. Thanks for sharing. I havent been to a show yet that had one of those big screen tvs to watch the show from. So I can't say much about that. But I hear ya about those generators. Thankfully the shows I go to the generators are off back from the line by the food stands. Now my biggest pet peeve I got is all the tents that tend to take up the front crowd line. You can't see if anything is coming due to a tent in the way. grrrrr for that one!

[krlang]

Remember they're being paid to keep the crowd informed, interested and entertained.

If the public has a good time, they'll come back.

I like to see people around me at a show enjoying watching airplanes, maybe even at a show for the first time, and that they may come away with a greater appreciation.

The other thing at the bigger shows is the JUMBOTRON.

It's things like these that make me prefer the smaller local shows. (Give me Gennie anyday!)


Pete

Interested Pete. Thanks for sharing. I havent been to a show yet that had one of those big screen tvs to watch the show from. So I can't say much about that. But I hear ya about those generators. Thankfully the shows I go to the generators are off back from the line by the food stands. Now my biggest pet peeve I got is all the tents that tend to take up the front crowd line. You can't see if anything is coming due to a tent in the way.
grrrrr for that one!

All good points, here are a few more.
1. I dont mind the announcers, I am usually too busy listening to the Showboss anyway.
2. The added activities going on in the background is really annoying, for the past few years at Quonset you will hear a race car running in the crowd area about every hour. WTF?
3. Music, if you are gonna have music, check to see who you are performing with for the weekend, and dont use the same music!