Time is of the essence at hectic tapings of popular country and western music show

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Many people may think that Native Nashville North is all glamor and glitter but do they realize the hard work and dedication it takes to produce a variety show of this calibre?

Of course to the average person it really doesn't matter. They simply want to watch the show because they love music, dancing and good country singers . . . they love to be entertained.

Let me take you on a tour behind the set of Native Nashville North just to show you what really happens during a half hour production right up until the last minute.

First of all the show is pre-taped at the Citadel in Edmonton. A CBC mobile unit that costs $26 million and features every technical device needed for such a production is lined up next to the building. It is from this mobile, the ears and eyes of the show, that everything depends upon.

Native Nashville North guests, CBC staff, producers, make up personnel, host and director are all requested to be on set at 5:30 p.m. every evening for the taping.

Once everyone is present the director of the show with script in hand has everyone participate in what he calls a "walk through."

Following the script that was written weeks prior to the tape dates he makes sure that everyone understands what role they must play during the shooting (taping) of the show.

"Camera one will focus on the host who will then introduce the show and his guests. Then guest number one must be ready at microphone number three. Have you got that?" The director says, making sure that it is clear to everyone.

It is important that everyone understands because the more time it takes to produce the show during actual taping the more it could cost if overtime is required from the television production crew. Knowing one's role also helps for a better and smoother show.

Once the walk through is completed performers return to their guest rooms to practice their numbers, production staff check and recheck cables, audio and video, making sure everything is working properly and once the back-up band is finished tuning their instruments. Many times last minute script writing takes place to clean up any loose ends.

Prior to show times, all guests and band members featured on the show are requested to make themselves available for make up. By 7:45 p.m. over two hours have elapsed and Native Nashville North is now ready for taping.

It's not easy for the guest performers and the band members to stay loose while all of this is going on. All of them know the important part they must play very shortly, and the "jitters" is not something new backstage.

Usually it is up to everyone involved to keep each other as comfortable as possibly and many times you will hear a band member ask a guest if they want to practice for awhile just to keep busy.

At 8:00 p.m. the doors are opened and the audience sits down ready to enjoy Native square dancers, individual country performers and fiddle players on Native Nashville North.

Although the viewer sitting at home in his or her favorite easy chair may think a half hour variety show such as Native Nashville North is just that . . . a half hour show, it is not.

The program script calls for 25:30 of actual production time. This leaves about four minutes for commercial space and this means that every second of production time must be on time, not over not under the time limit scheduled.

So let's say if an individual singer's song went over the time listed on the script, then the director inside the mobile must find a spot in the script during taping, where he can gain those seconds back.

Many times the host will make a blooper (mistake) and the show not only has to stop but it must go back to the beginning or back to where a commercial is scheduled to be slotted. This means when a mistake is made by anyone . . . all performances prior to the mistake must be re-done.

If everything goes well, and everything usually does, the show is over by 9:30 p.m. Once there were more problems than expected and overime was beaten by only one minute.

So you see time is very important in all aspects of a television production, not only for the producers who must worry about budget control but also to the director and staff who want a clean flawless show . . . after all it's their names and thus their reputation that goes on the credits once Native Nashville is finished and the director hollers . . . "That's a take!"

Hope you enjoyed the tour backstage.