While my official title may say “floor director”, it might as well say “human walkie-talkie”. On The Dish, it is my job to make sure that there is a clear line of communication between the director in the control room and the talent in the studio. I don the all-important headset, pretend I’m a pop singer for a few minutes, and then get down to the tough task of corresponding the right information to everyone in the studio.  With multiple voices coming at me from all sides, floor directing is more difficult than it looks.

Every other Monday at 6pm, I take over the studio with my trusty camera and lighting crew to transform the grey wall and black curtains into a set capable of making TV magic. While the lighting team works on the grid, I take the set pieces from their nook in the corner of the studio and make sure they’re in their proper places. After a few hours of setting up plasma monitors, running into the office hundreds of times for everything from BNC cables to the white card, and spiking the host’s positions on the floor-it’s time for rehearsal. “We’re going to go from the top of their intro and Toss to Alyssa with the loop running in ME2” Jayne will say in my ear. “Lauren and Gigi, we’re going to go from the top of your intro and rehearse your toss to Alyssa” I translate to the talent. Throughout the show, I communicate the director and producers orders to the talent as well as keep the studio under control and their moral up. Through sign language and hand waving, I convey to the hosts how much time they have while on air and when it’s time to wrap.
Floor directing has been an invaluable experience for me. I am able to work with producers, directors, and crew members on every level and experience all their positions through hearing them on headset. My dream is to be director, and floor directing allows me to experience what it’s like to have control in stressful situations. But until then, you’ll find me running around the studio floor and enjoying every minute of it.

- by Becky Wahle