In a world where AI is all the rage, a world where food is grown on apps and memes are now the most spoken language in world… The Fair have decided to to go all #Metaverse with their event production and share the apps that we use on the regular. Here are 10 apps we’d recommend to our fellow festival production pros…
“Tell me this blog was written by Nick D (#1 what3words fan in the Northern Hemisphere, probably on Earth and maybe even the universe), without telling me this blog was written by Nick D…”
At its best, What3Words is a lifesaver. At its worst, it can leave people befuddled by the fact they’ve been asked to go to ///exotic.shovels.measures… Somewhere in the middle, you can have a good ol’ cackle, hehe.
But what is What3Words?
what3words is a digital geocoding system but rather than using co-ordinates (remember those?) or addresses (yawn, boring), what3words has mapped the world into three by three meters, or 10 by 10 feet, squares (apparently there are 57-trillion of them). The system is available for free on what3words’ website, and it also has Android and iOS apps. Why is it handy as a festival worker? Let me think of an example… It’s the first day on site, you’re walking around the lovely park that’s been passed onto you by your friends at the council and disaster strikes! You trip in a pothole and roll your ankle! Now, obviously you don’t want this to happen to a precious punter (though you’re kind of glad that it’s happened to you, your colleague is now going to chauffeur you in a buggy all week) so you need to map this hole. Pull out your what3words app and voila; this little hole of doom has been charted – it’s location ready to be shared with the appropriate team to make it disappear.
Ever wanted to navigate to your ///forgotten.previous.husband?
I’d love to ramble on about my love for this app but I’ve got a blog to write…
2. St John Ambulance First Aid
*disclaimer* DO NOT USE THIS APP INSTEAD OF ENGAGING WITH A QUALIFIED TEAM OF MEDICS *disclaimer*
As mentioned above, always seek a qualified First-Aider before whipping this one out but in life it’s better to have trusted resources available and not need them than be caught lacking in an emergency situation.
The St John Ambulance First Aid app has a range of first aid kit techniques which could potentially save a life. It also has tips for minor injuries and grievances, one example being how to deal with heat stroke if your usually trusty Production Co-ordinator went straight out into the field this morning without putting his sun cream on…
3. Spotify
Perfect for a spot of podger karaoke each night (especially with that lyric feature they have now), perfect for tunes when your razzing along in your telehandler, perfect for listening to Bon Iver and crying in a portaloo when you realise you realise you made a typo on your VMS sign…
Shameless Dido plug, the most underrated musical talent of her generation.
4. Measure (or the Android equivalent)
Trying to level your stage but you left your spirit level in the caff on the way to site? Trying to check your flagpole is perfectly upright but you lent your spirit level to Rick on the last show and never got it back?
Fear not.
Apple’s measuring tool will ease that little perfectionist voice within you and confirm that you’re the best at what you do.
5. CitizenAid
Another app that I hope you never have to use but one that i’d recommend to anyone who’s working on a major event: CitizenAid. Unfortunately, the current Terrorism Threat Level in the UK is SUBSTANTIAL meaning we should be prepared as possible, just in case the worst should happen.
Established in 2016, citizenAID is a charity whose aim is to prepare individuals and organisations to help themselves and each other when there are multiple casualties, particularly from deliberate attacks. There are lots of courses to prepare oneself for a deliberate attack (the most common being the ACT Awareness course) but if you don’t have time to engage with such a course then CitizenAid’s app is an excellent alternative.
Super-user-friendly!
6. Windy.app
Which weather app to use is an argument that dates back to prehistoric times…
I was recently recommended Windy by a colleague and haven’t looked back since! I find it’s “glanceability” (is that a word?) to be it’s strongest feature. Upon opening the app you have windspeed (and direction), temperature and rainfall forecasts all immediately available and easily digestible! Add to this the fact that there’s a map feature where you can plot the site you’re on and Windy.app comes into its own!
Pft! British summer time, more like British rainy rubbish time.
Shout out to the Apple weather app too (which merged with Dark Sky to exclude Android users #beef), which notifies me when wet weather is incoming – allowing me to bring my washing in.
Cut me open and I bleed My Lightning Tracker.
Push notifications to let you know a storm is inbound – allowing your Health & Safety Advisor to brief site on adverse weather protocols, colour coded time dots to indicate how recent a strike happened and how far away it was and the radar feature allows you to forecast weather the storm is heading your way.
If you fancy a quiet night in, why not treat yourself to the central heating, boil the kettle and open My Lightning Tracker – with it mapping strikes across the globe you can see where it’s realllly stormy! How exciting!
I sure am glad I’m not in the Ionian Sea!
8. WhatsApp
With limited signal on site but plenty wi-fi (hopefully), WhatsApp is your best friend for comms (after your radio of course).
So, start by setting up your group chats: Crew, ELT, Production, Noise Management etc. and from there you can make everything run smoooooothly. Area breakdowns for crew to dissect, schedule for the ELT, delivery/collection schedules in the Production chat and levels from the surrounding area for Noise Management.
FAQ answers in the Group Description #streamlined
Beyond this, you can also use polls as to-do lists, use group descriptions to hide the production wi-fi password from wandering eyes or the “Communities” function to engage with attendees and followers of a show.
9. AutoCAD
Want to measure a distance or an area on the fly? AutoCAD mobile allows you to triple dummy-check yourself (yep, still a dummy). I was dubious when I first downloaded this, thinking it might be laggy or absolute batter my phone battery… How wrong I was! Speedy measurements galore!
I sure am glad I’m not in the Ionian Sea!
NAME THAT SITE
10. Screwfix
I know you’re probably thinking WTH but I was recently pointed towards the Screwfix app… Why? SCREWFIX SPRINT IS MASSIVE. Ever feel like gaffer tape is going out faster than it’s coming in? (that’s because it is)
With Screwfix Sprint you can order your tools or consumables and have them dropped off, within the hour, without having to stop working! Magic.
Use code #DidoIsMassive to get a free pack of cable ties (you’re welcome).
HAPPY SQUARE EYES-ING!
