why close the topic on the Ceremony the points raised were valid and just because the equipment was supplied free is not an excused for not having it working properly. I would assume who ever supplied it would have sent along people who knew how to use it. My lads were not very impressed as we were at the back. The efforts put in by the performers could not be heard very well and they all left when the DJ started we watched the fireworks from the sub camp. Hope you will take on board the points raised and not dismiss them like you seem to have done.

I agree with closing the topic. Some people couldn't see ect... well its too late to worry about it now... The technical peeps did their best and I think they did well all week to provide us with what they did. If you are really worried about missing it, just buy the video or dvd. As I say... its happened and cant be changed, no point going on about

hey y do ppl always have 2 complain about stuff. the closing ceromonie was gr8!! all the stuff was free so u cant expext it to work 100% all the time. and the ppl there all worked for free so i think that unless people that complaine are willing to pay for the stuff and technitions to operate it then they should just enjoy the show. i was put at the back to but i moved towards the front like everyone els. just use your common sence!![FONT=Courier][SIZE=7][COLOR=blue]

Perhaps we should bear in mind that at the Closing Ceremony 4 years ago, the stage was the back of a lorry, the PA system was smaller than most Hi-Fi systems, and there were certainly no lights or video screens.

I think the Entertainments Technical Team did a fantastic job, and I speak as someone who knows - I work in the same business.

Click here for a picture of the Closing Ceremony in 2000.

I work in the industry too, its great that stuff came for free, there was a lot of really nice toys. the problem was the staff running it, I didn't hear a proper mix of anything all week, something was always too loud and the vocals were always quiet. they had the wrong microphone configuration for when the choirs were onstage, and judging from experience they didn't have the onstage monitors set correctly.

I don't think you can say the ceremony was great, I got back ache from sitting there waiting for it to happen, so I went and stood at the side, I'd say you lost most of the crowd after about twenty minutes, I could see it in kids faces, they had switched off and a lot were just staring in to space, the only point I saw the crowd pick up, was during a bat outta hell,

Overall the whole Ceremony went on too long, it was like watching a bad sporting ceremony

There was no true audience participation, sorry you cannot count the screaming, once prometheus had been called you could'nt hear anything and guesing from what happend onstage I'm guesing you carried on without waiting for them to stop.

I think the best way you could have done it would have been, get everyone in the arena, the jamboree song, speeches and then the party and fireworks, there would have been less waiting and the kids would have had longer to tire themselves out

I agree. The opening/closing ceremonies were out of this world. Absolutely awesome. WELL DONE all involved.

i can appreciate the fact the equipment didnt work but it was the lack of atmosphere that ruined the closing ceremony for me and my guides. having been to '96 and 2000 the atmosphere was dead in comparison. having the equipment is a great step forward but it didnt stop the fact that the ceremony was too long. im sure there are reasons why we werent allowed to stand but from my experience being allowed to stand, encourages more audience involvement, even if it was just to sing along. sitting on the ground encourages groups to start talking among themselves rather than take notice of the events. my main gripe is the fact that the ceremony was split, many people didnt realise this and wandered back to subcamps so you lost the united atmosphere at the fireworks and in a way felt we had missed the closing. i dont like to complain its more constructive criticism, the opening ceremony was the best ever and obviously mistakes will occur and be learnt from. i just like to say dispite the errors the essex jamborees have always and probably always wil be the best camps i occur. its a shame the thread was closed as if the criticism is constructive surely then it can be used to improve the events. maybe all these people that are complaining about the equipment because they know how to use it, maybe they can offer there help for the next jamboree.
sorry for going on

victoria

Well i think the atmosphere was amzing! From being on the stage at least!

But i can understand why the topic was closed because a lot of hard work went into organising the opening and closing ceremonies and now everyone is going to moan and jsut remeber the faults that were out of our control instead of remeber how good the ceremony itself was!

i wasnt complaining, i thought it was great what i could see and hear. i just wanted to know what happened because iw as curious, i didnt mean it to come across as ungrateful im sorry, we were only wondering i didnt mean to start arguments

custard

You do realise that those that shout the loudest get volunteered to do it next time...



When comments start getting personal it's time to close topics... The offending reply was deleted and the topic closed.

Please remember that you are all Scouts and Guides "Respect for yourself and for others..."



I've just been reviewing the closing ceremony video footage and unfortunately I only have a copy of the video screen feed - so I have sound but no vision of the first part of the closing ceremony... I may extract the audio which was recorded and distribute it separately - watch this space...!

You were right to close the previous thread for the reasons stated.

Forget the technical stuff, it's all been said. The thing that should be listened to by the event organisers as constructive criticism, is more to do with generating the right atmosphere and not splitting the closing/fireworks in 2 halves!

Thanks
Sid

The thread did get too heated....it must of been very frustrating for all the technicans...after all they planning.

The most frustrating thing for us in the audience is the fact that you didn't have the curtsey to acknowledge the problems...and let us know at the back that the problems were trying to be sorted...rather than acting as if everything was fine.

The people at the front seemed to enjoy the show which was great for the people on stage...but it was disappointing for us at the back.

I would still like to say a big thankyou to all the people involved. It must of been a huge job organising the whole event...well done.

Having been in the opening and the closing ceremony I just wanted to say thanks to all those that put in there time to both. It took a lot of time and effort from everyone involved in both ceremonies.

Personally I was shattered after the rehersals and the ceremonies so I can only imaging how tiring it was to organise everything. Everyone involved did there best and I think the end results were fantastic baring in mind we only rehearsed a couple of times!

Well done everyone, maybe the minor gliches will go for 2008 but these things happen! No point whinging about something that can't be changed!

Everyone pat yourself on the back and collect 10 brownie points

Thanks that stage was excellent like being at a pop concert.

Boy, people write alot!!

I'd just like to say that I think everyone invovled was amazing and certainly could do better than I. I very much enjoyed the opening and closing ceromonies and thought that it was wicked allowing everone the chance to join in!!

Although, aether should have been at the front (as we were at theback for the opening) to support a group singing from our own subcamp!!

Well done, everyone!! See you all in four years time!!

Feedback is vital if we want to improve anything for the future. It's a shame when some things get out of hand, but when this happens steps have to be taken to stop it.


Constructive comments made on the forum, or sent to the Jamboree Teams will certainly be taken on board. It takes time to gather everyone's thoughts so there won't be immediate answers or replies. It's also worth remembering that a number of the Entertainments team have only just left the site in the last day as they have been making sure all equipment is packed, returned and the jamboree site is turned back into a field. Everyone's posts will be looked at so keep telling us what you thought. Remember, we want both the good as well as the bad!


Fair point! This was the first time this has been tried and obviously hasn't worked for everyone. There's always a lot of thought on when to do the closing ceremony, last time it was earlier and the fireworks were hard to see as it wasn't dark enough.


Certainly not! We weren't working with lots of free equipment, but a number of companies were very generous when we hired kit. Unfortunately things can go wrong sometimes, but there is always standby equipment available. The problems faced by the sound and AV (audio-visual) guys were ones never encountered by any of the technical staff before. We only needed four radio mics for the first part of the ceremony, but had eight ready to go. We didn't count on losing five of them for part of the show! To be honest we cannot be 100% on what went wrong but a problem with the power supply looks likely. Having to use generators for all our power is one problem we can't get away from and have to make the best of.


Like all the staff at Jamboree, people give a huge amount of personal time. The entertainments team was huge and comprised of both professional engineers and technicians as well as students and others that just wanted a different challenge for a week! This is the first time there has been a separate Entertainments team as previous Jamborees had a different structure. A lot of us also spent over a week on site before the Jamboree so the venues were built and set up. On average this group of people worked 16 hour days for over a week! We're also very grateful to particular members of the team who were talked into helping out without knowing what a jamboree was. They took time off from their jobs to come and work even harder than they usually do!


As a whole, the Jamboree was a great experience for thousands of people. We have never had so many people take part, but the fact that the event happened and people enjoyed themselves speaks for itself.

I missed nearly all of the opening ceremony and most of the closing ceremony However, I am assured by my Scouts, Explorers and Aphrodite Staff and contingents that they were fab!

matt

Having just re-read this topic and taking on board points from various leaders/young people on site, these are my thoughts,

1: The Opening ceremony went down well, although the pre ceremony build up was little repetetive.

2: The stage, sound setup and video wall, whether provided FOC or paid for, were VERY impressive. People were genuinely overawed that we could provide that sort of set up. Well done whoever sorted this out.

3: Those who saw/took part in early evening ents on the main stage liked what went on (as a sideline there weren't that many down there when I did get to go, is the early evening slot too near peoples meal times???)

4: The closing ceremony technical problems with stage etc were dissappointing BUT the back stage teams work their socks off to get it sorted, which they did.

5: I can't comment on the order of arrival as Hermes were in the front third for opening and at the back for closing - we seem to have been OK for that.

6: The variety of acts for the closing was good.

7: Having a split end to the closing - not sure but my PERSONAL view is that the extnguishing of the flame would have been better at end of first section, then party and fireworks after. Then all would have felt the Jamboree was closing rather than drifting away etc.

8: It's very easy with hindsight to run things down, on the day we all "do our best" and can do no more.

My final thoughts......

Yes there were a few problems and hiccups and yes some things didn't workout as we'd thought but at the end of the day WE are all a team and put on the best event possible for the young people. WE did that and should all be proud to have been involved at whatever level, be it participant, staff member, parent or supportive partner.

Here's looking to the next EIJ, I for one want to be part of it, this has been THE best Scouting experince I have ever had.

P

PS Sorry it's a bit of a rant type post but I wanted to post my thoughts and try to get things in perspective.

I agree, as with anything like this... its only as good as you make it. If you just sit there - you won't have a good time

I agree every one did do there very best from what i see. I was certainly doing my best doing the job i was given (collecting dry waste) and i am sure the teams involved with the opening and closing did their very best too.

Even though there was a hicup it waz still very good, certainly one of the best scout events i have ever been on.

Everyone did their best, and the team was great, in my view it was a huge improvement from essex 2000, when i could neither hear or see anything at the opening or closing ceremonies. In my personal view, essex 2004 has been the best jamboree i have been on!

It was my first jamboree it it will not be the last i am looking for one to go on next year because i enjoyed it so much! And that was only beeing a member of staff!

So being a participant must be even better.

I seriously can't believe how heated people are gettin over this...

People should be grateful for the excruitating time and effort that the organisers / staff / ents teams etc have all put in...

At the end of the day there were 6,000 people in a field - yes thats right in a FIELD!

There were bound to be hiccups - they're unavoidable, whether equipment is free or paid for!! I think the fact that the staff tried to carry things on without any interuptions was a sign of professionalism - but hey that just my personal opinion!

Ok, I can understand that people were frustrated about where they we're put etc.. and yes I agree the fact that we had to sit down was a bit of a pain.. but practically thinking - with the set up of the stage / screens - it was better, cos you could see more...

I can also understand the gripe about the ceremony bein split.. as compared to 2000 - it did feel that this jambo was fading away as opposed to being brought to an end, but as its already been said it was a trial - and if u don't try things out.. u'll never know whether it'll work or not!

(i'm sorry but its time for an ickle bit of constructive criticism / negatvity)

As for the atmosphere... The 'umph!' we - as a subcamp - had whilst walking down to the market sq... was admitedly lost pretty quickly, whilst we were waitin for the ents to start...my only other niggle is that there didn't seemed to be much 'scouting/guiding' feel to it (unlike the baden-powell influence to the opening ceremony) and with the candles etc back in 2000 (understand changes have o be made due to H&S etc)... but hey they're just a minor details!

Anyways as somebody else so rightly said - its done now.. not alot we can do except remain possitive until 2008!

Fairy x
(Still greatful that we didn't have a mad-sloppy-mud-bath like we had for the openin cermeony in 2000)

I would just like to say a big THANKYOU and a big WELL DONE to everyone involved in the opening and closing ceremony's.

I was not involved in the opening ceremony this year but have done it for the past 3 Jamboree's and it's hard work and everyone who took part deserves a pat on the back.

The technical team were excellent and did there best and thats all anyone can do.

For what my opinion is worth (and that of almost everyone on my sub-camp), I thought the Ents team did a fantastic job. I cannot believe the difference from 2000. It was phenomenal. Cheers guys.

I thought the closing ceremony and the open ceremony were really good but one thing the group i was with got really cross about at the open ceremony is they forgot to say the isle of man which we were not happy about but are subcamp help us and by the next day they let us put are flag up with all the rest of the flags.

i no the isle of man is a small place but you shouldnt of forgot us. Tha week woz the best week ive had in my life so thanx 2 every1 2 make that possible.

thanx to aphrodite helping us to get are flag up.

As the main person responsible for the staging of the opening ceremony and much of the closing I thought I'd add something. Standing in the front of house area (that thingy halfway down the arena), biting my nails I promise you that nobody was more hacked off by the lack of video than myself and Gary. We took a decision to run the ceremony without live video or inserts and still with some sound problems being resolved. The technical people we dealt with primarily totally shared our frustration and were working flat out to get things going. They performed miracles and we did get that feed and the inserts eventually.

I totally take on board comments about lack of communication about the delay and that those at the back did not get the same experience as those at the front. I would welcome ideas about how else to arrange the arena.

I also agree with people who did not like the closing split into two bits. Personally nor did I, that decision was taken 'above' us and we had to work with it. From my point of view I was delighted with the number of people who stayed to party after the first half and were there for the fireworks.

The closing was always going to be more of an ad-hoc affair because we were keen to involve participants who couldn't make the opening ceremony rehearsals. I think that aspect worked well, giving the closing an international feeling, both from group acts and also the people who took part in one of the two chorus numbers.

In the end I am really pleased with what we produced, I know it could be improved and constructive criticism is helpful. I have a list of things which I would want in place/to happen next time. My yardstick is comparison with what happened in 2000, I think we improved on that. I always read comments thinking 'put up or shut up', as we start thinking about 2005/7 can I assume that those who were unhappy will be ready to take a role then?

I apologise to everyone from the Isle of Man, on the day of the ceremony we went and got what we were assured was an up-to-date list of participating countries and which sub-camps they were on. We revised the script based on that. If I had known even a short-time in advance we could have included you very happily. Again I'm sorry.

I could write more about the work which went on behind the scenes to prepare for the opening/closing ceremonies and the logistics of co-ordinating 100+ people so that we could learn songs, record a CD, paint blocks, make flags, transport everything, set a 45 minute ceremony in a day, rehearse, change things because of people dropping out etc, etc. Those involved know how grateful I am (I even married one of them!), many others appreciated their efforts when they saw them on stage. I think we did something unlike what has been seen in previous jamborees and set a bench mark for the future .

well, i disagree with what most others have said, I barely noticed the problems, I thought the Techies did a great job and I know what a large amount of work has to go on behind the scenes to do something like this....


WELL DONE TECHIES!!

hi all,

I would just like to say i think closing ceromony especially was absoutely wicked, it ended the week briliantly, and to think we were all around the people we had spent the week with, and some that we probably wont even hear frm again!

I would just like to say a big tahnk you to all of the tem, i thought it was fab and so did many other people. also fireworks well i havent seen fireowrks like that in ages.

cant wait till 2005!

me x x

Maybee there we some problems with the closing ceremony and the equipment, but it certainly beats an average camp closing ceremony where everyone stands round the flag and salutes and then the leaders hand out a few prizes.

Hope its the same in 2008!

I have to say, I enjoyed most of the closeing ceremony, it was slighly disapointing though, but thats only when you compare it to the opening ceremony. Out of all the jamborees I've been on, the opening ceremony was by far the best! It really did make you feel part of a worldwide organisation, as opposed to something you have to do before holiday fever kicks in!!

There were technical difficulties with the closeing ceremony, but they couldn;t be helped and everyone involved did a sterling job at getting it back on track.

I loved the fire works, but then, I love fire works period! At the end of the second half, I had prickles running down my spine, knowing that it had all but come to an end.

Had there been no technical difficulties, then it would have been amazing! But as they couldn;t be helped, i'm not going to complain!