Michael Hicks is a Sydney-based freelance LD & Programmer.
1. What would you normally be doing this time of year?
Probably on my way to Vegas for EDC.
2. What’s a normal day for you at the moment?
Wake up early, spend 8-12 hours developing Workflow, and skills in 3d animation, Technical drawing and Programming.. Occasional technical analysis of crypto & financial markets, and some trading.
3. Are you learning anything to improve your skills set?
3d modelling/animation, 3D/UV texture mapping, and better data managing techniques.
4. What bad habits have you slipped into?
Now that I have more time for development, it’s all I really do. That and video games. I’ve been playing online games way more than I probably should.
5. How are you coping financially?
If I had to say something has changed it would be what I’m investing in. purchases have shifted from live tools to tools more focused on developing skills and workflows. I’m also looking into starting a new business that will bring technologies to the market that have previously been too expensive to utilize fully in live production. It’s just pencil on paper at the moment, but it wants to be out there, so I think it might become a “thing” later down the line.
6. When do you think live entertainment will return and in what format?
It all depends on how other countries around the world (as well as our own) manage the ongoing situation. Nobody went hard enough early enough. Public and political psychology makes it harder than ever to get on top of it and stay on top of it. So I would say “Normal” as we knew it is a long way off. Here in Australia I suspect it will be two years minimum before we are seeing something close to normal. I suspect small venues will start to reopen soon so there is some hope on the horizon for a lot of struggling businesses and their staff.
7. Do you have any words of encouragement?
This is affecting everyone. So don’t focus on what “could have been” or what you lost personally. You Haven’t lost the most important thing of all so luck is still on your side. You have to use this time to catch up on the things that matter most to you, and if you do that you will end up ahead of where you were before all of this started.
8. What makes you happy at the moment?
When my cat finally goes to sleep.
Lockdown is a new series whereby tech personnel can share how they are coping in lockdown. If you’d like to participate, please answer these eight questions and send to cat@alia.com.au
