While Cross County Junction rocks out onstage, preparations are going on around the site. Billy Broker is busy attaching a camera to one of the two booms set up on either side of the stage. Other cameras are being set up; three are located straight back from the stage in front of the sound tower. Another boom camera is on the north side of the stage, and a number of handheld cameras will be on stage and in front of it.

CMT sent nearly 70 people from Nashville to put together the production, and they're all scurrying around. The clock is ticking to the 10 p.m. show which will also include opening act Cowboy Troy. While equipment is being put into place, Boyd and Smith head into the Summerfest Administration Building for the nightly script meeting.

Inside, they are joined by – among others – Tom Forrest, Executive Producer of Taillight TV (a third-party group helping with the broadcast), Taillight Associate Producer Koren Leamon, CMT Executive Producer Margaret Comeauz, director Ryan Polito, and Turner. Smith is given a script of thevarious tags he will record during the show. He takes a quick glance at the liners, and tries to decide between peanut or plain M&M's. It's by no means arrogance or indifference, Smith just is good like that.

"He can look at the script for two seconds, and be good to go," Boyd explains to me later. She goes on to explain that they don't bring a teleprompter along on remote shows.

She hands a script to Smith prior to a segment for him to peruse, and in a matter of moments, he's talking into the cameras.

The discussion turns to tonight's Big & Rich show. Turner notes that crowds the previous evenings may have been worn out by the numerous and often repetitive pre-show tapings.

While the show is taped in its entirety, the crew records introductions, teases, and other segments to be inserted during post-production prior to the show in order to notbreak into the action.

There's no real way around it; the segments have to be taped no matter what. One liner is cut, and the production team hopes to get through the segments quickly.

"We always try to keep in mind that people are here to see music and not a television show," Smith says. "We try to get those things taped beforehand so we don't have to interrupt the performances."

***

It's time for a little break. Boyd is off to get a real quick snack; Smith heads off to get ready for the evening. After the quick hiatus, Smith will tape an interview with Big & Rich that will air on Countdown; it's pretty much the last segment of the show that needs to be done.

Putting together a rundown for a three-day shoot can be a difficult task. In a studio, a show can be done in a controlled environment, but on the road – especially outdoors – planning needs to take weather and lighting into consideration. Segments have to be taped in order to maintain a sense of continuity in the show.

The interview segments are shot at somewhat staggered times, with Friday's chat with Sugarland coming earlier in the evening, the Saturday interview with Sara Evans a bit later, and Big & Rich coming around 8:30 p.m.

As we wait, Summerfest Entertainment Director Bob Babisch strolls by with Vice President of Marketing John Boler. The two of them couldn't be more pleased with the CMT experience and the exposure they have brought to the Big Gig.

"It's great for Summerfest," Boler says. "Over 82 million subscribers were able to see Milwaukee and Summerfest last year thanks to CMT. This is just great for us."

"Milwaukee, too," adds Babisch.

Once Smith and Boyd return; it's show time. Summerfest security finds a barricade and sets up a perimeter for Smith to work within. It's a good thing, as fans don't take long to realize who will soon be out there.

(The crowd, by the way, has grown. Local favorite Pat McCurdy is set to play from 8:30 until about 9 p.m. In the crowd is OnMilwaukee.com Senior Editor Drew Olson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Brewers beat writer Rick Braun and Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. )

Right as McCurdy gets into his groove, it's time for Smith to get into his. Boyd and Sublett stand off to the side of the cameras, watching intently as things progress. Boyd consults her clipboard; not only does it has the show rundown and script, it's also hooked up wirelessly to a time-code system which will come in handy during the editing process later.

Editing is going to be tricky for this show. The Fourth of July holiday comes a day before the show is set to air, so editors have to start the process early. The first batch of tapes has already been sent back to Nashville. Boyd and her team will fly back at 7:25 Monday morning and be in the office by 9 a.m. to help make sure the show is cut and edited by Tuesday night so it's ready to air on Thursday.

***

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2 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by curlyboy1978 on July 5, 2007 at 9:52 p.m. (report)

Great article! Never knew that much production would go into tapping 3 side stage shows. And great for the city of Milwaukee and Summerfest. Now if only MTV or VH1 would stop by too.

Posted by Fan on July 5, 2007 at 5:54 p.m. (report)

Awesome! This is what Summerfest needs more of. The country acts dominated this year and the crowds at the gigs make Milwaukee look great.