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“Did you do a dummy check?“
”Excuse me?... Who are you calling a dummy?“
”No, you’re not a dummy... Did you DO a dummy check?“
”Ummm...Oh... Errr, no... I mean, what’s a dummy check?“
I actually heard this talk between a photographer and an assistant not too long ago. I’ve had the conversation myself, with many new assistants. It’s not meant to be a derogatory remark, usually it’s more of an affectionate term. But, it also denotes an unfavorable reaction if the dummy check isn’t performed, and if it’s intended purpose is compromised. I’ve also heard a dummy check called a walk-through, or an idiot check.
A dummy check is the last thing you need to do before leaving a location shoot. I do a dummy check even if I’m positive that everything has been packed and loaded. This is your last chance to make absolutely certain that you haven’t left anything behind. If you do forget something, and the photographer realizes it before you, you’re gonna feel like a big dummy! So not only are you doing your job, but you are also building, and protecting, your reputation as a good assistant.
When doing a dummy check there are many other things to look out for besides the obvious items that might be left behind. Following is a checklist you may want to use for a dummy check.
”Excuse me?... Who are you calling a dummy?“
”No, you’re not a dummy... Did you DO a dummy check?“
”Ummm...Oh... Errr, no... I mean, what’s a dummy check?“
I actually heard this talk between a photographer and an assistant not too long ago. I’ve had the conversation myself, with many new assistants. It’s not meant to be a derogatory remark, usually it’s more of an affectionate term. But, it also denotes an unfavorable reaction if the dummy check isn’t performed, and if it’s intended purpose is compromised. I’ve also heard a dummy check called a walk-through, or an idiot check.
A dummy check is the last thing you need to do before leaving a location shoot. I do a dummy check even if I’m positive that everything has been packed and loaded. This is your last chance to make absolutely certain that you haven’t left anything behind. If you do forget something, and the photographer realizes it before you, you’re gonna feel like a big dummy! So not only are you doing your job, but you are also building, and protecting, your reputation as a good assistant.
When doing a dummy check there are many other things to look out for besides the obvious items that might be left behind. Following is a checklist you may want to use for a dummy check.
- First, and foremost, make sure you have all the gear packed that you brought with you.
- When you think you’ve checked everywhere, check again... under furniture and in and around corners for other items that may be hiding.
- Check all wall outlets for charging batteries. Look for stray firewire cords, power cords, stingers, etc.
- Make sure you have picked up all the trash from the shoot. This includes gaf tape on the floor used for blocking. The maintenance guy at the rental studio will appreciate this greatly. Most likely, he’s an assistant, like you. Extra points for taking your trash out to the dumpster!
- If you are at a rental studio, double check with the studio manager, or rental cage, that they have back all the right equipment you may have rented or borrowed, so that you haven’t mistakenly switched it out for something of yours. This won’t go over well with the photographer, whether its the photographer’s or another rental house’s gear. In the latter case, the photographer will probably get charged for it.
- Make sure all the furniture has been returned to its proper location, where you found it. It’s very helpful to take a few snapshots with your iPhone before starting your day, so you have a reference of where everything belongs.
- If you have time, and it’s appropriate for your situation, sweep and/or mop any dirty floors. This is very helpful on a white cyc that will need to be repainted. This will also help you locate gaf tape stuck on the floor.
- If you are outdoors, on-location, make sure you have enough heavy-duty trash bags with you, as well as a way to keep them secure in the wind. Trash pop-ups and a sand bag work great! Also, please take extra care to reduce your environmental foot-print on nature. If the photographer pulled a permit to work in a county, state, or national park, you had best make sure you consider all the rules and regulations, and be prepared for anything to abide by those rules. Many times, you will have to haul out your trash and not create any situations which will cause land-erosion or disrupt the lives of wild animals. You may not even be able to use a portable generator in state and national parks. Bottom-line, be prepared.
- Sometimes, you might be using a private residence, or other location, where a contact person may not be present. If this is the case, you will probably need to make sure the air conditioner and lights are off before you leave. Check windows and other important things like appliances or fans that might be left on. Make sure you haven’t blown any circuit breakers and reset them if necessary. If anything was damaged or needs attention or repair, like a stained carpet, try to take care of it before you leave. If you cannot make it right at present, make a note and take appropriate action with the people concerned. Trying to hide such things or claim irresponsibility just won’t work.
- When you think you have covered everything, take just a few more minutes to consider everything that transpired throughout the day. Go back through the day and visually recall anything that you may have missed. Ask the other assistants and crew about things that you may have missed. Double-check their memory and see if anything comes up.
At the end of the day, if anything does come up missing, check with all crew and talent to see if they may have inadvertently forgotten something in their pocket or purse. Maybe they thought that they put the missing item back in its proper place, but it may have ended up elsewhere, if they weren’t familiar. Just last week, I came up short a CyberSync mini-flash transmitter used for Alien-Bees. I checked, re-checked, and triple-checked for it everywhere. It simply disappeared. I knew it had found its way to somewhere it wasn’t supposed to be. Later, I was taking home one of the models after the shoot when she pulled the transmitter out of her purse, ”Is this what you were looking for?“ We determined that the transmitter got cluttered-up with all the stuff on the MUA/Hair Stylist/Production table and somehow fell off the table and into the model’s purse, which was on the floor under the table. Case-in-point, anything can happen.
If you do a lot of location shooting this will all become second-nature before too long. If you are a first-assistant on a crew for a large shoot, make sure the other assistants are mindful of what goes where, and stress the importance of everyone being on the same page, so you’re not all searching for something at the end of the day when everyone wants to go home. Be careful of mindlessly setting something down in haste, or not putting it away in its proper place. I hate it when I have to ask myself, ”Now, where the heck did I put that!?“
It can be difficult to keep it all-together during a busy day on-location, or even in-studio. But, by being extra mindful and limiting distractions, you will help alleviate that shameful cry at the end of the day.... ”Man, I’m such a dummy!“
© Tim Olsen
