Winter 2020
AT WORK WITH
By Becca Nadler
Stage manager David Auerbach enjoys the choreographed chaos of a typical morning at The Today Show. "It's like an amazing dance when things start changing," he says of the ripple effect caused by moving up, say, a cooking segment. "We're dealing with large tables, food, lighting crews, cameras changing… trying to get everything in place and [thinking] steps ahead on how what we've just changed is going to affect the rest of the show. It's very exciting."
A background in audio has made Auerbach the go-to for Today's outdoor music segments, which require creative rehearsal planning because of early-morning amplified noise restrictions in New York City. "Even though you are not supposed to make amplified noise until 6:25, I bring the drummer up at 6:05," says Auerbach. "Arguably he's the loudest instrument out of everybody, and he's only allowed to bang away because he's not amplified noise."
Another challenge? Performers who are less than enthusiastic about a 6:25 a.m. rehearsal call. "We get people that are so ornery, that just don't want to rehearse," Auerbach says, but "everybody knows that they have to sound good… so they'll give me what we need for the rehearsal."