In this episode of The Five Minute Call, we delve into the world of theatre sound engineering with Alice Afflick-Mensah, who is currently the Head of Sound for Hamilton in the West End. Alice recounts her journey from studying classical music to working on one of the biggest shows in the world. She shares her experiences managing live mixes, her emotional connection with performers, handling performance anxiety, and her passion for DJing. Alice also discusses the importance of self-care and creating a supportive work environment.

🎧 Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to The 5 Minute Call01:01 Alice Afflick-Mensah's Journey into Sound Engineering02:53 From Classical Music to Theatre Sound09:00 The Role of a Front of House Mixer10:55 Challenges and Rewards of Mixing Hamilton21:34 The All-Female Sound Team22:42 Interviewing for a Sound Engineer24:48 Sponsorship Break: Vocalitea25:20 Backstage Roles and Responsibilities26:27 Handling On-Stage Mishaps28:20 Learning and Performing Under Pressure31:12 Sound Design vs. Sound Mixing34:24 Understanding the Impact of Theatre Acoustics35:36 Adapting Sound for Different Environments37:18 Giving Feedback to Performers39:57 Managing Focus and Off Days41:33 Creating a Supportive Team Environment45:25 Balancing Health and Work50:52 Exploring DJing and Performance Anxiety54:33 The Art of DJing58:43 Public Speaking and Emotional Intelligence01:02:30 Five Minute Call Rituals01:05:01 Inspiration and Final Thoughts

❤️ Support The Show

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for notifications! Your support helps us bring you more amazing stories from the theatre world.

And you can listen to more episodes on your favourite podcasting platform. Links at: https://linkin.bio/fiveminutecall

🤝 Connect With Us

Follow us on social media - search "Five Minute Call"

https://www.instagram.com/FiveMinuteCall

https://www.tiktok.com/@yourfiveminutecall

Oren:

https://www.instagram.com/OrenBoder

https://www.orenboder.com

Claire:

https://www.instagram.com/showminds

https://www.showminds.co

Alice Afflick-Mensah:

https://www.instagram.com/lovealicedj/

☕️ Vocalitea

This episode is kindly sponsored by Vocalitea, the secret to vocal clarity in a cup.

Vocalitea is more than just a beverage; it's a holistic approach to vocal care. Developed by award-winning voice experts and master tea blenders, each ingredient has been carefully selected to help you soothe and take care of your voice.

Get yours at: https://vocalitea.co.uk

🎗️Get Help

If you have been or are currently affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode, here are some resources you might find useful.

In the first instance, helplines:

Samaritans - 116 123 (24/7 phone service)

Shout - 85258 (all ages 24/7 texting service)

If you work in the theatre industry here are some organisations who can help you to find the right help:

https://www.applauseforthought.com

https://www.industryminds.co.uk

https://www.mind.org.uk