i don’t pretend to understand what goes through performers’ minds whenever so many pairs of eyes follow each and every one of their actions. what i do understand, however, is the amount of practice and planning that go into the success of each performance. 

whenever I cover such events, i stay alert… and stay out of the way: armed with a good understanding of the schedule, i’m at the right place, at the right time, without breaking immersion on the part of the audience or adding to the logistical difficulty of running the event.