Interview with Major Alasdair Hutton OBE, narrator of the NEW YORK TATTOO.

1) What does the New York Tattoo bring to New Yorkers, how would you best describe what a Tattoo is and why this will be so spectacular.

A Tattoo is a unique form of entertainment. With a history which dates back to the drinking habits of British soldiers in the eighteenth century, a tattoo has become a spectacular form of military entertainment with bands, pipes and drums, dancing and singing with a military theme. The original tattoos were all performed out of doors since soldiers are used to carrying out their profession in all weathers and the early tattoos often had big casts but nowadays many tattoos are performed indoors on big arenas or in theatres as this one in New York. 

Tattoos can vary widely from the big international shows which attract performers and audiences from all over the world to small, local events which may have only a handful of local bands but are nonetheless really enjoyable for the crowds who turn out to watch them.

In New York this is an international show with performers from Scotland, which has become the home of the greatest Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle every August, from Canada and from the United States. Over the years, it has become traditional to have bands of bagpipers and drummers as an essential part of any good Tattoo and New York has that with pipe bands from all three countries including the New York Metro band which has been highly successful at the World Championships in Scotland.

With world class dancers and a world champion drum major all displaying their remarkable skills along with local military bands and this will be a dazzling show of just how spectacular and entertaining a tattoo can be

2) What is it like being the official announcer of a Tattoo?

It is a great honour and a great responsibility to be asked to present a really good tattoo. The good announcer has the task of making sure the show keeps flowing smoothly and seamlessly without intruding into the entertainment on the stage.

The presenter should be able to add information which will make the show more understandable and enjoyable and help set the mood for the audience as well as telling them who is playing or singing.

To make the information the announcer presents add extra value needs quite a lot of research. The presenter needs to know something of the background and history of the performers and their music so that he can set it in the context of the show.

There is a wonderful feeling of success when you can hear how much the audience is enjoying the performers and knowing that you have been part of that.

The announcer also has the usually hidden task of being ready to cope with any emergency. These happen rarely but when they do the announcer has to be ready to know what to tell the audience and how to tell it so that people are well informed but not alarmed.

It is also important that everyone who has helped to make the show a success should be acknowledged. There are many people behind the scenes who the audience do not see but without whom the show would not be so good. It is part of announcer’s job to make sure he knows who they are and to thank them in public.

3) What is your favourite part of the New York Tattoo?

I expect that as usual I shall find the pipes and drums the most stirring part of the show and knowing the long history of West Point, I am looking forward to hearing the West Point Hellcats carrying with them what will be something of the long tradition of military music in America.

But most of all I am looking forward to the overall impression which the show will leave on the audiences. I guess it is the same as eating a piece of really enjoyable fruit cake, you are thinking less about the individual ingredients than the delicious taste of their combination. I confidently expect that will be the favourite part of the event which will stay with me.