I spent the first couple of days back at KPIX assembling equipment that I'll be using over the next two weeks as an MMJ. It struck me as I went from newsroom to ENG shop (equipment room) to business office that there is SO MUCH STUFF a reporter needs to do the job - and all of it's necessary. Sure, you might be able to get by without a lavalier microphone by using a stick mic, but when it comes right down to it, even the smallest piece of equipment that malfunctions or is missing can totally crash a day's worth of work.

For example, I spent a good hour trying to track down a charger for the camera batteries. The obvious stuff (camera, tripod, microphones) is easy to think of. But it's the little stuff that's just as necessary to pull off the job.

Here's rundown of what I collected, to ensure I, as a one-man band, could produce TV stories that would be informative, look professional and make deadline. Thirty-four items in all.

Takeaways:

Never underestimate the importance of every little thing. The day you forget it is the day you'll need it.
Time spent before the deadline crush saves time during the deadline crunch.