The worst miscommunication in rock history.
Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin is one of the best rock songs of its time. If you are looking for an actual example of a communication breakdown in rock history, may I point you to Stonehenge?
In 1984, band manager, Ian Faith, blew up in a pit of shameful rage when he discovered a simple miscommunication that would cause his client great humiliation in front of thousands of confused fans.
Faith was sitting down ahead of the bandโs tour with a set designer who produced a realistic copy of Stonehenge, the mysterious, prehistoric monument from the Bronze Age, as he had requested. The impressive 18โ sample sat on a tabletop facing Faith as he asked about the actual 18โ set piece for the concert.
Confused, the designer revealed the napkin Faith had given her with a sketch of the design request. An epic, unnoticed communication snafu stood glaring at him. He had requested that the set be made in inches, not feet. The rest is comedy history, as depicted in the classic mockumentary, This is Spinal Tap.
How to avoid the wrecks caused by miscommunication
To avoid the wrecks caused by miscommunication, try repeating the information to ensure you received it correctly. If speaking in person, begin with, โSo what youโre saying isโฆ.โ If communicating via email or Slack, send a brief message recapping the request, so youโre clear. This way, you also have the information in written form should you need to return to it - like the fโing napkin.
As the speaker, be sure you are clear about the information you share. Less is best, even when it comes to apostrophes in the case of Spinal Tap.