A stage is supposed to be a place where traditional boundaries dissolve. As artistes take on larger-than-life personas in the name of entertainment, ordinary rules that govern everyday codes of conduct may be placed on the back burner. But even as an entertainer is given room to be spontaneous and uninhibited, the stage is also a workplace occupied by cameramen, photographers, sound engineers, and countless other professionals whose combined efforts make the show successful.

That reality came into sharp focus during the recent staging of Dream Wknd when dancehall veteran Elephant Man pushed a cameraman during his performance. The incident quickly became a talking point, with reactions divided over where the boundaries should lie between an artiste’s performance space and the responsibilities of support personnel working around the stage.

Some argued that camera operators can sometimes get too close to artistes in pursuit of the perfect shot. Others questioned whether an artiste’s status as the star of the show gives them the right to physically confront someone who is simply doing their job.