A while ago I was asked if I could be interviewed by a high school student who was interested in a career in sound reinforcement. I was happy to help and was emailed a list of questions. The basic overview of the interview was what is a sound engineer?

I recently came across it while reorganizing files and was kind of shocked at how in-depth I went. Still it reminds me of that fact that I really do like my career. Yes even though it has its ups and downs. I decide to post up my responses just in case anybody was interested.

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1. “What’s a typical day like in this job?”

Well to be Honest most of the time it is very sporadic. I guess it depends on what fields you go into but for the most part it varies by the time of year, economy and even the weather.

These past couple of days I’ve worked 14 hours strait loading up trucks, rolling and carrying equipment in the rain/mud, organizing equipment for shows, setting up shows and supervising recording studio’s. I ran front of house for one show and even got sent home early twice from one job because there was nothing to do.

I’m blessed in that I have two jobs right now and am still able to be a full time college student. I work as a Lighting Director/ Sound Engineer for a medium sized church, and I work as Student Technical Intern for my college. I’m very lucky in that both my jobs are pretty much scheduled, pay well, and work around my class schedules.

At the Church, I work around 20 hours a week. Sunday’s are hectic to say the least. We have three or four services every Sunday, and three during the week. We have three full bands that play each week and each come with a 20-26+input list and with their own style of worship. We have four to five techs for each service, one for lighting, one for video/projection, one or two for sound, and one director/ all tech. We follow a standard order of service and are required to be there an hour and a half before each service and a half hour after each service. Typically we are there from 7-3ish. And random hours during the week to clean, organize and setup for what’s next. Our services are pretty much a mini production. It is a challenge and excellent place for me to put what I’ve learned from school to use.

As a Technical Sound Intern at my college I get the benefit of working on small concerts ranging from Latin, to Jazz, to Orchestra, to a dance show. I work on most of my colleges’ concerts and music events as well as in our recording studios. Normally I work about 20 hour a week. However since it is December and the end of this semester I am working everyday putting in about 50 hours a week.

If you become a sound engineer expect to balance you life on your job. Even though you may be higher up on the chain of command you expect a large amount of physical labor, and expect people to now turn to you for command.

2. “What kind of qualifications are necessary?”

Qualifications depend on your job, but I think that every sound engineer could agree on a few things:

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that a degree won’t get you anywhere “by itself” in this field. But it will help you get higher pay as well as teach you valuable skills not often learned in the field. You need to know your stuff, have plenty of experience, and know people to be successful in this industry.

>You must have a musical ear:

You won’t get far if you just wake up one day and think you can just do sound. Yes, some people are just brilliant and are naturally gifted but for the rest of us it takes training and practice. The best thing I could recommend is learn an instrument. This will help you develop an ear for music and be more critical in your mixing. If possible take music theory classes. Knowing what to emphasize in a mix can make or break you.

>Get experience:

What people care about in this industry is that you know your stuff, and you’ve proven yourself in the field. An extensive work history is a golden in this industry. If you’re serious about making it as a sound engineer learn as much as you can and get your feet wet while putting it to use. Work as an intern under someone, take classes, and ask questions (when appropriate), research, and practice! Nothing is more important to an employer. Know your stuff, and start building your resume.

>Be flexible, reliable, trustworthy, and show leadership:

For me the hardest and most frustrating thing about trying to find help is finding someone who will stick to the job and I can put my trust into. And on the other spectrum, I’m a quite shy guy so learning to step up and lead was hard for me. The entertainment industry is competitive and fast paced. It leaves no room for slackers and people that float in the background.

I find that most people underestimate the stress and commitment for any sound engineer or sound tech for that matter. The hours aren’t for everybody, that’s for sure. The pay doesn’t look good at the begging but it picks up slowly, and the stress is hard for not only the person but the family. You either love it or hate it. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen come and leave but can only count a hand full of people that really take their job to heart. When you start to take every opportunity you can commit to, you never know where it will lead you to.

3. “What’s the best way to get started in this field? Is it difficult to get started/a competitive industry?”

I worked four years learning the skills of my trade before I even saw a nickel. Long story short how far you make it in this industry is dependent on how far you try to get and how well you do your job while getting there. As I stated, this industry has its ups and downs. If you commit often you will succeed. Make yourself the guy/girl everybody wants to hire.

The only way to start in this industry is to start from the bottom. Start from square one and learn the basics. I would recommend trying to find an internship or mentor in a place you could see yourself working at. Church’s are a great way to practice your skills once or twice a week and are always in need of help. Colleges that offer technical classes are a great way to learn the ins and outs of the industry and often they are a great way to gain valuable contacts in the music industry. Often professors are retired sound engineers themselves and know people how need help and often where you would be suited best.

4. “What other careers could someone with the qualifications to do this job consider?”

There are endless jobs as a Sound Engineer, you just have to look and learn what suites you best. Of course we all know there are the lucky ones that travel the world with a famous rock band, but don’t limit yourself to it.

Just some of the endless job opportunities’:

Church’s

Clubs

Schools

Theaters

Amusement Parks

Amusement Services (Cruise Ships have everything from dance clubs to theatrical productions now…) (professional DJ anyone……)

Production Rental Companies (do all of the above + get your name out there)

Government (Court media techs make bank… no seriously $30+ an hour + Full benefits)

Military (be the personal sound engineer for the Marine Corps Band)

Corporate (everything from conference meetings to mixing for a multimillion dollar benefit concert)

News organizations (Work for channel 9 News!!!)

Not to mention the opportunities’ in our sister industries

The Recording Industry, the Broadcasting Industry and the Film/TV Industry

Once you’ve learned the ins and outs of live sound reinforcement it isn’t that hard to learn the ins and outs of the recording world, film world, broadcasting world, or film/TV.  I’ve seen sound engineers work as a sound tech for a large scale corporate organization just setting up a simple mic and speaker, or working at a local court house recording court sessions and making 30+ an hour.

5. “What is most challenging?” “What do you like/dislike?”

Bad…The job a sound engineer is stressful, often fast paced, definitely not glorious, and often balance on whether your employer likes your work or not. Jobs can be hit or miss. It’s a very competitive industry. I’ve had stable jobs, gig after gig, and yet had jobs having only one gig every couple of months. The hours are very harsh, definitely not 9-5.  Hours and pay are often hard on families.  Personally it was hard for me to be gone from family and friends and have to miss big events because of a gig, but when it comes down to it pays the bills and if you don’t work, well you get it. Learning to be a sound guy is easy… but to actually be good at is it isn’t easy, often you don’t realize that you are basically running the show at that point.

Good… I can say that I love my job, it’s not glamorous by any means but I love what I do, I get paid for it(Not rolling in a Bentley or anything…), and I am able to support myself on it. I never stop learning and am constantly challenged by what I do. I can’t begin to list the places I’ve gone and people I’ve meet doing sound and lighting. It truly is a unique and amazing job.

6. “Do you travel often with the job?”

With the jobs I have now not really, and if I do it is by company truck/van ext… I’ve been sent out to conferences out of state by my company but my jobs are fairly local. However I’ve worked for small rental and install companies. When I worked there I could sometimes drive 3-4 hours away work a 14 shift and drive back. It’s definitely an experience, it’s hard to keep your cool, but getting a free lunch/dinner and compensations for gas if you drive is a benefit, but it’s not for everybody. If I got an opportunity to go on a tour I would definitely take it. It’s an amazing experience.

7. “What is the work environment like?”

Well it’s fast paced, sometimes stress full, can be hazardous if you don’t know what you’re doing, and always changing.

Today I setup a system and was problem solving a dead cabinet, finally got sent home because the stage wasn’t clear so we couldn’t work. Yesterday it was pouring rain and really windy and we had to load up a truck then unload it out in the rain. Yes it sucked.  I was soaking wet, cold and covered in mud by the end of the day. Sunday I was mixing for my church, so I was running around and problem solving, and then got called into the studio so I had a 14 hour day. And the day before that I was pretty much sitting on my butt the entire day supervising studios.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been cut, scraped, electrocuted (minor), pinched, smacked, and yelled at while doing my job. But ultimately it’s about keeping your cool and doing your job.

8. “Any advice to people considering getting into this work?”

Develop your skills!

>Listen to as many styles of music as you can:

The best engineers know every type of style of music and know how to mix for each genre. Don’t limit yourself to one style

>Learn as many instruments as you can:

The best engineers are musicians themselves. If you think about it a sound board really is just another instrument. Can you play it well?

>Be Humble:

Never think you know it all. And of course NEVER treat anyone like crap. You may be the man once you’re a sound engineer but remember you’re just a sound engineer. Companies want a good engineer as well as a good leader and there are others that would kill to have your job. Be a team player.

>Learn the chain of command

Know to answer to and who you’re in charge of. It may sound stupid but I’ve seen way to many people as well as first hand experienced what happens when you ask the wrong person to do something. Remember often the person in charge gets the blame for what his team does wrong.

>You’ve never learned it all:

Always practice and train yourself. Learn new tricks and share your skills with others. Make yourself versatile. I know most of the ins and outs of sound, lighting, video, recording, and how to tech equipment. I’ve know people that have got their foot in the industry just by fixing a cable or amp on the job because no one else knew how to. The more you know the more opportunities there are for you as well as the more valuable you are to a company.

>Be committed and be on time!!!

If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re already late. Earning an employer’s trust is the key to getting hired. If you commit, full commit and don’t just flake or take it lightly.

>Be prepared start a gig bag:

Gather as many types of connectors, a good pair of headphones and earphones, db meter, multi-tool, knife, flashlight, gloves, spare cables, tools, gaff tape, board tape, sharpies, an extra set of clothes, ext… It may save the day or you job for that matter.

>Practice:

I can tell you that EQ’ing will be a hard and enormous task to learn. The way I’ll put it is you can never master EQ’ing. You can be good at it but it’s not as easy as it looks. You need time to develop your ears.

>Protect yourself:

Your ears are your money makers, invest in a good pair custom ear plugs that dampen but retain quality sound for onstage work or when working on loud shows. I’ve seen way to many sound techs lose their edge cause they didn’t protect their ears, also have a hearing check. Everybody hears differently, knowing what your hearing is compared to the average listener will help you fill in or compensate when you mix.

Also on a very important note; your job is ultimately in the hands of the audience, if you mix too loud and get a law suit it could be the end of your career. Invest in a good db meter. And later on if you go pro, invest in a db meter that logs and records data so in case you do have a law suit you can prove levels.

>Look for jobs with benefits:

Unfortunately our industry isn’t built for retirement… and there are shady businesses out there. Start a good savings/retirement plan and insurance. A lot of jobs don’t offer benefits. Remember it can be dangerous if people are not safe, if your injured it can be a career ender.

Hope I satisfied your questions. Feel free to ask any more questions, ask for advice/tips, or just if I need to further explain.

I’m glad you are considering this as your career. I hope for the best for you!

Michael

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