Things sound people do to hork off musicians.

Fair is Fair. Turning the tides. Things Sound people do that frustrate musicians.

Again at the end of the day its all about loving and respecting each other as team mates but here are various things sound people do that tick off musicians.

• Take your eyes off the stage. When its go time. Watch the stage.Anticipate stuff, know your next cue. Know your songs and your changes and the run list. I know you need to look down to check settings and such but there is no reason to be having a conversation with someone during a gig. You would be amazed how many times I've seen hades breaking out on stage and the sound person was oblivious because they weren't paying attention.( also have a plan to fix stuff before it happens).

• Don't arrive early enough to pre check everything. (assuming you can) things happen in a church setting after mid week rehearsal or from setup the night before. Arrive early enough to check all your lines and make sure everything is cool. In a portable situation its no fun to have sit there and wait while lines are traced because no one checked em prior.

• Pretend you know what the monitors sound like when you haven't gotten up from behind the board to check them. If you are a one man show and there is an issue with the monitors get up and go listen to them. Don't yell from the back of the room that you have it turned up to where it "normally" is.

• Forget you are a servant. None of this is about us. Outside of God you are the most important person in the room. Please don't let it go to your head.

• 5k,  315khz and distortion are not your friends. High end hash hurts. Muddrange sux...Distortion hurts. Over compression is for the recording wars , leave it there. Make sure your gain structure is right and your mix is pleasing and remember in a church context you are mixing for multiple generations. There is  "Good" Loud and there is bad "loud" learn how to do "Good" loud. ( if you don't what "Good" loud is come talk to me :)  or go watch any number of people mix (Scovill, Big Mick Hughes and any number of other guys way better than me.)

Thanks to all the musicians and sound people that do what they do to glorify God. I'm grateful for everyone of you and grateful that you use your gifts to draw all of us closer to Him!

Just so you know through out the years I have broken everyone of these things on both sides as a musician and as an engineer. So I'm not picking on anyone., Just calling out what I see a lot.

Comments

[Mike]

If I could, once again, add another, it would be "Not knowing your equipment." This is a corollary to my previous comment.

It's not the musician's job to know how to set up the compressor properly, or how to make the monitors sound good. Learn your desk, learn your outboard gear, learn your craft. Prove to the musicians that you can be trusted with their music.

Again, great thoughts Pete!

[Pete]

Hey Mike! thanks for your thoughts. I always tell folks to know your instrument to the point that it becomes like breathing! Thanks for the post to! I am humbled!