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Author Topic: Some questions for live sound engineers...  (Read 11409 times)

Daniel Coy

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Some questions for live sound engineers...
« on: January 06, 2011, 09:23:30 AM »

Hi,

I'm currently doing research into freelance/full-time live sound engineering for a case study. Rather than just source my information from books I'd like to get some opinions/insights from you guys. If you have the time then it would be really helpful if you could answer a few of these questions - or all of them if you're bored. The more in detailed the answers the better.

Sorry if this kind of thing isn't took too kindly here!

Cheers,
Dan.

--------

Q: What technical skills must you process to be successful as a live sound engineer?

Q: Do you think good personal skills (communication and people skills) are also necessary to being successful in the live sound industry? If so, why?

Q: As a freelance sound engineer, what kind of working patterns/hours are most common to you? Is your work regular or irregular? What effect does this have on you personally?

Q: How helpful do you think qualifications are in this line of work? Are they necessary?

Q: Is it worth taking up non-pay volunteer work?

Q: How are you expected to be paid for a job, and how long after the job has taken place are you paid?

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the live sound industry?

Q: What do you think are the biggest risks of freelance work? Had any “nightmare” moments while on the job?
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Ales Dravinec 'Alex'

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2011, 10:01:49 AM »

Daniel,

As I do not suppose there will be people standing in line trying to answer your question, I'll try to point you to search PSW forums using keywords from your questions.

I read all your questions carefully and ALL have been answered extensively, most if not all of them within the last half a year or so.

With respect
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Ales Dravinec
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ADRaudio
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Daniel Coy

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2011, 10:19:53 AM »

OK will do, thanks!
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James Feenstra

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2011, 02:49:27 PM »

Questions: $5
Answers: $10
Non-sarcastic answers: $25
Non-sarcastic answers with in depth explanations: $65/hour

Smile
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James Feenstra
Lighting, Audio and Special Effects Design

Bennett Prescott

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2011, 03:20:26 PM »

James,

You're a bargain! I charge way more for non-sarcastic answers. Laughing
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-- Bennett Prescott
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Jay Barracato

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2011, 08:17:21 PM »

My price for non-sarcastic answers is fairly reasonable and similar to my charge for sarcastic answers. Where I make my money is the charge for explaining which type each answer is.
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Jay Barracato
Solomons MD

Daniel Coy

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2011, 09:21:25 AM »

There's some very interesting views here. You've all brought a lot to the table and I am deeply thankful.

You can close this thread. Cheers anyway!
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Bob Hulme

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2011, 12:38:10 PM »

Stick around Daniel, It gets better. And by all means do like Alex suggested, use the search. The Google search is better than the forum's so use this search in google and replace sample with your subject. It limits hits to the PSW forums.

         sample site:srforums.prosoundweb.com

Good luck and welcome to the forum. You'll miss out on a lot of good info if you let James, Bennett & Jays remarks scare you away. I'm not being sarcastic when I say all three of them have huge amounts of knowledge and don't mind spreading it around. From your last post you certainly understand sarcasm so you'll fit in well here Smile.  

Take care, Bob H

PS Another question you could ask is:

Q: Is it required to have thick skin to be involved with the live sound world?

My answer: It sure don't hurt!
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James Feenstra

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2011, 05:06:28 PM »

Bennett Prescott wrote on Thu, 06 January 2011 15:20

James,

You're a bargain! I charge way more for non-sarcastic answers. Laughing

non sarcastic answers without explanation is either yes or no

i figure $25 is reasonable for that hahaha
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James Feenstra
Lighting, Audio and Special Effects Design

Dave Rickard

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2011, 01:32:06 AM »

Daniel Coy wrote on Thu, 06 January 2011 07:23

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the live sound industry?


A: Learn perseverance.   Wink

Daniel Coy wrote on Fri, 07 January 2011 07:21

You can close this thread. Cheers anyway!


A: Fail.  Confused
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Dave
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Tim A Perry

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2011, 10:14:04 AM »

Daniel Coy wrote on Thu, 06 January 2011 09:23

Hi,

I'm currently doing research into freelance/full-time live sound engineering for a case study. Rather than just source my information from books I'd like to get some opinions/insights from you guys. If you have the time then it would be really helpful if you could answer a few of these questions - or all of them if you're bored. The more in detailed the answers the better.

Sorry if this kind of thing isn't took too kindly here!

Cheers,
Dan.

--------

Q: What technical skills must you process to be successful as a live sound engineer?



ability to plug in a cable.

Quote:



Q: Do you think good personal skills (communication and people skills) are also necessary to being successful in the live sound industry? If so, why?



None needed because I don't have any yet still work as much as I care to.

Quote:



Q: As a freelance sound engineer, what kind of working patterns/hours are most common to you? Is your work regular or irregular? What effect does this have on you personally?



It made me lose my sense of humor.

Quote:


Q: How helpful do you think qualifications are in this line of work? Are they necessary?



It is not what you know as much as who you know and even more important is what you know about who.

Quote:


Q: Is it worth taking up non-pay volunteer work?



As an end in itself, yes

Quote:


Q: How are you expected to be paid for a job, and how long after the job has taken place are you paid?



Usually on the spot.

Quote:


Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the live sound industry?



Don't quit your day job.

Quote:


Q: What do you think are the biggest risks of freelance work?



Malnutrition, food poisoning, sleep deprivation

Quote:


Had any “nightmare” moments while on the job?



Yep, I once almost had to use Nady speakers
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"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" ~ Berthold Auerbach

David Kaiser

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Re: Some questions for live sound engineers...
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2011, 04:01:17 PM »

My church does have 5 Nady MC8 speakers. The first year they had to fabricate adaptors the night before the gig to mount them on the new speaker stands. They work good enough for the purpose we use them for. That is multizone coverage of speech and low volume background music.
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Went from Shure Pro Master 705 to Mackie 1604VLZ. Feel free to donate a Soundcraft FX16 or APB Prorack House.
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