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[Dave Garoutte]

We have BEs quite regularly and the house tech basically baby sits them for the night.  They're there to answer questions or hit the brakes if necessary.  We don't as a rule tell them how to mix.
That said, we certainly have had situations where our tech could have done a better job.  Even at a fairly high level.

[Bob Faulkner]

I rarely will offer help.  If it sounds really bad and the FOH location looks approachable, I will offer help.  But, the FOH mix needs to sound really bad.

With that said, I have only offered to help mix twice.  Both times, (separate people, separate events) the guys at the consoles appeared flustered and frantic... and it showed with the mix.  Both times, I approached and asked "how's it going?".  Surprisingly, they both were forward with explaining they weren't too sure how to get a good mix (one of them was just with the drums).  I offered to help them "get on track", which both were accepting.  Once the mixes were close, I left the console with them; they both said thanks. 

However, when I see the "new age" people mixing (the ones spending a lot of, if not all) of their time on their phones either texting, playing games, shopping, internet surfing, etc... I won't say anything.  Their crappy sound is telling everyone they just don't care about what they are doing

[Mike Caldwell]

However, when I see the "new age" people mixing (the ones spending a lot of, if not all) of their time on their phones either texting, playing games, shopping, internet surfing, etc... I won't say anything.  Their crappy sound is telling everyone they just don't care about what they are doing

That could also kind of apply to the "new age" who are staring at and trying to tweak all the options in their plug in menus and never looking at the stage while in search of the perfect kick drum sound.

[John Roberts {JR}]

Lift on three....

JR

[Kwadwo Caesar]

I've always believed that there is an unwritten rule that a sound person should never tell another sound person how to do their job. If I attend a show as a "spectator" and don't like the way things sound, I would never approach the mixer and start telling then what they need to change.

Now, there can be exceptions to the rule. If a mixer is clearly struggling, such as a beginner, I may politely ask them if they want help, (or not, if I don't want to get involved). But if they have the basics under control and it's obvious they are not a beginner, then I let them be. I don't start giving them my personal preferences.

No one has done that to me except for a few drunken slobs telling me to turn it up. I'm just saying when I'm watching, sometimes it's tough to keep my mouth shut, but hey, it's not my show.

Does anyone else feel this way, or am I just being a pussy?

Probably best not to intervene as you never know what they are dealing with.

[Chris Hindle]

Probably best not to intervene as you never know what they are dealing with.

Back in late 80's early 90's I was A-1 on one show, and ME on another. Even I was not allowed to suggest changes... NG called levels and freq's from stage, and never really heard what the paying fans heard.  I'm sure the guitar geeks enjoyed the noise, the rest of us, not so much.

Unless i am specifically asked what i think, or for help, I keep to myself. You never know what instructions the person on the board may have.
That said, I have been approached in the bathroom for help at more than one show......
Chris.

[dave briar]

We have BEs quite regularly and the house tech basically baby sits them for the night.  They're there to answer questions or hit the brakes if necessary.  We don't as a rule tell them how to mix.
That said, we certainly have had situations where our tech could have done a better job.  Even at a fairly high level.

Yea at our (400 cap inside/700 cap outside) level we only get a dozen or so BEs through a year and I’d say it’s 50/50 as to whether they do as good or better a job than one of our house team would. We know the system and the room, they know the band.

One tack I do often take is to offer “collegial perspective” right up front like “Note that all those acoustic panels on the ceiling are only 2” thick so for frequencies below 500z this room is a bunker.  Don’t be surprise if you have to high-pass things more than you might otherwise…”.  This seems to set a collaborative tone for the event and it’s not uncommon to receive a “How’s it sound? Hear anything specific?” Near the end of sound check. That said, while I’ve never had to step in to keep a BE from driving our customers out of the house I have had to accept that evidentially that’s just the way the BE wants that vocal/guitar to sound. 

[Thomas Le]

This is akin to the eternal question: Which Italian grandmother makes the best pasta sauce?  Ans: They all do!
Ask a tech: Who makes the best mix?  You'll get the same answer for the most part.

Reminds me of the time:
Wife & I were on a rare no-gig-for-me-on-Saturday "date night".
We went to a local outdoor venue on the water to hear a horn-band's first gig.
I am friends with several members of the band.

The night was perfect and the dock was packed with people shoulder to shoulder.
The sound guy was having major issues with feedback, etc...I mean really-bad...
One of the main issues was that he could not get from FOH to the band without squeezing/fighting-through the crowd...
He clearly needed some help.
I suggested to my wife that I should help him out...only to be reminded by her that I was on-a-date night.....
so
I let the gig crash & burn....and it did....
....the band broke-up the next day.

I try to enjoy all live shows...because they're live(!)

Similar situation happened yesterday Sunday at a church I was visiting, feedback was happening when the choir starts singing, but I reminded myself "they gotta sink or swim" plus I had some disagreements with this particular church a while back. I assumed the volunteer just frantically tried the mute groups since certain parts of the choir/instruments got cut out mid song.

[Craig Hauber]

I've always believed that there is an unwritten rule that a sound person should never tell another sound person how to do their job. If I attend a show as a "spectator" and don't like the way things sound, I would never approach the mixer and start telling then what they need to change.

Now, there can be exceptions to the rule. If a mixer is clearly struggling, such as a beginner, I may politely ask them if they want help, (or not, if I don't want to get involved). But if they have the basics under control and it's obvious they are not a beginner, then I let them be. I don't start giving them my personal preferences.

No one has done that to me except for a few drunken slobs telling me to turn it up. I'm just saying when I'm watching, sometimes it's tough to keep my mouth shut, but hey, it's not my show.

Does anyone else feel this way, or am I just being a pussy?

Lately I've been buying only front-row seats so that way the mains are usually shooting past behind me.  Otherwise my mind constantly analyzing the PA mix just ruins the show for me and often others with me.
Easier to do up here in the middle of nowhere at the 3 casinos within 4 hour drive that have all the decent acts.  Probably couldn't afford such seating near large populated areas.
Although the last show I saw (BTO) I got stuck in front of the center subs and have never heard such a bottom heavy version of them before!

[Chris Hindle]

Lately I've been buying only front-row seats so that way the mains are usually shooting past behind me.  Otherwise my mind constantly analyzing the PA mix just ruins the show for me and often others with me.
Easier to do up here in the middle of nowhere at the 3 casinos within 4 hour drive that have all the decent acts.  Probably couldn't afford such seating near large populated areas.
Although the last show I saw (BTO) I got stuck in front of the center subs and have never heard such a bottom heavy version of them before!

Bottom heavy version?  Haha. for Bachman Turner Overweight? hahaha  I'm certainly no lightweight any more. Haha
Sorry.
Chris.

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