Excerpt from Living the Audio Life : A Guide to a Career in Live Entertainment Sound
The following excerpt was provided to Professional Sound with permission by Taylor & Francis Group . From Living the Audio Life : A Guide to a Career in Live Entertainment Sound , First Edition by Brad Schiller , Copyright 2022 by Routledge / Focal Press .
CHAPTER 25 : WHY WE DO IT
The majority of the people working in the live entertainment audio industry are doing so to satisfy an internal passion and not to earn millions of dollars . If your desire is earning heaps of money , this field is probably not for you . However , if you want to really enjoy your work and make a good living , then you have come to the right place .
Sound people usually start off working as a member of the technical crew in high school or come from being a musician in a band . The majority find a calling in audio and many feel that “ sound is either in your blood or it is not .” The joy of being part of a production , amplifying actors , augmenting a band ’ s performance , and bringing emotion through sound are only the start of what drives most . Perks include getting to work with amazing people and state-of- the-art technology , traveling the world , and helping to entertain others . Not one sound person has ever created an entire show alone , and being a part of a larger team is very satisfying on many levels .
Some want to work as artists and find that the art of audio matches their creative desires . Others just enjoy the technical aspects or the thrill of bringing entertainment to audiences . A few even satisfy their dreams of being performers , but achieve this in a technical way rather than by focusing on a personal performance skill .
Backstage magic happens endlessly around the world and many find opportunities to be a part of the crew very enticing . Audio enhances productions , allows followers to hear their idols , and entertains directly with unique soundscapes and effects . Whether working as a manufacturer ’ s salesperson , sound designer , or audio technician , each person plays a pivotal role in the success of a production .
A very good financial living situation is possible to achieve while working within the audio field , regardless of your position . You do not need to become a top sound designer or mixer to live a very comfortable life . Many find the audio field a profitable environment from which to live . While only a few at the top can make millions of dollars , most within the industry are able to afford all they want as well as save for their retirement . Having a quality life while doing something you love is a true marker of success .
WORK HARD , PLAY HARD Putting a show together involves lots of hard work , both physical and mental . People in all positions and levels of the industry work very hard to bring audio to productions . If you have the passion , you will find joy in the hard work and not find the mundane tasks a burden . Many people find that they are in the “ zone ” ( or flow state ) when doing their work with sound . I believe this to be a key factor in a successful career .
Often , when working on a drawing , operating a console , or simply loading in or out , I lose track of time and stay present with the duties in front of me . This mindset is commonly referred to as a flow state and is often achieved by people who are totally engrossed in the moment . Experts agree that this condition is good for our minds and wellbeing . Therefore , the more we can achieve this frame of mind , the happier we will become . Whenever you enter the flow state during your primary work , you know that you are following an internal passion .
You must enjoy the majority of the work that you are doing ; otherwise , it just becomes labor . Sure , you might not want to have to roll up that FOH snake after an outdoor festival , but you do it anyways . The inner passion to be a part of the production allows you to gather the strength and desire to get your hands dirty and roll the cable . Not every single task within audio will be fun or even easy for you .
Besides , at the end of the load-out , you know that your friends are waiting for you . By friends , I mean the rest of the sound crew . Most lighting people stick together and actually enjoy spending time with each other . Like-minded people tend to enjoy each other ’ s company . Those working together on the audio of a show create many friendships and working bonds . The industry is based upon relationships and most of these are formed and solidified while working actual events .
LIMITED STRESS Generally , the industry provides mostly low-stress positions of employment . Sure , there can be major stress to get a show ’ s sound finished on time and on budget , but we are not trying to save human lives . We are working within the entertainment industry . It is very important to remember that most productions have a limited run and thus will be over at some point . New tours , productions , and products will be created and old ones will be forgotten .
However , stress does materialize regularly and is usually related to relationships with others , production politics , or limited time . Learn to recognize stressful situations and try to minimize the increase in your personal pressure- level . Take a moment to think about the situation and then respond , instead of just reacting . When an irritant presents itself , don ’ t react to it ; always wait a few seconds or minutes for a better response to come to mind . This will lead to smoother conversations , improved workflows , and lowered stress .
When in difficult circumstances , I will often sing to myself the first few lines of the song , “ There ’ s No Business Like Show Business .” This calms me down and reminds me of the joy and the purpose surrounding the work in which I am currently involved . In fact , take a moment to look up the full lyrics of the song to gain further show business inspiration .
Because the stress in the field is limited and production-based , most enjoy their careers with relatively minimal work-related trauma . If you can learn to see the stressful situations as fleeting , you can start anew with the next production . There are enough stressors in our personal lives that we do not need more from our careers . Luckily , the live entertainment audio field provides generally low-stress jobs for most . By releasing the burdens of previous shows and managing your time , you can lead a low-tension life .
UNBELIEVABLE SITUATIONS We are very fortunate to work in an industry that is built upon helping people find joy and happiness . The entertainment field affords its professionals many opportunities that are not always available to those working in “ normal ” jobs . Often , we experience some of the high life as we work alongside celebrities . Furthermore , the very nature of the entertainment lifestyle brings us into locations and situations that may seem unbelievable to outsiders .
Tour buses , private planes , five-star hotels , exclusive venues , fine food and drink , private performances , and unique locales can be yours when working in the entertainment audio industry . I have exited a limousine and walked the red carpet at the Oscars , flown on a band member ’ s private Lear jet , slept in presidential suites , been escorted by police motorcades , visited top-secret sites , and experienced many more incredible occasions . These exciting moments may not come early in your career , but they are certainly possible regardless of your position or role . These occurrences abound and will happen when least expected . Furthermore , sound happens all over the world , thus paid-for travel to any place on the planet is also possible ( and very common ).
When traveling for work , try to take some time to actually see the location you have arrived to . Sure , there will be instances when you only see the venue , but make the most of your time and get out and see the city whenever possible . You can see quite a few sites in a town over the course of just a few hours . When you can , schedule an extra day to explore the locale to which you have been sent . If you are on a production and have a day off , get out of your hotel room and see something in the local area . Why would you ever skip going to see the Eiffel Tower when someone else has paid for your trip to Paris ?
AUDIO IS LIFE A career within the live entertainment audio field will provide you with a good lifestyle as well as amazing opportunities that you never thought possible . The rush that you feel when working on a large production and thinking back to your high school beginnings is unimaginable . If audio is in your blood , you will automatically strive to do all you can to grow your career in a way that suits you best
PROFESSIONAL SOUND 33