Michelle and I started SoundGirls.Org after sitting on a panel at AES in 2012. The panel was put together by Women’s Audio Mission and we were inspired afterwards to be able to find and connect with other women in audio. So we built it and they came.
What inspired you to start Soundgirls.org, what year was it and who helped you (if any)?
I started at Rat Sound and made connections by working shows.
Was there any one person who assisted you in finding your first job as a sound engineer?
I learned hands on doing gigs. started loading in and out of shows and built from there.
First board was a Yamaha 2408 - which most people are not familiar with.
How did you learn and on what type of board was being used?
Can you recollect what age, where you were at and what type of music was playing when you first noticed an interest in music sound engineering?
Q's & A's with Karrie
"We launched our first Live Sound Camp for Girls in Modesto. By the end of the week the girls could successfully write input lists, wire a stage, line check, troubleshoot, and mix a band. Introducing young girls and women to the world of live sound was incredibly rewarding. We are planning on expanding our camps in 2016 and bringing them to under served communities" says Karrie. They also expanded the content on the website and continued monthly features of women in audio, because "We believe strongly that it’s important to provide role models for young women and you can’t be what you can’t imagine” quoted Karrie. Soundgirls give the idea that you CAN be a sound engineer by first presenting and then becoming role models, providing inspiration, and believing that you can do it. The profiles allow them to tell the stories of women working in audio and allow us to all learn from their insights and experiences. They've also welcomed several new writers and bloggers. "Our wonderful team has been sharing their experiences working in Theatre Sound Design, Live Sound, Event Coordination, RF Coordination, Post Production, and Women in Music. We are super excited to see SoundGirls.Org Chapters forming across the world. 2015 brought Chapters to Europe, Toronto, North Carolina, Kansas City, Texas, Mexico City and Los Angeles. We hope to see more chapters starting in 2016" states Karrie.
They welcomed Tiffany Hendren on as a co-director and Jessica Berg as Director of Development. They have also formed a partnership with California Women’s Music Festival, which provides them fiscal sponsorship and allows both organizations to share resources. One of their focuses last year was to work with their members to establish internship opportunities. "We’ve been able to help create and/or offer placements at Miners Foundry, The Viper Room, The Troubadour, UW Meany Hall, 23 db productions, Los Angeles Girls Rock Camp, California Women’s Music Festival, and the 1st Annual Southern California Girls Fest, and are working on more openings for 2016" quotes Karrie. They've also been able to expand their tours, workshops, and seminars. They have hosted events this year with NPR West, The Viper Room, a Dave Rat Seminar, Cherokee Studios, an SSL Demo in NYC, and four days of SSL Training at Rat Sound. In Europe, their members organized workshops with Shure, Marcel Van Limbeek, and Lake Processing. They also brought two TM/FOH Seminars to Los Angeles and New York.
I was young - probably around four and I was in love with The Beatles and the Soundtrack to The Sting
2015 was a busy year for SoundGirls.Org
Karrie Keyes
By: Rag House
Photo By: Mia E. Munoz