What’s keeping you up?

I’m pretty sure if you think about all your dealings with most sound people, the general consensus will be negative. I’ve heard so many musicians tell their stories of these guys who claim to be “Stewards of the Human Ear.” Just think of being a sound guy and dealing with sound guys. My thoughts of most sound guys are probably worse than yours.

If you think back to all the sound guys in your past, get a visual of these individuals. In the midst of their job, their facial expressions are usually one of frustration and irritation. They probably look mean. They play the martyr in the whole production, having to deal with not so ideal situations…oh and musicians. Their job is just full of compromises they had to make.

I was just mixing the other day and I kind of had this epiphany. When you are mixing, you are constantly looking for what is the problem. You ask yourself “What’s not right?” and try to fix it. If something is right….you move on and look for problems…always focusing on the negative. In the course of one sound check you are making hundreds, if not thousands of criticisms and reacting. Once your problem is fixed you move on to the next, and next, and so on.

As I scanned the console and listened intently, I realized I had a scowl on my face. Probably like one of the sound guys you imagined earlier.

My problem is, I often times try to deal with other areas of my work in the same fashion, even people. I am always focusing on what is the problem and never enjoying the good parts. I’m afraid if I don’t change my view. I will become a mean person, one that people try to avoid.

For those of you who are around me, I’m sorry. I’m a victim of the Sound Man’s curse.