If Your Band Wants to Sound Good You Must Give the Sound Guy $20. No, Seriously

You are a scum sucking mollusc. You give live engineers a bad name. I've been a touring engineer for about 15 years now. Not as long as some, but plenty long enough to understand what professionalism means. I take pride in my work, and always give 110%. Even on days that make your 5 bands in one night in the comfort of your own venue look like the summer camp it is. I have never asked for nor expected any "extra motivation" to do what I'm supposed to be doing anyway. Your whining about having to work "hard" is pathetic. You clearly have no idea what hard work is - that isn't touring vs local snobbery, it is aimed solely at you.I'd like to echo something that other commenters said. You are extorting money. By asking for a "tip" to do the job you're already paid to be doing you are in fact demanding a bribe. You are employed to mix each and every band to the best of your ability. You are abusing the little power you have to take money from others."it's just how it is" doesn't wash with most people who can think for themselves. Neither does "everyone else is doing it". They aren't, and it's a lame excuse to hide behind. Grow a backbone, and learn to take pride in what you do. Then maybe you'll deserve a tip, though if that's all you're after you have already failed. Both in this game and at life.If I ever have the misfortune to come through the club where you work I will ask them to send you home, give your day's pay to charity, and take pride in doing your job properly, as well as my own, in the hope that it will undo a tiny bit of the damage you have done to our profession by writing this shameless article. I doubt that will happen, as you won't be working anywhere for long with this attitude.

I guess you didn't tip your parents well enough to teach you that when you're being paid a salary, you do the best possible job you can.

beanballinc 1 month ago WE PAY MONEY AT THE WHISKY A GO-GO  to see a band,  AND  FUCKIN  the sound MAN'S guyS decides to sabotage the show,AND THE SOUND OF THE BAND OVER THE PA' SYSTEM GIVING TOO MUCH HUM AND FUCKING NOISE, COME ON WHISKY PAY ATTENTION AND BRING SOME NEW PROFFESIONAL SOUNDMAN'S AND NOT SOUNDMANS  PEOPLE FROM THE STREETS

SOUND GUYS AT THE WHISKY DONT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT ANY BAND THEY JUST FUCKING WITH THE SOUND OF ANY BAND THIS GUYS SUCK BIG TIME AND THE OWNER OF THIS SHIT DONT KNOW SHIT EITHER....WHISKY NEED SOME REAL SOUND MAN'S

http://e.static.memegenerator....

this guy, trying to squeeze $20 extra bucks out of every band that comes his way. 

yeah what a douche, do your job and do it well. why would you actually purposefully allow a band to sound crap.

We get it, your a failed muso yourself.Put your hands on your own mixing desk and turn down the EGO dickhead

if you are not a well-known band, you often play for free. so if the band tips $20, then not only are they not getting paid by the venue that pays the sound guy, but the band is also paying an employee of the venue extra money to do their job. i totally understand that the job probably gets old. all jobs do. especially dealing with people in the music industry. but if everyone followed this logic, with 4 bands a night, that's $100. most local bands won't make that much until quite a few shows. and then they have to pay $20 at each event. they would constantly be giving out the little bit of money they make. it's tough. a lot of bands give everything they have to their project, working shitty hours at shitty jobs to compromise to the hours, etc that the music industry requires, and barely make enough money to get by. the bigger bands obviously don't tip sound guys, because they have "earned" the sound guy/girls attention. but isn't that kind of like keeping the poor poorer. honestly, i get where this sound person is coming from. but i think they need to remember what all those bands are having to deal with out there too. if you are bored at your post, find ways to make it interesting. give less attention to the bands that are assholes, not to every single band that doesn't tip you.

no, seriously, bands are poor.

band are poor, anuswrinkle.

bands are poor, dude. 

my friend's mom makes $19 hourly on the computer. She has been fired for 6 months but last month her pay was $1676 just working on the computer for a few hours. Read more on this web site..bit.ly/vsQLK7

This "writer" should be fired for an article like this.

This is not a tip.  It's a bribe.  The band is not paying the soundman, the club is.  You think it's in your employer's interest to have bad/mediocre sound in his/her venue?  You are being paid to help make sure that the customer's experience is the best it can be - you know, so people won't go elsewhere and the club will stay in business.  You should lose your job. 

You're joking right? You want a tip to do your job? Just DO YOUR JOB!

Meh, tipping isn't a good idea.  Here's a few other ideas:

Make the sound guy a stage diagram / input list for your actDon't clutter up the joint with your instrument casesAssemble/disassemble the drum kit & other complicated rigs off-stageEveryone uses an accurate stage tuner, no 'practice tuners' and no sharingRecord video of the whole set, including the stage changeover.  Make the changeover faster.

Merry Christmas, hope that helps someone.

my co-worker's ex-wife makes $75/hour on the laptop. She has been unemployed for 9 months but last month her paycheck was $8678 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this web site...4c3.de/y3h

This prick accomplished his goals: get a shitload of angry comments to show off to his publisher and masturbate to, sucker a few morons into tipping him, all after maybe ten minutes of "writing". I hate the internet.

Ya, and I guess that explains why everybody mistakenly thinks you're a shitty sound guy.

The worst part of this article? Another successful trolling.

The tip is traditionally given AFTER receiving good service - not before - or as a response to the threat of a brick through the window

I am a sound person. I do my job, and if a band tips me I hope it is because I did a great job. I don't expect it at all. I used to refuse it, because I knew what the bands were making. I get paid a lot less now than I did before and I will accept it if it is offered. I would never expect anyone to tip me to get good sound. I try to do that regardless. That being said, some bands just can't be helped.

If only most L.A. "Sound Guys" weren't apparently honors graduates of the Orange County School For The Deaf...whatever happened to "It's my job, and it's important to do it to the best of my ability". ESPECIALLY sound. This guy wants to be bribed to do his job better than being just mediocre...his self professed "B" effort is usually more like a D Minus...and that's on a Good night.

how bout just a nice ol' fashioned?

As a sound engineer with over 30 years under my belt, this is crap. If you can't do your best for the money you are ALREADY being paid, get the hell out and let somebody else do the job. I think this is an excuse for the lack of expertise of 99% of all the sound engineers I've EVER heard. Most of them totally suck.

This helps me to understand why so many bands have been kicking sound guys' asses lately! And I thought it was the musicians that were the douchebags! Thanks for clearing that up, LA Weekly. Now I realize it's the sound man who's to blame.

When I pay to see a show, I expect the venue to do everything in their power to make it sound as good as possible. Keep your politics out of it, thanks.

I acknowledge that sound engineering IS a service industry job, but I do get paid more per hour than waiters/resses and bartenders/rixes. Whatever happened to just trying your best? Repeat business pays better than $20 tips - though both would be nice too. I'm grateful just to have a job that I love.

to any artist asking for more money...fuck you.  tired of getting under payed and overworked? then quit.  tired of having your love for the music get taken advantage of? then quit. bands are getting raped just as bad if not worse than sound guys (oh i'm sorry, did i offend your sensitive ears? i mean sound 'engineer'),  and we (musicians) don't sabotage the night because of it.  if you want to be an artist then guess what; no money, no respect, and no being a little bitch. so quit complaining that your job is too tedious and repetitive to keep it up.  you don't like it? then quit so those of us who represent a more pure form of expression can perform without the risk of using a sound guy that will half-ass his job because he some personal beef with his own career decision.  

This article is a joke. You know why most musicians or sound guys don't make enough money? Because there's too many crummy bands and too little of a demand. All of the sudden every one and their mom is an artist

The author said that he gives his all for bands that are good, musically. So instead of bitching about the $20, why don't you concentrate on actually making good music and winning respect the "old fashioned way."

Imagine dealing with cocky self righteous un-accomplished axel rose carbon copies every nite. And all there lame jock friends that get wasted and annoy you. Its a nightmare hanging out with people in bands half the time.  Its usually selfish, rude, and inconsiderate people in the bands and basically a mega bummer to HAVE to hang out with. 

Judging from the comments I dont think people realize what this guy is saying. Hes being polite, but seriously there are sooooo many shitty bands in LA or come through LA. Id say 80-90%. I mix around 25-35 bands a week and most of the time I really dont want to be there. Imagine hanging out with people that aren't nice or cool, and having to sit through 5 hours of ass music blasting at your face. Loosing your hearing over someones childhood pipe dream of being a rockstar. Its like this weird day to day cycle. Its working in a bar making a very minimal salary having to deal with drunk people nite after nite while everyone else is having a blast at your expense. It takes a lot to be motivated. People tip the bar tenders for opening a fucking beer. Think about it. Whereas the entire show is relying on the sound man, running the show that is bringing in customers tipping the bar tenders. 

Jon Hughes wrote: "If you really want to have a good sounding set, introduce yourself to the sound guy, compliment him/them, say you're excited to play, describe your sound, maybe let him know what are some good levels for your type of music, and buy him a drink or supply him a shot (which can sometimes be free, depending on your rider, drink tickets, or if you brought your own booze)"

Exactly. I worked sound for years and still actively play out. I never expected a tip and worked just as hard for the assholes as I did the pros.

 That said, good form is: Introduce yourself and learn his/her name. Write it on your setlist if you're "bad with names". Address them by their name and offer to buy them a drink. You're co-workers now. If I was rock-climbing I'd be damn sure to know the name of the person holding my safety rope. Thank them before and after the set. Most importantly, set up and break down QUICKLY. Nothing pisses a soundperson off more than you throwing off the set-times to yammer with your "fans" instead of striking your gear and getting out of the way. Talk when your job is complete.

 Don't delude yourself: It's a job, not your 'act like a dick and get away with it because I'm an ARTIST' pass. Handle yourself professionally and entertain people, monkey.

And if you've ever said to a crowd, "How does it sound out there?!" when there is a soundperson working there ain't enough $20's to dig you out of that hole.

And another thing: is this sound guy promoting for us? Selling our merch? Are they guaranteeing a turn out? No.

I appreciate a good sound person and I am always gracious and friendly. All aspects of a live show are stressful, and I always make sure that my band makes it easy as possible from our end. I've met some sound people that were just really awesome people and we got along famously and I have gone on to work with them for years.

Point is, fuck you.

Wow, another reason to never play in LA, even they're sound guys are total douches. Which should be no suprise to anyone who's played a smallish show in LA. Instead of trying to ripoff small bands, maybe quite and find another job.

I THINK YOU ALL MISSED THE POINT HERE.

I don't really care for the way this article was worded: 95% of us don't EXPECT to get tipped. I may see about 1 tip a month out of the 80-100 bands that work with during that time.

However the notion that "we aren't doing our jobs" because you didn't tip us is COMPLETE BULL$HIT. The idea of a good mix is entirely subjective; if we bring you up in the mix and you suck, THEN YOU SUCK. PERIOD. When the band doesn't give us much to work with or works against us, we're fighting to keep it from sounding bad instead of working to make it sound good. Here are some examples of that:

1. Cupping the vocal mic- This isn't a lip-synced MTV video, and NO, IT DOESN'T LOOK COOL; it looks like your sucking a big fat one!  Learn Microphone Technique.

2. Not singing into the mic- It's not going to come to you; you have to PROJECT and it needs to be INTO THE MIC. And if you're out of breath from stage gymnastics, how is that the fault of the engineer? Once again, Learn Microphone Technique.

3. Blasting your amp and then asking for more monitors- Really? Take your damn earplugs out (which you wouldn't need if you played at a decent volume), turn your amp down and you'll actually hear the monitors. We're not going to blow our drivers because you don't have enough sense to realize this. And if you just plain deaf, you're not going to hear anything anyway...

4. Bad Tone- If your sound sucks, then making it louder won't help. Buzzy, nasty guitar tones, clinky, boomy bass tones and badly tuned drums can't be fixed at the console at ANY volume. Ground hums and squealing pickups also fall into this category. GIGO; garbage in, garbage out. It's a console, not a magic wand. And btw, there is no "SUCK" knob on it.

5. Ridiculous channel settings- Having your clean channel louder than your crunch makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. Or having your solo boost so loud we have to completely pull you out of the mix doesn't work either. Make your patch changes smooth and dynamic.

6. Absolutely NO DYNAMICS- "Hey, the guitar player is playing a solo; everybody play as LOUD AS YOU CAN!" When the verses of your songs are as loud as the choruses (or louder), how can you expect to hear the singer? If your band plays at full volume the entire show, it sounds VERY SMALL. Use dynamics to bring out the intensity.

7. Completely Unprepared for a show- You didn't bring a guitar cable? Forgot which one goes to the effects loop? Don't have a pickup for your acoustic guitar? Your wireless is dead? Your pedalboard doesn't work? Your lack of FORESIGHT does not constitute an emergency on our part; we KNOW who the Pros are.

8. Too much Crap- Your banners and scrims, stage props and costumes take time to setup; are you prepared to GIVE UP A SONG OR TWO to have them in place? You get a 15 minute changeover which includes getting the previous band OFFSTAGE. What happens when you take 25 minutes to get your gear, your props and your makeup on? Everything you add to your show takes time to implementt; is it worth it? And it takes time to get that shit off the stage as well. If you're NOT the headliner, don't act like a rockstar! You set time is your set time; use it wisely.

9. Poor time management- You showed up late, took FOREVER to setup and fix your crap, failed to ACCURATELY time your set and allow for adjustments and between song banter or extended solos, but expect to play your entire set? NOT HAPPENING. When you hear "last song", it doesn't mean play "In-A-Gada-Da-Vida" or "Freebird".

10. NO CONCEPT of what a mix really is- Your buddy standing in front of the stage where there is NO PA coverage, is not going to be a good person to critique the mix. Numerous times, I have people run up to the console and say "Turn my boyfriend up!" while he's BLARING in the house, then she runs down and stands in front of him and all she can hear is the guitar player balsting off the stage... GO FIGURE. And just because you're friends with the drummer doesn't mean he has to be the loudest thing in the mix...EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR EVERYONE..Get it???

We get paid to do a job, but WE DON'T GET PAID TO DO YOUR JOB, but often have to do it anyway. I carry gear and stage props on/off the stage, troubleshoot your amp, fix ground hums, and regulate unruly stage volumes, provide forgotten cables and many other uncompensated conveniences....AND NEVER ASK FOR A TIP. If you can look at this list and HONESTLY say that you don't do at least one of these things, I THANK YOU. If not, then you may want to THANK ME.  

This is ludicrous. You're getting paid to do a job. Take pride in your work. Bands rarely get paid a fair amount if at all, so we rarely have any money to eat much less give the sound guy, a paid venue employee, money we barely have.

If you aren't motivated to be a sound guy, find another line of work.