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.

• Wow. You really don't have a clue. I am a musician and a soundman. Being a soundman is way harder. Just trying to get a bunch of talentless egomaniacs to go on and off on time is impossible let alone making them sound good. I'm not sure about money but if you're not an ass and act like a pro, I'll probably go the extra mile. Screw with me, and you won't even make it on.

• 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

• but they don't tell in public "give me extra cash or i won't do anything". we all have to work, we get paid for it and if we don't give our best we get fired. maybe you should just be glad you don't have to work at some boring office instead of posting such a shit.

• Yeah, that's how we (sound engineers) should think. We are there to put on a awesome show for the audience. So if anybody wants to tip, it should be the people in front of the stage and the artists share the tip with the sound guys. That's the spirit!

• I am a 26-years-old servicewoman (working in Air Force), cute and charming but still single. I am seeking one who can give me real love, so I joined in the online service --Kissinguniform.c0m--. It's a 10-year-old club for uniformed personnel finding their intimate lovers. Well, being in military service does not mean to be lonely; you can meet the Mr. or Miss Right there. p.s. The admirers of those uniformed person are also warmly welcome, there are lots of servicemen and women there.

• 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. 

• you're working on a 3-4 guy crew in a pro venue and making $100 for a full day? you're retarded. i would only take that little if i were in a 100 person capacity venue running foh/foldback in a dive in cleveland for 3 hours. you have to suck if your only getting paid that much.

• 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

• Not gonna happen, the "writer" got 100 people to comment. We've all been trolled.

• Oh shit your right! How did I miss that? Awesome!

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

• That was a Seinfeld reference commenting on FOH's lame insult.

• LOL! You called me a jerk, that's fucking hilarious!!

• 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 act Don't clutter up the joint with your instrument cases Assemble/disassemble the drum kit & other complicated rigs off-stage Everyone uses an accurate stage tuner, no 'practice tuners' and no sharing Record 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.

• a tip for a good job on a tattoo ? NEVER

• sell grit! wash dishes! wait tables like every other actor asshole in LA!

• ALL CAPS

• 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?

• Yes im desperately trying to find a new job, doing live sound blows. Great advice. 

• YEAH Jpmenough, the jerk store called and they're running out of YOU!

• The point is its a shitty job. I always do my best, and treat each band with patience and respect. This is rarely ever reciprocated. Its a low paying job that entails high stress and having to deal with people cussing you out, beligerent drunk assholes, rude and inconsiderate bands. Its very unlike sitting at a desk crunching spread sheets.  I really do want a different job, but unfortunately this is what I got for now. I have to eat. 

• 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.

• I'm not trying to be a total cock, I truly know that sound men make or break a show and to a large degree they're polishing turds all night, but seriously, a twenty dollar tip? Your also right that its far too easy for bands to tour.

• If your seriously dealing with these issues then you probably do sound at some tiny club. Good luck with that, your not getting my $20. Do another bump and stay unhappy.

• 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.  

• $20 won't even buy you a CLUE, much less a mix. The bubble is between your ears. Enjoy THAT.

• "I mix around 25-35 bands a week and most of the time I really dont want to be there." No one's forcing you to keep going there, buddy! Any of us who work shitty day jobs rarely want to be there, but we're still expected to give 100% effort while someone's paying us to be there.

• Most of it. You are way out of touch. Enjoy your bubble.

• 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."

• "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." LOL!!! Well said....

• 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. 

• Paul, I did read it. It wasn't worded very well. ESPECIALLY the "ever wonder why you sound so bad?" part.  This is COMPLETELY UNTRUE. Nonetheless, some bands come in expecting to be treated SPECIAL...if that's what they want, maybe get some help getting their stuff on/off stage (which is not our job), cleaning up their problematic rigs and provide forgotten cables and batteries (which again, is not our job) and maybe play an extra song (which we have to make up for), then a tip might not be a bad idea. But feeling ENTITLED to all of this is absurd. VERY BADLY WORDED ARTICLE.

• 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.

• No foh, we did NOT miss the point. You apparently didn't read the freakin article! This  knucklehead says, and I quote, "...ever wonder why you sound bad? Sure it might be because you stink, but more likely there's something else at play: you forgot to tip the sound guy." All your litany of band sins? Sure that stuff exists. Bands are learning professionalism as they go. No one is born knowing all this stuff, hopefully groups pick it up in smaller venues, parties, basements, all the places ya play on the way up. Most sound people I've worked with were truly pros and most bands I've been around were eager to learn these things and apply them. All involved were all about putting on a great show. The audience has fun-we have fun-the better the whole presentation, the more fun everybody has. I've also encountered some truly awful sound guys (or gals) who were late to sound check, couldn't get monitor levels to save their life, and left me nearly deaf...and of course the extortionist who ruined my first Whisky gig. (In defense of the Whisky, I played other shows there with different sound guys and they were totally pro)

• REALLY? And what part of my last post was untrue or didn't make sense?

• Most of us DO give a shit, Thanks DJ !!!

• You're delusional. Go do another bump and put on some snakeskin tights. So out of touch.

• See, it's not about you, or "all soundguys"--it's about the entitled shithead that wrote this article. Your list of suggestions would have made a much better article. Unfortunately, said entitled shithead wrote this crap-ass rant in a manner that implied that he is speaking on behalf of all soundguys. He probably shouldn't have done that, as many of the soundguys eviscerating him in the comments attest to. Anyway, congratulations! You sound like a dude who knows what he's talking about. You have that leg up on the author of this tragically stupid and entitled piece.

• Most sound guys don't really show up that early. And I can't think of one time that they "work harder" than the band.

• 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.

• Sound guys get paid for their job. Bands usually don't get paid at all, and if they do, its after the sound guy gets paid. This is insulting, whining B.S.

• Wouldn't it be a better attitude to view yourself in the same boat as the band -- putting on a show for the people who showed up to see it? I get that you're performing a service, but this sounds like saying a waitress should tip the cooks so her orders are up on a reasonable timeframe: absolutely ludicrous.

• i love that everyones ripping this guy a new asshole ahaha, but seriously, fuck you, do yr job.

• You forgot to mention how you lugged the PA and lights to the show barefoot in the snow uphill both ways.

• what a fucking idiot

• Wait so should I tip the dude BEFORE or AFTER? If I tip him before how do I know he's even GOOD if I don't know him? Doesn't he already get PAID by the club? Don't bands usually play for almost NOTHING?  Why don't you just do your job to the best of your abilities in the first place you self righteous idiot?

• If the sound is bad at any venue. I won't go back. And if a band i want to see is playing at one of these venues. I will travel to another city to see them. Do your job. Quit hurting the bands, fans, and the venue.

• Consider the fallowing.   Sound persons are getting paid to do a job.  That should be the end of discussion but I will elaborate just in case you don't quite understand.  The band put many hours of work into writing and preparing a set, getting to the gig, playing it as well as setting up and tearing down their gear(which they had to buy out of their substantially shallow pockets btw).   You are subcontracted to operate a board, mic's and cables you do not own or have to bring from home by an establishment.  That establishment is likely paying you to the tune of $150.  More cases than not the band is getting paid zilch.   Your opinion and position is unfortunate.  I have had the pleasure of working with sound persons who do a fabulous job and respect the work artists put into a performance.  I am also  unfortunately familiar with "sound god's" and their usually jaded and frustrated position on their lot in life. Hopefully you can learn and grow a bit from this.  Thank you for sharing.

• Most punk rock touring bands make $40 in a night after the room takes their cut and the sound man gets his $150-$200. But even though the sound guy is the only person guaranteed to get paid a decent wage for their night's work, that person should still get tipped. Hey, author! Go fuck yourself!

• The new "pay to play."  Seriously, LA can go eff itself in the face sometimes.

• Just one question.  Are all the people coming to the club to hear the sound guy or the band?  Oh, that's right.  

• What a joke.  The sound guys typically makes more then the band.  The band splits their earnings amongst the band members.  We load in, wait for hours, play for 45 minutes and get paid next to nothing even when they promote for months to bring people to the show.  Either have passion for what you do or get out of the industry.  Hey, why don't the sound guys tip the bands for giving them a job in the first place?  If a sound guys ever asks me for a tip after a gig they will be on the floor with less teeth in no time.  The nerve some of you arrogant twats have...

• Angry old guy is angry and old.

• Someone should have tipped the writer $20 before he wrote such a lame blog; maybe he would have written a better one.  Do your employers - both LA Weekly and the various clubs - know you do half-assed work unless tipped?

• This is not a new LA phenomenon....I remember being sabotaged at by a Whisky a Go Go soundman in 1980, who expected some "nose candy' 'cause he was "awful tired tonight". We had spent every penny just gettin' to LA from San Francisco and had never, ever been asked for anything like this in the Bay Area. Some things never change. You're lucky enough to have a job in life's toy department, just do your damn job, or get out of the way.

• Enough of this "kill the soundguy" shiite. IF your band sounds great, then you have nothing to worry about. Go buy another 1/8th oz and forget about the soundguy. But the truth of the matter is YOU LAZY TURDS WOULD NEVER LEAVE YOUR FREAKIN BEDROOM if you had to do what ALL BANDS had to do in the 60's, 70's and early 80's: Buy a PA and Light system, a truck to carry it around, hire some guys to set it up and work it for your show. FEW, if any of you losers could ever get through an hour & half set, much less 4 x 45mins sets! If you could, you might actually be able to make some money. So the next time you want to come to a PRO venue and rehearse your dreadful songs in front of your girlfriends (if you have any...) and the 4 or 5  people you put on the guest list, on a $100,000 rig with a 3 or 4 man stage crew, SHOW SOME DAMN RESPECT. Most clubs only pay their crew $100 for a 10-14 hour day, only to have to work with a$$holes like many of you on this post. I'd rather stand in front of Home Depot than mix sound for you INGRATEFUL FUX!!! OR BETTER YET: bring your own PA, lights, crew, spend all day setting it up and soundchecking and see how much that costs you!  BRING YOUR OWN ENGINEER? That'll only run you $150....and you're tripping on a dub??? Go Ahead: cut your nose off to spite your face!   And while I'm at it, are we really going to compare a FOH/MON engineer/LD to a waitress? You tip that douche 20%..for what? A glass of water, maybe a menu? Bringing your damn food to the table? The busboy cleans it up! ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF ACTUAL WORK, NONE OF WHICH REQUIRES ANY TECHNICAL ABILITY. It takes YEARS to learn how to MIX ON A PRO RIG, about 5 mins to learn how to wait tables. Maybe you should spend more time learning your instrument and less time at the tattoo parlor.... FINAL WORD: Nobody is sabotaging your mix because you didn't tip them; YOU REALLY SUCK THAT BAD. It's because you CAN HEAR EVERYTHING IN A GOOD MIX is why your flaws become QUITE NOTICABLE, LOL!!!! But if you want that little extra, some delay can help hide your tone-deaf singer, a little verb will keep your amped-out drummer from seeming so out of time and let's push that one player down in the mix: you know, the one that doesn't really know the songs....THAT'S WHAT $20 WILL GET YOU. Bring it on: YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH.

• I'm reading this from both sides of the board.  I've played onstage and worked sound in large and great rooms, plenty of dumps and many in between.  As a live engineer, expecting fair treatment and courtesy is one thing, but expecting a tip is pretty weak.   If a band can afford to kick over cash, they should be doing it to a guy they brought with who knows immediately what Dave's amp or Steve's vocal mix should be, because that's genuine value. It's not surprising that this unprecedented idea comes from Los Angeles, who brought you pay to play and the entire rotten music and entertainment business to boot. I don't mean that bands are always right, either.  I will say that bands who treat soundpeople poorly and people who abuse waitstaff at restaurants are exhibiting the same kind of reckless stupidity by forgetting that these people are alone with your food/mix.  That's one big reason to treat them well (although it shouldn't be the only reason). Treating a soundguy well involves not being petulant cocks and attempting to be friendly.  He's being paid a day rate 90% of the time.  That should include his best mixing effort.   

• The soundman is an asshole. Not exactly news. And not something that can be fixed with $20. Don't waste your money. He'll still be an asshole mixing your show.

• Guess what Chris Walker. You're a fuckwit.

• If you take pride in your work as a sound engineer, then you'll do your best possible work every time, for every band, whether you like them or not, and tip should be an insult to that pride.

• I dedicated my Friday, Saturday, sometimes Sunday and other various odds n end of time for 3 years working for a local production company running sound. The company didnt make shit, And besides a free bar tab, I didnt recieve any monetary Wages. It was gratifying working with good people to put on a scene in a town where the scene was much dead and buried. I met a lot of musicians, partied with the bands. I ended up spending more of my money on THEM than they ever did for me. But fuck, -we're not in this business to make money. If that's your only goal, you should stick with serving coffee, or opening doors. In music and entertainment, there Are NO garuntees. -but tipping the sound guy Does sound like it could be an awesome trend. We should all get paid. Tip Everyone. hoorraahh!

• wow. you're a jerk! the only think i expect from a band is a handshake and a thank you.  i do my absolute best to mix every band well, i even look them up on youtube a listen to a song before the show so i have an idea of their sound. maybe thats why i'm head engineer at 2 venues, have mixed festivals all over the world, toured the us and europe, and got a job with one of the worlds biggest touring companies when i've only been in the business for 3 1/2 years.  have a blast in your shitty LA dives, i bet you work at one of the ones i spent and hour retuning because it sounded like crap in the room. get over yourself.

• I don't know about tipping, but I do agree a club sound person deserves common respect: a polite introduction and a handshake from the band, maybe a shout out during the set "..and thanks to (name of engineer) back there for making us sound good." People have made some good comments here, especially that if you are mixing at a club, you could probably advance your career by connecting with a band that is going places. Some people possess an innate drive to do the best job they can, all the time. I think the writer of this article is not one of them

• Listen.  I'm sorry that your stuck in the bar and club scene, but you do not speak on the behalf of all sound engineers.  The truth is if you want good sound then do the research and hire a qualified engineer.  By qualified I don't mean someone that claims they have mixed for the "big time artists."  Ask for references and make and educated decision.  When it comes down to it engineering is just as much an art as is playing the instruments.  If said engineer has no desire to be there other than a $20 tip then maybe they shouldn't be there at all.

• As a Guy who has been there and done that, from the little 100 seat rooms to 10,000, shame on you. It seems that guys like you got into it for the wrong reasons. I busted my hump to build a reputation that got me some pretty killer gigs and have worked with world class artists. I never did it for chicks, or a twenty. It's guys like you that give those of us who see this as an art form, as we are a part of the experience, enhancing it if you will, a bad name. I've met your type, reading the latest rag instead of trying to provide the best experience you can for the fans, or trying to look cool for the hot chick looking at you. Really she's thinking, this guy sucks, get a new sound guy. Here's a tip....grow up. You get paid, and if your any good, you get paid well. Do your job or get out so someone who loves it can do it.

• As a tour manager, musician and venue employee, I've never tipped a soundguy in my entire 20+ years touring. Not once. From time to time, if they're a fan of the band, we'll hook them up with merch, or spend some time after the show tying one on with them, but never tip. They're getting paid to be there.The good ones actually do a good job, because you never know when that band is going to need a front of house person on tour. Or if the tour manager likes you, they might hire you for their next gig. Demand a tip, and I'll make sure you never see the road with me or my friends. Fuck you, Chris Walker. 

• i find this funny as all hell.. poor unnoticed sound guy, getting paid $100 bux an hr or more sometimes to sit in a booth tweaking some knobs. not to say there isnt skill involved but in my experience in working in clubs and promoting bands (not to mention playing in them) for years i have seen great bands get stiffed because the club didnt do their job promoting the show so the sound guy was 'bored' and did the bare minimum that was required and got paid $50-200 bux per band and the touring act got nothing and had to pay their bar tab. they also got to sound and look bad because this overpaid soundguy has no work ethic. funny though, the bands usually will rock out to an empty room. guess they shoulda tipped the sound guy..heres my tip..tips come from services already performed, you are taking bribes you unethical scum..

• This is shameful.  Just do your F'n job you lazy bastards! I've worked as both a sound guy and the onstage performer (for tours, clubs and festivals -- in both roles). And no matter what, I always give my 100%.  When I'm the sound guy, I do everything in my power to make the band sound the best they can because that's my job -- even if the performers give me attitude.  I'd rather be known as that awesome, integritous sound guy who kicked-butt no matter what than some washed-up, audio snob who thinks he's more important than he really is; you never know who might notice your work (for better or for worse) on any given night.  If I'm the sound guy, making everyone sound the best they can IS the job I'm ALREADY getting paid by the club to do and I have NEVER seen the sense in doing a half-fast job at ANYTHING in life.   So whoever wrote this article and whichever sound guys he is talking about DON'T actually love music, don't TRULY understand and appreciate what it's like to be onstage and/OR are jealous (consciously or unconsciously) about not being on stage AND should all be fired (there are plenty of sound guys out there ready to take your place and give their 100%)!  Reserving your best work for only those who kiss your ass or give you a tip is just a bad way to live your life (you're actually letting other people dictate the quality of your actions); just don't do it.  

• I'm sorry that personal integrity isn't enough to motivate you to do a good job.   By the way, how does lousy FOH sound reflect poorly on the band and not you, the sound guy?  

• This piece is brought to you buy a sound guy that will work at small + shitty clubs for the rest of his career. Way to go! You're really doing it!!

• this is the most retared article and attitude i've came across for a while. don't forget to tip your comment poster for writing something nice!

• Clubs should really ferret out lousy soundmen.  It's no wonder people don't stick around to hear other bands after seeing their friends play.  It usually sounds like shit.  Molly Malone's anyone? Total bullshit, this guy writing about tipping the soundman.  Do your job and stop sabotaging your club, and the bands that give you a reason to exist.

• tips are after the fact, what you are looking for are bribes you cry-baby assed CA beyotch. maybe Albert can start a band.

• Here is a "tip"!   Quit your job.  Give it to someone who is deserving and capable of performing the job.  And not self righteous and entitled.  

• You should do your job as if you were going to get tipped, end of story.  whether you get a handout or not should be a bonus.  tips are a not mandatory, otherwise theyd be fees.  Maybe you dont get tipped cause youre not that great at your job, or your "customers" dont like you.  Im a tattooer, i get tipped on maybe 50% of my customers if i'm lucky.  not because i dont do my job well, but because either people dont know they should tip or prices are high and most customers are struggling to pay for the work itself.  but they seek me out.  some of my customers want to work with me.  others just go to me because they want a tattoo and i do tattoos, they couldn't give a shit whose doing it.  To those people, I am not a name brand, just another tattooer.  Furthermore,  You're a soundman.  you're there because someone needed 'a soundman'  not  'Hot Shit Sam, Best Soundman in all the Land".  Bands are there for their fans and for the fact that they hopefully wont get screwed out of all their money at this venue.  They dont say, "oh shit we have to play this bar, Hot Shit Sam is workin the boards, i dont even care that the show isnt being promoted at all and no one will be there, Sam is all we need!"  Be a little more modest.  This kind of mentality is why the idiot playing with his iphone (which is nicer then my phone, btw) behind the register at mcdonalds cant take the time to take my order. as if you are so entitled to get paid to just be there, while doing your job right means you should get something special. Do your job and do it well or stay the fuck home so someone who is willing and capable can do it.  and to everyone else, next time your favorite band's sound sucks, throw shit at the sound guy.  maybe not getting pumeled by bottles can be his/her encouragement to do their job right.  after a night like that, getting a tip would be an enlightening experience.  

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