The Top 15 Things That Annoy the Crap Out of Your Local Sound Guy

maltingsaudio

Not my blog!

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2013/02/top_15_sound_guy_annoyances.php

Cirrus

Half those things are just a baby whining as far as I can see?

thecolourbox

I'm pretty sure i could annoy generic people with that kind of stuff. I might post a similar blog saying the top 56 ways to be disliked on a train, or similar. Was hoping for some act specific goss!

Si_

Moaning twat.. I wouldn't book him.

mudslide73

He's got the wrong end of the stick... it sounds like he's in the wrong job.

digitalscream

Definitely just sounds like an asshole. In fact, he sounds like every uncooperative sound guy I've ever had the displeasure to work with.

Tex Mexico

I'm a soundguy and I bitch all the time about it and he still sounded like a whining idiot to me.

ICBM

What a load of trivial nit-picking moaning. He doesn't even mention some of the genuinely annoying things bands can do. (Apart possibly from deliberately over-running, but that's a management issue and not the soundman's problem.)

I've been a soundman too, and I can only agree with what's already been said that he's exactly the type you don't want when you're the musician.

Bidley

"When people blame the band's lack of talent or poor equipment on the sound guy. It's amplified sound. If it sounds like crap, it will be amplified crap"

Way to trivilise the point of your own job!

keithf

total bell end,he's in the wrong job,needs to be a car park attendant or simular

hugbot

" When bands ask me to turn the monitor up. Each monitor is a separate mix. Tell me what instrument or vocal you want to hear in the monitor and I will turn that up for you." 

Their own?

MattG

I would only agree with 10 and 7 on everything else he needs to accept that these things dont come with the job THEY ARE THE FUCKING JOB if hes bored and doesnt enjoy it then hes in the wrong damn line of work!
It wouldnt bug me quite so much except i love doing live sound and lighting and the jobs in it are few and far between and knowing that moaning old fucks that dont enjoy it are taking that away from those of us who love it and have a passion for it.... well saying that it pisses me off would be an understatement
also if hes bored and not enjoying it then he is approaching it without enthusiasm so his mixes will be shit which is why bands will ask the crowd how it sounds.
mini rant over.
for now...

firepaulmusic

How about things that sound guys do to annoy bands who have employed them at the bands cost? My band recently booked a local PA sound engineer for a corporate gig in a larger than usual (for us) venue. 1. Turns up with a mountain of outboard gear and finds it very difficult to provide us with reverb on vocals and snare. 2. Refuses to take the time to sound check us properly insisting that a line check will suffice and will mix during the first few songs (not great for a confident start) 3. Farts around with reverb etc and fails to spot the fact that the keyboards have disappeared from the mix in a song where they are prominent because chatting to a punter. 4. Fails to provide loud and clear monitor mixes because of feedback problems ( we are not a loud band on stage). 5. Fails to pay attention to the music and misses obvious opportunities to aid dynamics e.g. Push guitar during solos, lift BV levels, push reverb on snare during ballads. I know this is only my experience but we cannot be the only band to have suffered in this way at the hands of someone who is bored because they do it day in, day out.........On the other hand another local PA hire company are absolutely brilliant at their job and great to deal with (ESP Productions Yeovil).

57Deluxe

a backline of a pair of Fender Twin Reverbs...

impmann

Hmmm - I don't think it was written by a proper sound engineer...
The biggest pet peeves for most live engineers are usually:
1) dickhead who won't turn down, as that is how he gets his sound
2) keyboard players who soundcheck with the volume control down low and gradually turn up and up through the evening
3) shit singers who glare at you when they shove their microphone into a monitor and get squeely feedback
4) horn players who insist on using a dynamic mic on a stand and then spend the rest of the night standing random distances from the mic, making mixing a 'challenge'
5) drummer who permanently clatters into his snare mic

There are more but I guess you'll just think its whingeing!! :-)