Live Sound Engineer Careers

Work Environment:

Being a live sound engineer, you'd manage sound at live-events like music concerts and theater recitals. You'd operate control desks, microphones and amplifiers to monitor sound levels. You may also give sound effects and background music.

As a live sound engineer, your work might comprise:

• loading, unloading, fixing up and dismantling equipment and machines at every venue while doing a tour
• prerecording music and sound effects to be utilized
• repairing and taking care of the equipment

• selecting appropriate equipment and microphones
• working as per cues and sound plan (plot) with stage manager
• performing sound-checks before any performance
• discussing sound requirements of production with sound engineer or director
• precisely where in script music, sound effects and alterations in sound-level are required
• placing and fixing up microphones
• controlling sound desk throughout performances

Qualification, Education and Experience:

To be a live sound engineer, you'll need a fine understanding of music and sound technology. You might also discover it helpful to understand electronics and physics.

You must have experience of utilizing sound equipment, while searching for your first job. You can accomplish this by taking related academy course. You can also gain experience by:

• working with a hire firm or sound equipment producer
• operating sound for local bands, or in student/amateur theater
• assisting offstage within a theaters
• mixing or recording music, e.g. being a DJ

Numerous live sound engineers begin by acquiring a course into sound engineering, technical theater or music technology, to improve abilities before searching for job. Training courses comprise:

• BTEC: National Diploma/Certificate into Music Technology or Production Arts
• degrees into technical theater arts, sound engineering or music technology
• City and Guilds: Diploma/Certificate into Music and Sound Technology
• BTEC: HND or HNC into Performing-Arts

Numerous drama schools provide diplomas and degrees into technical theater acknowledged by NCDT (National-Council for Drama Training). Few training courses comprise lighting and stage management with sound. For further information, check the website of the NCDT.

Training Details:

You'd get training at the work by experienced live sound engineers, improving your abilities with every production.

You can acquire short courses into fields such as safety, latest equipment and rigging, to stay updated with developments in technology all through your vocation. You could get further details regarding training by the associations given as below:

• PLASA (Professional Lighting and Sound Association)
• ABTT (Association of British Theater-Technicians)

By experience you can decide to obtain additional qualifications, like BTEC: Fifth Level Diplomas into Stage Sound, Light and Sound (Technical-Theater Management) or Live Sound.

You can also acquire short training courses, if you want to enter in sound for film and television. For information, visit the website of Skill set.

Skills and knowledge:

• an understanding of health and safety measures
• excellent practical abilities
• excellent people and communication skills
• a fine sense of rhythm, pitch and timing
• capability to deal with targets and extended hours
• concentration and patience
• excellent hearing for assessing quality of sound
• an interest into sound and music
• an understanding of acoustics and electronics

Salary and Other Benefits:

• Annual earnings of experienced sound engineers can be around $26,000 to $32,000.
• Live sound designers can receive $41,000 or above.

Working Conditions:

Working hours could be irregular and long. You'd have to be adaptable when you can work. You may need to work often on weekends and evenings, since most of the concerts and theater performances take place on weekends and evenings. You might work throughout daytime for maintenance, rehearsals and sound checks.

You can work within outdoor concerts and festivals, theaters, arenas, and concert halls. You'd employ much of working time sitting by a control-desk.

Working in concert tours could include traveling within the UK and probably abroad.

Different Opportunities:

You can work with theater firms, or sound-services firms that provide engineers to events, theater or concerts. You may also work on freelance contract.

Few openings are publicized by industry magazines and websites, although it is common to find job by contacts and networking. If you've knowledge of stage lighting and electrical work, you might improve your career prospects.

By experience you can advance to chief sound-engineer within a theaters. You can also establish your own sound services firm.

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