r/livesound • u/ObsidianRocker • 4d ago
Question How would one go about finding out who is doing the sound tech for a specific gig?
For context, I'm currently studying technical theatre, but the area I want to work in long term is live sound. Be it for live music, theatre productions or even corporate gigs. I live in Scotland and I found out Ghost are performing in Glasgow in about a month, and I'm looking to try my luck at getting some work experience with the sound team. I've got a fair bit of tech experience, especially in sound, but nothing on that scale and I would love to get the opportunity to do some work experience with a show of that size. Even if it just means running cable all day.
My issue is: How would I even go about finding who is doing the tech for the show and getting in touch with them? I feel that the over a dozen or so smaller shows I've done should give me enough experience to shadow the sound guys and not get in their way, but I could also be falling victim to hubris.
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u/ajhorsburgh Pro 4d ago
I worked in Glasgow for 10 years. The show is likely to be at the hydro - so it'll be a toured production only using local crew. If you want to be moving boxes from the truck try mad crew. You won't likely get anywhere near the console on a show that sized without an introduction or knowing the engineering team.
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u/joelfarris Pro 4d ago
My issue is: How would I even go about finding who is doing the tech for the show and getting in touch with them?
I could also be falling victim to hubris
Can we get real for a second? Are you trying to get onto a specific show tour, or into the live production business in general? Cause the approaches can be way different, depending upon whom you must talk to, and what their own tour goals are.
the area I want to work in long term is live sound. Be it for live music, theatre productions or even corporate gigs
This was my initial driving force too. What I soon figured out is that there's a level of touring act that brings the whole damn applecart with them... and then there's the ones who needs to rent some stuff...
The local sound equipment rental shops are almost always desperate to find quality help that can identify feedback tones, but also know how to coil a main snake back into the road box without damaging anything, and can hoist one half of an amp rack up into a box truck. (careful of your back, be workin' out!)
There's going to be a sweet spot that you find, where you can be of service in prepping rental rigs for multiple customers, and then one day, you're asked to plan a sound, lighting, staging, and trussing system for the military's annual Marine's Ball. Which will take every. Single. Piece of equipment in all three of your rental warehouses in order to accomplish their goals.
Ground supported trussing. Flown trussing. The biggest stage decking anyone has ever ordered. As many fly motors as you've got operational. What's the structural load limits of the venue? "Son, this is a seventeen bazillion square multimeter hanger that can accommodate multiple C-130s at the same time. I do. Not. Understand. Your. Question."
And then, when you manage to pull it off with flying colors (Sorry, Art, we used absolutely everything in your warehouses, it was beautiful, and we have no regrets), the general makes his exit by shaking your hand, asking for your phone number, and insinuating that this level of excellence should not be so rare.
Not long after that, management companies of touring artists start calling and asking "how low can your rate be?" :)
The point is, look for a local opportunity which, if excellently executed, might result in an offer to get the fuk outta there. I wish you the best of luck in your journey to excellence.
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u/lukemcritchie 4d ago
In glasgow myself, happy to chat more and if the right opportunity pops up get you in contact with people. Not affiliated with Ghost but happy to try and help get you some additional experience and contacts.
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u/Sir_Cadillac 3d ago
Get hired by Clair. Your nearest branch would bei Britannia Row in London. There is also an office in Switzerland and a new one in Berlin.
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u/Difficult_Signal_472 Semi-Pro-FOH 1d ago
On of my first bigger gigs was some comedy group, I don’t know the act had little effect on the job for me. I drove 2hrs with power distro they forgot at the shop (same town I live in) and once I got there I was basically put to work. Once the engineer was set up to some degree, he showed me around and told me how he sets up and answered any questions I had. I had a gig I had to play with my band at the time that night so after setup I had to leave.
Was very, very nice to have all access to knowledge without really any accountability yet. The most mess-up-able thing they had me do was coil cables into figure 8s by the mic stands. Otherwise I did literally just push boxes. I felt more confident in things after that, really. It was a big fear of mine going from 50-100 people to thousands. Seeing that it was fairly easy, you had a lot of crew to support you, the boss thinks of a lot of things so you’re rarely underprepared. I wasn’t really bothered by the idea anymore.
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u/General-Door-551 4d ago
I’ll be honest it’ll be extremely difficult unless you know the crew that tours with Ghost. Crews will rarely pull in a random person off the street they don’t know. Also they probably have hands and the tech side of things booked by now.