Live Sound - DIY or Technician?

As Do-It-Yourself (DIY) musicians, many of us have gotten efficient at managing our sound from the stage. Some players have utilized wireless systems to navigate through the audience to check out the sound, while others listen to occasional advice from the audience, but none of these methods can replicate a true Sound Technician.

Your Sound Technician is the difference between your group sounding good or sounding incredible. I am sure some of you will not agree with me and there are new technologies to assist in running your own sound, like mixer apps for a tablet, but even then, 100% attention is not given to the sound your audience hears.

As audiences increase and decrease throughout the show and the band becomes energized with increased intensely, your sound is being negelted. As a DIY sound person, could your sound be too quiet?, too loud? or have dead zones? You are likely to face many possible sound issues without a Sound Technician.

Isn't sound production expensive? It can be, but that also depends on what you are requesting of your Sound Technician. Are you requesting that they set up, arrange, provide and operate the sound system? Then, yes, that could be expensive. Do you have your own system that you set up, provide and arrange? If you are only searching for the Sound Technician to operate your equipment, then a Sound Technician could be a more affordable solution.

When you work with Sound Technicians on a regular basis, they become familiar with your groups material. The tech begins to know when the guitar solo is coming or that the drummer gets excited while smashing out on favorite songs. The Sound Techician balances those moments to provide your audience with a wonderful, harmonious sound experience that your listeners are sure to tell other music listeners about.

If the goal of your group is to deliver great performances to your audience, increase sales at the venues that you perform at and grow your group, then you might want to consider a Sound Technician and release your group's best performances.