In the past, I have written about “shop techs” — the unassuming tech who is in the unglamorous position of assembling and disassembling gear for the very glamorous A-1 and A-2 techs headed out on tour or on a local one-off. These shop techs are responsible for making sure all the gear is in working order and accounted for in order that the tour or event they are putting together operates smoothly. These same techs are responsible on the back end for ensuring that all returning equipment is accounted for and in good working order for the next time it goes out. Their responsibilities often include repair and reconditioning of the gear, not to mention the tedious job of taking inventory on a regular basis.
These jobs are usually not held by A-1 and A-2 techs, whose tasks include setting up and operating the equipment for shows and events, but rather by aspiring engineers trying to get a foot in the door so that one day they too can be on the front line rather than behind the scenes. While unassuming, there is nothing trivial about the shop tech’s position as it is an extremely important role in regard to the success of the engineers, events, shows and the company itself. A shop tech has to be able to multitask considering that the outgoing, incoming, repairs and inventory usually take place at the same time.
Sweat Out the Little Details
Shop techs are required to be detail-oriented, as minor mistakes can be costly in regard to time and money. Not sending the small things such as BNC cable for RF paddles or the wrong clip for a DPA 4099 can derail a show or force the company to make an emergency delivery.
The big pieces are easy compared to the minor details that we often take for granted and quite often the more knowledgeable of us fail to pass on the information leaving the shop tech in the position of learning the hard way. Battery adapters for the Shure Axient AD2 microphones come to mind. This is a little five-dollar piece that attaches to the inside arm of the microphone’s battery compartment. When the microphone is used with standard AA batteries, this removable piece is placed in a horizontal position to the capsule of the microphone, and when use in conjunction with rechargeable batteries it is removed. When the battery compartment is closed this piece, if placed properly, fits snugly against the batteries and holds them in place. If the mic is using AA batteries and is sent without the adapter the AA batteries will not stay in place and a spate of angry phone calls will ensue regarding the issue.
The RF Challenge
Shop techs should beware, as these items often go out without a knowledgeable tech on site to troubleshoot the problem and rectify the situation. Wireless equipment can be a thorn in the side of any shop tech, as most everybody wants wireless mics, but few are versed in RF information. These individuals just want to turn on the mic and have it work, voila! Unfortunately, with no voila, there is a lot of screaming, yelling and gnashing of teeth, which of course, is directed at the shop tech. As we all know, everything needs to be “now.” There is no getting it later, as all events have a short shelf life and if that “now” should pass, there is no regaining the moment. The resulting consequences are loss of income, upset customers and of course, more gnashing of teeth.
Teeth gnashing is a big sport in our business, and it is also accompanied by the blame game. No one wants to be on the wrong side of a tooth-gnashing client, as any little glitch is an excuse to vent on the supposed wrong doer. More often than not that tends to be the shop tech, regardless of the client’s ability or knowledge. Therefore, it behooves the shop tech to be well versed in the equipment, so that they are able to quickly assess the problem and talk a nervous tooth gnasher off the ledge. Frequency bands can be problematic in wireless units. For example; if the receiver is set to frequency band G53 (470 to 510 MHz) and the mic is set to frequency band G57 (470 to 616 MHz), it might work, but there’s a good chance there would be issues. These issues will be followed by a frantic call, and it is up to the shop tech to troubleshoot and present a solution. Even in the best of situations — where all frequencies are set and matched in the shop — it doesn’t mean that the shop tech will be free of the gnashed tooth caller when there is on-site frequency interference.
This everyday shop position is not as mundane as the title suggests. While the shop tech has no real bragging rights, they can rest assured that if they are good at what they do, they will remain an indispensable part of a team and, in many ways, the backbone of the operation. Not only does the shop tech need to be technically proficient and extremely organized, they also need to have a personality that fits in with the rest of the shop while maintaining an unflappable demeanor during times of stress.
It’s a difficult position to fill because the work can be taxing, the hours long and the pay not so great. This is not the job for a seasoned engineer or even an A-2. This a position where one can learn the consoles, learn the gear and learn how to set up and mix a live show. Many applicants that come to me seeking employment are graduates of various engineering programs, but most of these programs and schools center around the recording aspect of engineering rather than the administering and engineering of live events.
Many job seekers I interview for shop tech position have their own Pro Tools or Logic-based studios and often describe themselves as “producers.” These are usually the ones that last a few days before deciding shop tech is not their calling. I try to explain that they can still record while doing live events and that the shop job is an end to a means that actually pays while one is still learning. Ambitious shop techs don’t stay shop techs for long, and they usually move on quickly to becoming engineers, system techs, playback engineers or production managers. Shop tech is not for everyone, but it’s a good job for the right person, one in which they will learn a lot and make some money before moving on to higher ground. It may be a tough job to do, but it’s also a tough job to fill.
