FOH at Large

These days, it seems, time moves faster than it did in previous years. While I haven’t yet backed up this theorem with any scientific evidence, I’m sure that many folks would agree that the speed of light has sped up. Now, the distinction between me receiving a Nobel Prize (or being called a kook) for this brilliant theory is evidence. To be sure, this type of solid confirmation can be an obstacle, but it’s merely a small impediment I am working to overcome.

Starting at an early age, we all recognize the importance of the company we keep. Maybe these alliances we make stem from a primal xenophobic survival tactic or quite possibly it’s just human nature to affiliate ourselves with like-minded individuals. However, by junior high school, it seems we have already chosen sides and — though it often seems our choices are hormonally and psychologically predisposed — perhaps it’s merely circumstance that creates these bonds. Athletes hang with other athletes, the smart kids finding comfort with their own get labeled “geeks,” and the “in” crowd looks down on the social misfit crew.

In a recent 60 Minutes interview, President Obama admitted that the U.S. intelligence community had underestimated “ISIS” and what was taking place in Syria while — at the same time — overestimating the Iraqi army’s capability to combat the threat. A shocking admission but, then again, over- and under-estimations have shaped history for thousands of years, and sometimes it is not just a lack of foresight that attributes to a poor judgment call or policy. Official procedure, monetary concerns, various alliances and hubris are a few talking points that might lead to a poor assessment of any given situation.

Reading the daily paper is not only dispiriting, but also seems to be an exercise in futility. Watching the news on television is arrantly dismal, and made worse due to the overwhelmingly insipid magazine-style reporting and filler commentary by a surfeit of the so-called experts. The news is depressing enough without a slew of vapid analysts trying to make sense of the rampant senselessness and lunacy of man’s inhumanity to man as well as logically trying to explain the inexplicable enigmas that plague us on a daily basis. The mysteries I refer to are oddities such as the story of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, the economy and, of course, our foreign policy, to name a few.

Getting new gear is always an exciting proposition and — regardless of the equipment or its application — it’s always a thrill to open the box, take out the equipment, fire it up and make it work. Undoubtedly, in one way or another, this piece of gear will augment your audio system, upgrade your inventory and, all in all, be a great addition to your ever-expanding and always evolving business — whatever that might be. If your purchase is new and improved and gives you a more contemporary sound, look and feel, then the investment makes sense, as pro audio is a competitive market that constantly demands the new, improved and contemporary.

Years ago, I played in a “Top 40” band that traveled from hotel to hotel amusing a drunken clientele with very good covers of the popular tunes of the day. To stay current with the newest tunes and thus ensuring our income, we would read Billboard magazine and learn the most up-to-date tunes as they entered the charts. Most tunes that finally topped the charts usually started out in a lower position and worked their way up. Some tunes moved up the charts quicker than others while others dropped off the charts without ever climbing very high.

Just recently, I completed reading Keith Richards’ 2010 memoir, Life, which I found to be a great read. I was fascinated because I grew up listening to the Rolling Stones. And in the book, Keith gives a personal touch to all the 50 years of rumors, innuendos and tales that have floated around the business regarding himself, the band and the colorful associated cast of characters who managed to find their way into the ongoing narrative.

As audio engineers, we work in a business that is driven by passion and emotion. While audio engineers — in a perfect world — should have a zeal for their work, many required operations that are performed are devoid of such animated fervor. Flying a speaker array, setting frequencies for wireless units, running cables, patching a stage and ringing out a speaker system are a few of the things that come to mind that do not require a great or enthusiastic commitment on behalf of the engineer.

Literally translated, “tithe” means ten per cent. Tithing, or the giving of 10 percent of one’s income, is a religious practice that goes back thousands of years and is a Judeo-Christian concept that has its roots in the Old Testament.

It’s been a long winter, but spring is just about here and hopefully it signifies an end to the bad weather and the beginning of a beautiful summer touring season. All the road dogs who recently submitted resumes to me looking for off-season work are now mostly unavailable when I call. The bus has left the dock, and audio is on the move! Once again, the musical caravan is carving a path through the clubs, sheds, theaters and summer festivals on this continent and across the globe. Regional audio companies will be getting calls to fill venues with sound for concerts and corporate events, and local television stations will require assistance with band appearances as they promote the show du jour when the tour comes to town. For a month or so, high schools and colleges will be having their graduation ceremonies and — in association with their formals and proms — there should be a good amount of work for local audio companies and audio technicians.

Recently, a winter storm in my neck of the woods coated the trees with a heavy layer of ice. I awoke early that day to the sound of tree branches breaking off due to the heavy weight of their frigid encasement. Shortly thereafter, I lost all electric to my home. I called the electric company and reported the outage and then went off to work, not realizing that the outage would affect about 600,000 customers or that I would be without power for approximately five days. Trees were down, branches were down, wires were down, and I was woefully unprepared. By the time I got to Home Depot, every generator was sold out; the generator companies I called were sold out as well. I was relegated to charging my cell phone in the car and feeding wood into my fireplace — which is designed more for decorative log burning than for home heating.

The doldrums are upon us and the wind has gone out of the sails of our good ship audio as we drift listlessly in a sea of calm. We have powered ourselves at a breakneck pace out of the old year and into the new and, as always, our charted course delivers us directly into a dead calm where we will drift for approximately two months or so while our live sound industry moves forward at a languid pace. Although the newer seafarers might be surprised by the seasonal torpor, the more experienced salty dogs among us know the drill and prepare accordingly. Arrgh matey, that just isn’t true and you know it!