3/20/2014 Becoming a Live Sound Engineer

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James Teitelbaum

Faculty, Recording Arts

James has been recording music since 1984,

and has made this his career since 1989.

In 1993, he moved to Chicago, and has since

BECOMING A LIVE SOUND ENGINEER

Think you’re ready to get out of your cozy Steelcase chair, leave your air conditioned

studio, and bring your love of sound engineering into the real world? Are you ready to

work as part of a team of people making a show happen live, one time, in front of an

audience? Are you ready to walk into an empty venue in the morning, and to leave that

venue just as empty that night… but with a memory of a fantastic show having unfolded

live before your eyes and ears? If so, then you may be ready for a career in live sound.

The exciting and gritty world of live sound engineering is a very different experience from

what one might find in the comfortable—and relatively tranquil—confines of the

recording studio.

Whether they’re working a theatrical performance, a sporting event, a trade show, or a

music concert, a live sound engineer needs to meet the expectations of the talent on stage,

and satisfy an audience expecting a memorable experience. The live sound engineer has

only one chance to get things right. There is no "undo" button on a gig where everything

3/20/2014 Becoming a Live Sound Engineer

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made dozens of records at legendary Chicago

studios such as Chicago Trax, Streeterville,

CRC, Metropolis, and elsewhere. James also

branched out into the live sound industry,

touring internationally with Ministry,

Pigface, Royal Crown Revue, Gary Sinise,

and engineering 700 shows at Chicago's Park

West Theater.

In 1997, James began teaching classes in

recording technology, part-time. Upon being

hired at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy in

2008, he decided to devote his energies to

education full-time, while continuing to

record music whenever possible.

is unfolding in real time, but there is also nothing like the thrill and satisfaction of being in

the epicenter of a fantastic live experience.

In order to provide your audience with the perfect audio fidelity they expect, an engineer

must be physically calm and mentally present, ready to handle unexpected situations

quickly and with zero notice. In the world of live sound, there is often no warning when

something breaks, or when someone on stage (or in the audience) behaves unpredictably.

Unlike in a studio job, there is no going back and fixing things later, and there is no asking

clients to wait while something is tweaked, repaired, or polished.

Engineering music concerts, theatrical productions, and even trade shows can be a blast.

But l don't always flow smoothly, so preparation for a wide variety of sonic meltdowns

is crucial. The live sound program at TFA, for example, emphasizes a deep understanding

of signal flow and an advanced knowledge of how a public address (PA) system works so

that equipment problems can be tracked down and solved instantly. The live sound

courses also discuss stage safety, venue etiquette, and controlling feedback (which will

almost never be encountered in the studio, but it is the number one recurring sonic issue

that live engineers face). We also bring in live artists to perform in class, while learning

about signal processing, microphone placement strategies, , mixing technique, and client

interaction.

A well-prepared professional - a TFA graduate, for example - will face the challenges of a

live production with confidence, and will enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with

having their hands controlling a mixing console that is helping a major band to sound their

best in front of 15,000 ecstatic fans.

Ready to learn more about TFA’s Recording Arts program? Start here.

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