Edited by Dina Maccabee
In an algorithmic era where it’s more important than ever to go into the real world and lend voice to the voiceless: how can we, audio folks, come together to amplify our communities?
Community organizers have plenty to juggle when a public rally, street demonstration, or community concert. Volunteers don’t always have the technical experience to set up a PA or wireless mic system. Budgets are often tight or non-existent, and equipment must be cobbled together at the last minute in reaction to recent events. In these situations, audio technicians can offer invaluable advice and create meaningful impact.
People power
Nearly every skill learned in audio or events can be harnessed for good. In every live sound situation, whether it’s a corporate gig or a street demonstration, “it’s good to move quickly, troubleshoot quickly, and adapt to any changes” says Maya Finlay, SoundGirls member & audio engineer, who has been involved in community movements for over a decade in California. She became a part of the Rock the Bike community in San Francisco that formed around the love of music, biking, and activism. Maya has engineered live sound for various events, like their annual Bicycle Music Festival, as well as climate change protests. “One thing I learned working with Rock the Bike was getting a feel for how much more power is allocated to lower frequencies. When we had bicycle power and there weren’t enough people pedaling, I would sometimes have to drop the bass in the mix to conserve energy. Once more people got on the bikes and the energy was high, I could boost the bass more for excitement in a dance party. I never had to pay attention to this in a venue, and it was cool how directly people-powered it was!”
Maya Finlay (bottom left) doing sound for a Rock the Bike event
Many ways to pitch in
For technicians who can’t be on-site for events, there are plenty of other ways to contribute. L, a Berlin-based sound engineer, activist, and member of the SoundSysters collective, notes that “community organizers often don’t know what to ask for when preparing for an event. In these cases, technicians can offer advice on organizing/renting equipment, or soundcheck a truck PA before it goes out on the street.”
Those with other kinds of event experience can use production management skills to delegate work, rigging skills to hang banners/signs in all weather, and video know-how to setup livestreaming. Some gatherings might not have permits to build infrastructure, such as truss to support PA systems. This is where event technicians can get creative – with safety in mind.
For those from the studio and post-production world, Maya suggests to “find an organization whose work you appreciate and see if they have a podcast, video, any media you may help with. I’ve edited and mixed podcasts for EcoJustice Radio and Women Rising Radio, which features the work of different women activists around the world.”
Resistance and solidarity
L, who was previously a community organizer before getting into audio, acknowledges the challenges with volunteering in Kundgebungen (demonstrations in Germany). She notes that it’s stressful “to abide by police demands, and exhausting to work in a truck with a noisy power generators and a PA.” However, from organizing and running sound for demonstrations, the most rewarding part is seeing people coming together for a cause.
Her housing project, Køpi, was in danger of eviction. During these public protests, residents of other housing projects in Berlin came together to support and exchange information for resisting gentrification. Through these experiences, L has built up resilience, flexibility, and an appreciation for mutual support.
The amount of impact that sound technicians can have on communities is real and measurable. It’s important to make sure that community leaders and representatives are heard loud and clear. It can be tough working in these environments, but the payoff is worth it – especially if you’re looking to give back to a community in ways not part of your daily routine.
For Maya, the motivation is clear: “I care about shit and I feel compelled to do shit.”
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Shout-out to the following contributors:
Maya Finlay: Anti-capitalist audio engineer, protest songwriter at Maya B Fury, co-owner of Subvert, member of Women’s Audio Mission and United Musicians and Allied Workers
L: Berlin-based sound engineer, activist, member of SoundSysters, formerly involved in Food Not Bombs