Working in Eighth Day Sound’s shop has been a fun adventure and at times a challenge. Since I began working at Eighth Day Sound, I have rotated around the shop to many of the different departments. I’ve worked in the Mic Room, Cable World/Rigging, Audio Repair, and Electronics.
In the Mic Room, I learned about all of our mics, RF, IEM, and prepping work boxes. The most important lesson I’ve learned working in this department is that organization and communication is key. The Mic Room has many small components- from mics and hardware to RF or IEM belt packs and antennas (whips, helicals, or paddles), making it hard to keep track of the gear that is coming and going. Having an organized system of checking gear in and out, organizing the gear into specific test piles, keeping things straight, and sending out the proper gear is important, but it can be very difficult when there are multiple changes to a spec, or the spec has errors that are not caught right away. This is why having constant communication with other departments and project managers is vital to our success. I make sure to ask any and all questions I may have about the spec and continuously confirm with project managers any changes or possible errors in the spec.
Working in Cable World, I learned the importance of cable management & testing, as well as how to make looms. Cables often times come back not wrapped properly and tangled, which can be a challenge when trying to take inventory or even when testing the cables. I learned it just takes patience and time to get through the tough tangles. I’ve also realized what a workout packing steel can be in rigging.
In Electronics, I learned the ins and outs of our amp racks, consoles, splitters, and effects. Working in this department has taught me better trouble-shooting skills and has given me a better understanding of how a full system setup works. Improving these skills has helped me a lot when prepping gigs, especially with trouble-shooting. In Audio Repair, I learned how to properly wire all kinds of cables and polish up my soldering skills.
Working in all of these departments has allowed me to get a better idea of the big picture and all that goes into getting a show out the door. Every department has specific jobs, but they each rely on the other to complete the gig for prepping. We are one big team and as long as we work together and continue to have open communication with each other, we are successful. Nothing is more exciting to me than being a small part of making something so big.
