By: Malle Kaas
Did the ten years I was away from the industry change me?
Well, of course, I have changed in the last ten years, things in my life also changed. I started working as a nurse, but becoming a nurse was not really a dream of mine. At the time though, I wanted a career that I could work anywhere and becoming a nurse filled that desire. (more…)
In his book, “A Sense of the Mysterious”, author Alan Lightman suggests that technology has grown burdensome despite its advances because we’ve reversed the human-tech roles – whereas innovation used to strive to create purposeful tools for serving mankind, it now creates robotic nanny-masters that give us instructions and objectives, and we, in turn, serve them. Now, there’s no doubt that we have and do things on a daily basis, from the terrific to the mundane, that have been gifted to us by science and computers and math that look more like hieroglyphics than actual numbers. (more…)
I have noticed that a lot of things have changed in the industry in the last twenty years. (more…)
Within the last year, I have asked myself many times if I’m too old for this. Sure, I’m not 21 years old any more but am I too old? Should I be concerned about my age? Should I be bothered if others think I’m too old?! Well, many of my co-workers who were around when I started out 20 years ago are still touring and still dedicated and enthusiastic about their job as a sound engineer. I even know of some that are close to sixty and still touring.
Japan is Mr Big’s home away from home. They are adored by their fans here and consider them lifelong friends. They have always had a huge fan base in Japan and even when the band broke up in 2002 the Japanese never gave up hope and never stopped pleading for a reunion. That reunion happened in 2009 and the band, with all four original members, has done three world tours and made two new records since. (more…)
For the two-day EDM festival, I was assigned to work the stage of Main West. We would get the DJs set up and hang out in the wings until the next set change. I found myself doing more odd jobs than audio-related ones. A lot of them related to power with running power to certain parts of the backstage area to hang lights. I had to pack up quad boxes at the monitor position, as I was tired of everyone trying to use our power. (more…)
The week between ACL we traveled to Tulsa, OK, and Lincoln, NE. We had two days off in Tulsa, right in downtown – let’s say it leaves a bit to be desired and with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees walking around was out. I did make a trip to the Greenwood Historic District, which was once known as the Black Wall Street. (more…)
Did I make the right choice to return live sound?! I have contemplated for a very long time. Did I still had the energy that it takes? Was I strong enough, mentally and physically? Could I deal with my insecurity? Would anybody give me a job? I knew this would turn my life upside down. (more…)
Rachel Ryan has been working as an independent audio engineer for the last eleven years. She has worked as a FOH and TM for School of Seven Bells, Phosphorescent, Little Boots, Nightbox and Honeyblood. FOH for Albert Hammond JR, MNDR, Streets of Laredo, and as ME for Silversun Pickups, The Strokes, and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. She is currently doing monitors for The Strokes and FOH for PHOX. When she is not touring she works at the Brooklyn Bowl as both a FOH and Monitor Engineer. (more…)