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…)
I have learned a few things about opening a new venue.
What you imagine it will be like:
You will be preparing your prized show horse for his debut. You will feed him the tastiest carrots, brush his flowing mane, give him the best shoes, talk to him sweetly and train him for impeccable behavior suitable for the kind of people who wear multi-level hats and monocles and have other people do their grocery shopping for them. (more…)
I always thought live sound was a thing that I had managed to put behind me in those years, where I was doing “something totally different”. I could not have been more wrong. No matter how much time goes by or how much your surroundings, (and maybe you self), are trying to convince you that you should do something totally different than live sound, it was always there in the back of my head and deep in my heart. Time could not keep this passion down. (more…)
I have just begun my newest tour with Mr Big who is comprised of Eric Martin, Billy Sheehan, Paul Gilbert, and Pat Torpey. I have been mixing Mr Big since 2009 when they reunited and we’ve had quite the adventure in touring over the years. If you’ve read my previous blog about India and SE Asia...that was one of them. They are incredible musicians and a real pleasure to work with. (more…)
Back home in Denmark I know two very talented women in their mid-twenties and I am envious. I wish that I was their age and just starting out in the industry. On the other hand I don’t, the ten years I spent away from the industry was full of life experience. I obtained a Masters in Science and became an nurse anesthetist. I know I am intelligent and smart and I will always be able to support myself. (more…)
At the end of August, I got the opportunity to work my first festival out of state. Electric Zoo was a three day EDM festival that took place on Randall’s Island in New York. We had five stages, Riverside, Main East, Main West, Hilltop, Spiegal, and Vinyl. (more…)