Join Us

Empowering the Next Generation of Women in Audio

Join Us

Claire Murphy – Back Line Tech

Claire got her start the same way as hundreds of backline techs do, by playing guitar and realizing the band thing just was not going to work out. Claire found it difficult to find people with the same passion and drive that she had and decided to focus on touring as part of the crew. She started out by helping friends bands and making a nuisance of herself when she started to take it seriously and started working at some rehearsal studios. She started to meet people in the industry and learn more about backline equipment.

She has been working professionally and full time for five years and has learned how to tour manage. While she enjoys the challenges of tour management, she says,  “there’s nothing like being a backline tech in the wings with the band two feet from you and the pressure of the gig”. In her short time working she has been fortunate to work with some great bands, including The Raveonettes, Therapy, and The Answer.

Dum Dum Girls Tour

Dum Dum Girls Tour

She recently spent a few months in the states with the Dum Dum Girls; it ended up being an all-women crew and band, with the exception of guitar player Andrew Miller. Claire says they had the best time touring together. Dana Wachs was the FOH Engineer.

Was this a conscious decision on the part of the Dum Dum Girls to hire all women?

As far as “I’m aware, it just happened. They’ve had a male crew in the past, so it wasn’t a conscious decision, just whoever was right at that time. As you know, a lot to do with a successful tour comes down to touring with the right group of people, regardless of sex. I think it just happened that way. Personally, I’m always keen to work with bands that have women members, as they are still the minority, and it usually makes for a fun dynamic on the road. I tend to gravitate towards those bands and maybe end up socializing with them more, which as you know can lead to more work.

Dum Dum Girls Tour

Dum Dum Girls Tour

Did you find it different from touring with an all-guy crew? If so in what ways?

I think I felt like we were a gang, and it felt like going on tour with a group of friends, but that could simply be down to the people and personalities versus everyone being female. I think it was somewhat easier looking after everyone. As tour managers, we were all the same age, and all have our lives centered around music, so it was one big family. It was easily one of the best tours I’ve done. I’d love to say that was down to it being 99% female.

I bet some heads turned seeing an all-women crew and band.  Is there a particular moment that stands out?

Oh definitely.. and people commented. Which I loved! because I’m totally pro-women doing anything a man can do in a male-dominated industry. I suppose they just don’t expect everyone, band, and crew, to be female. I do remember Andrew saying he felt a little odd that he wasn’t doing any lifting/unloading the van, etc., and women were doing it instead.

tour, dum dum girls

Why did you choose to become a backline tech over another position?

I’m not sure I “chose” it as such, it was a natural thing to do. I’ve always been a huge fan of live shows and spent a lot of my youth going to concerts. I would see these guys (I don’t think I ever saw one girl!) doing the changeover, and I knew I wanted to do that. Helping to bring the show to the stage has a huge satisfaction because I know how important it is to see a band live, and how exciting it is. I have now moved into tour management as well, just because it brings its different challenges, but I will always have a soft spot for being a backline tech.

Do you have a specialty?
I’m all about the guitars. I’m taking drum lessons right now, but I stay away from drums if possible. Don’t ask me why, I think it’s the way my brain is wired.

There are very few women doing backline, have you found much resistance from artists to hire you because you were a woman?  How have you handled it?

I’ve found it to be an advantage. At least I have never come across open discrimination due to my gender. A lot of bands like the fact they have a woman on tour with them, it calms the testosterone. Sometimes you get comments about how rare it is, or “do I need a hand with lifting that darling!?”, But that’s often from my crew.  I’ve never felt intimidated or out of place, but that might just be because I’m a tomboy as well so I can hold my own with the guys.

Why do you think there is a lack of female backline techs?
I guess most backline techs play the guitar or have an interest in guitars/backlines. There are fewer girls playing guitar than guys so I guess it stands that fewer girls would be interested in doing the job. Saying that I think a lot more girls are playing guitar, drums, etc. these days. Hopefully, there will be an increase over the next few years of women wanting to tech. A case can be made that girls and women are not aware that these are jobs available to them. If they never see any women doing it. I can count the number of female backline techs I’ve seen on one hand, which is a sad thing, but with more exposure hopefully, that will change. It is quite a physical job, but that should not put anyone off because I know big guys who are useless at lifting gear, as it’s all in the technique, not your size!!

What is in your suitcase?

Very little! I try to pack light. Black jeans, black hoodie, various black/grey tee shirts, protection racket wash bag. Hair dryer and straighteners. Tea bags (I am British!), almond butter, Tabasco, a thermos for taking coffee from breakfast (frugal!), and obviously lots of underwear.

What can’t you live without on the road?

A good cup of coffee and a dose of sushi once a week!

What is your favorite part of the job?

Strangely, probably the last song of the show and packing down, because that’s when you can relax and know the show has happened, and everything (hopefully) has gone OK.

What do you like least?

There isn’t much I don’t like about the job, I do like my job! I’m not an early riser, however, so probably early morning lobby calls.

What is your favorite day off activity?

Go-karting or a spa/swimming.

What are three of the most important lessons you’ve learned?

Be nice, don’t be afraid to ask questions, never think you know it all!

amps

Finally, what are you currently working on?

I’ve just finished the Raveonettes’ last album tour campaign and a tour with a band called Starset who were supporting In This Moment. I’m constantly busy running my company Trash Tours; we do splitter van rental and storage, which fills the gaps when not touring. I’m very much looking forward to heading out on the Social Distortion tour with the support band Jessica Hernandez & The Delta’s. That should be a lot of fun.

Workshop with Marcel van Limbeek – European SoundGirls

SG European Meet Up

SG European Meet Up

The European SoundGirls held an exciting workshop at SSR and invited longtime Monitor Engineer for Tori Amos, Marcel van Limbeek to speak. Women working in professional audio are often treated unfairly by our peers and face numerous obstacles that we often associate with sexual discrimination. Yet, men face some of the same obstacles and barriers.  Marcel shared the pressures and obstacles our male co-workers experience and offered advice on how best to handle these situations. It was an engaging discussion and pushed forward the conversation on gender inequality and sexism in the industry.

We want to extend our thanks to SSR for hosting this event and Marcel van Limbeek, for sharing his experiences with our members. We hope to continue this conversation with Marcel, so look for an upcoming article and interview.
We would also like to thank Malle Kaas for organizing the event
Karrie and Michelle

Thoughts on the Workshop

Representing SG

SoundGirls

Malle Kaas recently completed Brit Row’s Production Training, she organized this event. She resides in Denmark.

On my way to the event, I was reflecting on the latest blog from Karrie Keyes Unconscious Bias, I felt it related to tonight’s workshop. How we approach others, and how we react to others behavior. I was thinking how important it is to think twice in our approach and reaction to others. Very often, our behavior in the present comes from our history that has been shaped by our experiences. It often determines how we interact with other people.

Tonight was about hearing a male co-worker talk about his experiences.  What to do when you lack confidence?  Or you have just made a huge f*** up on a major TV-production, and you can’t just run away, but have to stay and face the 200 other people on the production. How devastating it is at an age of 50 to keep knocking doors down for work. What it is like to never really to feel like a part of the industry, even though you have worked for a critically acclaimed artist for over 20 years. I think that the majority of those who attended the event, felt it was a relief to hear that an industry veteran faces the same issues that many of us do.
Marcel offered advice on how to cope with the difficult feelings we may have about our jobs.  You must be “aggressive” (courage may be a better word). Aggressive enough to be able to apologize if you have made a mistake. Aggressive enough to be able to come and ask for work over and over again. Aggressive enough to be determined to do a good job, (dress properly, prepare and know the gear, etc.). Aggressive enough to be honest. It is important to remember, it is a friendly industry but also very competitive. And whatever stories you make, they stick to you – especially the bad stories.  But hey, everybody messes up – and when you do, be sure to have a friend to talk to about it.

Petra is a live sound engineer working in Holland.

Take away the industry is one of praise, and everything is overly important.  It’s an addictive, bright place to be, but this also comes with a flipside. When there is no praise, or you make mistakes, which happens to every human being, you can get very big throwbacks as well, and it might seem you’re worthless.
When you’re sensitive to this, (which I am) and I found out from the talk that many people are, the lows can really take you down. So make sure you don’t take your worth just from your days work, but also make a steady foundation from past days. It is also important to have people and things outside the circus, (who don’t have ulterior motives, like wanting your job for themselves or their friends) to talk to.

Men are always welcome

Men are always welcome

Second, I discovered that probably the only reason I have stayed in this business is to prove to everyone who told me I couldn’t do it that they were wrong. Apparently, I’m very stubborn and the more you tell me I can’t do something, the more I want to do it and do it well.

One last thing that struck me is that the SoundGirls Forum seems to fill a void. Not only for women working in sound, but also for men, who also have a need to discuss their place in the industry in a less business like manner. This is actually quite wonderful.

Laura is currently interning at a local studio in London

Personally, I found Monday night fantastic. This third SoundGirls meet up felt like we’d taken these nights up a notch. The talk by Marcel I found was very interesting; he is a naturally entertaining person.  He managed to hold my attention for all of it of his talk, which is a rare thing. As well as his successes in the sound industry, he shared his failures with a refreshing honesty, which is brilliant because he obviously wants others to learn from his experiences. I loved (and related to) his all or nothing attitude towards sound and it was reassuring to hear that hard work and ambition do pay off. He confirmed my belief that the best thing you can do is to be awesome at your job. Learn everything you can, treat people well, work as hard as you can, and then no one, sexist or otherwise, can deny you the right to be where you are. Thank you again to Marcel for the talk (and the drink), and I look forward to seeing everyone again next month!

FullSizeRender

How to Prepare for a Tour

 

You’ve finally got your first tour, hurray! Now what?

There is a lot of preparation that goes into a tour. Of course the bigger the tour, the more planning is needed, but even a small club tour needs some forethought. For this blog, I am going to concentrate on a club/theater tour and mostly from the perspective of being hired to mix FOH. (more…)

Unconscious Bias

(more…)

What’s Your Plan B?

Or – The Machines are Out to Get Us.

It happens to everyone at some point. That crucial bit of kit fails at the wrong moment. The radio mic on the lead has sweat in the mic head or the connector. Someone in the Brass section has knocked water into the stage box. The touch screen is out of alignment and instead of hitting save you hit load new session.   It’s going to happen the machines are out to get us, and you better have a backup plan. (more…)

Night of Too Many Stars…..and Just Enough Microphones

 

Recently I spent some time crawling around behind the cash register of an expensive liquor store to help Jon Oliver steal some bottles of wine.…well, I didn’t actually steal anything, but I like to think I aided and abetted. (more…)

What Do You Call Yourself?

 

Do you know that the colour orange is named after the fruit, not the other way round? That’s why redheads (that colour is not red and nor is the breast of a robin) aren’t called orange heads. Apart from the ancient Egyptians, there isn’t much evidence that the ancient world could distinguish the colour blue. (more…)

Attitude is Everything

HFA Edit

Amanda Davis is an independent sound engineer based in Atlanta, GA. She graduated from Roosevelt University with a BA in Vocal Performance in 2008.  She went on to attend SAE Atlanta, where in 2010 she graduated with an associates degree in Audio Technology. She recently joined the Wondaland team, and is currently the FOH Engineer for Janelle Monae. (more…)

How to Create the Sound of Murder Without Actually Killing Anyone

KirstyGillmore-Feb2015-pic1I love working as a sound designer in fringe theatre. It’s underfunded, often underpaid and over-looked, and it can also reveal unexpected and rewarding creative challenges. (more…)

X