How my career came to be

I didn't really choose to become a live sound engineer, it kind of picked me. During my 1st two years of college I played in a band. We bought a P.A., and being the keyboard player who understood knobs, I started engineering for the band. After two years of college I knew that I wanted a career in the music industry but didn't have a plan as to how to make this happen.

One weekend I decided to make a trip to the SF Bay Area to visit some friends. On my way down I called my friend Jenna who manages a band called Animal Liberation Orchestra to see what was going on that night. With excitement in her voice she told me that she was headed to an all night recording session at a studio in a school and that I should come sit in on the session. When I got there I was like a kid in a candy store. I stayed up all night helping the engineer do the recordings. His name was Scott, and he was also the advanced recording teacher at the school. Late that night he gave me a tour of the school and all the amazing studios that it has. I was ready to sign up right then and there!

The school's name was Ex'Pression College for Digital Arts, and that Fall I enrolled in classes. Fourteen months later, and very little sleep, I graduated with a BS in Sound Arts. I wanted to get an education that would give me both the technical and personal skills to put me directly into the job market. Ex'pression College for Digital Arts had a great reputation in the industry, and their placement department is top-notch. This year, I had the pleasure to work with Shiloh Hobel and her staff while hiring a graduate to work as lead tech on the stage of Reggae on the River. I was also looking for a school with a top-notch facility and staff. The location of the school in the Bay Area was appealing to me because it's a hub for the sound industry. The school definitely met and exceeded all of my criteria. After sitting in on a recording session and getting a tour of the facility, I was ready to sign up on the spot.

At Ex'Pression College for Digital Arts, there could have been more work done in the field with the students. In my live sound class, our teacher had a rule that if you missed class, you had to go out on a gig with him to make it up. Sure enough, I missed a class and spent one of my Saturdays helping him setup and mix front of house for a big rock concert. That was one of the most educational experiences the whole time I was in school.

After graduating from Ex'pression, I moved back home and started my company, Universal Balance Productions. I began working with my longtime friend, Ishi Dube, and his band, Massagana. We recorded a demo in his kitchen and then he stared booking live shows in Northern California. I started mixing and providing sound reinforcement for concerts in the area. The more that I worked at different venues on the North Coast, the more solid my reputation became. After mixing a show for Ishi Dube at a small club in Arcata, California, I was offered a contract by the club owner to provide sound systems and engineering for all their events. My company has continued to grow into a full-scale sound and production company with a staff of three employees.

I also volunteered as a stage tech for many years at the world-class festival Reggae on the River. Two years ago, my boss and mentor, Jimmy Dangler, had a severe stroke that left him unable to perform as production director and stage manager for the festival. I was asked to step up and take over his position. I chose to take the job, and it changed the direction of my life and career. I knew I could do the job even though I had never undertaken anything this big in my life. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Not only have I been production director for Reggae on the River for the past two years, but I also work as the production manager and sound company for many large-scale concerts in Humboldt County (Northern California).

I started out on a path that is similar to many in our industry by going to a technical school, but where I am today is very unique. Starting out as an independent contractor allowed me to start my business early in my career. Maybe I was in the right place at the right time. I think that where I am has more to do with my determination and love for my job and the music than anything else.

I have learned some valuable lessons in my career. If I can impart any wisdom to someone wanting to pursue a career in music i would the them that you will get out what you put into both your education and your career. If you are dedicated and work hard, then it will pay off in the end. Stick with it and good things will come to you. Networking is one of the most important elements of success. Making and keep contacts in the industry is invaluable. Take genuine interest in the people that you work with. Take good care of the people that you work for; it makes a difference. Find a way to make money until working with sound does. Stick to the art and science and don't get too caught up in the business, and you will do well wherever you end up.