Getting Into Live sound

[sourpoison]

I'm a certified sound engineer that trained in a studio environment. I have no live sound experience and it is something that i would like to get into. What is the best way to get into it? Is it possible to get a job with my certificate in recording arts?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Scott Fahy]

Originally Posted by sourpoison

I'm a certified sound engineer that trained in a studio environment. I have no live sound experience and it is something that i would like to get into. What is the best way to get into it? Is it possible to get a job with my certificate in recording arts?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Go here and look around, read some posts, maybe do a search on employment

http://srforums.prosoundweb.com/

Live sound is a lot of work, very challenging and typically you don't get to redo the mistake you just made. :)

[DigiTechSupt]

I can't speak for anyone else, but most of the engineers that I know who got into it either:

1) Worked their way up at a live sound company, usually starting out as a 'gopher' or a position similar to a roadie - loading in and out the gear.
2) Bought their own gear and hired themselves out, usually first by doing shows for friends and such.
3) Went to school specifically for live sound and, through the contacts they made in school, got hired at a live sound company - usually they started out as an assistant and worked themselves into FOH positions as they gained experience.

My thoughts on it are to look at opportunities you have near you to do live sound and figure out how best to get those jobs. Obviously being familiar with a live sound rig and not getting yourself in over your head too quickly is a good idea - you want to make a good impression every chance you get.

[Table Syrup Records]

I never went to school for any of this, and I am definitely much better at studio than I am in live (Mostly due to my ears in loud environments), but I can run a hot show at the Fineline thanx to my buddy who is their FOH.

I've sat in on shows with him for years, and can pretty much jump on any live system now and make sense of it fairly quickly (Any might be a bit much LOL).

Go to your local clubs/bars and ask to speak with their Front Of House, or sound guy if they don't know what the crap you're talkiing about. Offer to give them a hand and ask if you can kind of sit in and learn the setup. I know a lot of FOH cats who need breaks now and again, and are free to do their thing with the sound at the club, so they love to know they have someone they can call in so they can take a night off.

In my opinion that's a good way to pick it up. I have officially mixed more shows solo, or fill in for breaks, for free, than I have shows I've been paid for. Does that qualify me as a pro FOH? LOL