Stuck in monitor world!

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Evan F. Hunter

Junior
Jan 11, 2011
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35
Houston, Texas
Hey all Ive been in monitor work all this week, all last week, and will be most of next week. Gotta say im actually having a good time. Couple tour managers have come up and chatted with me during the show. Good face time with the bands and making lots of connections. Its cool, most of the bands are starting to remember me by name when they come through and Im not even the full time tech here. Im Running a Midas Sienna, Ashley EQs, Macrotech amps and anywhere from 4-12 mixes.

Cowboy Mouth, Galactic, Drew Holcomb and Marc Brouassard just to name a few. Plain White Ts tomorrow but I believe they have their own monitor engineer.

What have yall been up to in Febuary and moving in March?
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Monitors is the best! Its always nice when bands and crew walk in and see your face and then relax because they just know that today is going to be alright.

Your post made me smile when you mentioned the PWTs they was a rather special show for me, hehe, I wound up mixing FOH because their engineer walked out..... Anytime I hear of them or any of their tunes it always raises a smile and a laugh, interesting gig! (All time low were supporting)

This months been a weird one for me, I had a busy diary.... Turned down a 31 date tour, then had all my work pulled (me and the pa co I was working for), gutted I turned the tour down. But shows have come back in and filled the diary so I'm not as worryed about it now.

Its shaping up to be another good year.

Kim x
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Seems like I am sitting at home waiting for festival season. Not much at all scheduled until mid april, but then I have quite a bit. Fortunately I am a part timer and this does not pay the bills. But it does keep me sane while working the other job.
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Kim Watson said:
Monitors is the best! Its always nice when bands and crew walk in and see your face and then relax because they just know that today is going to be alright.

Your post made me smile when you mentioned the PWTs they was a rather special show for me, hehe, I wound up mixing FOH because their engineer walked out..... Anytime I hear of them or any of their tunes it always raises a smile and a laugh, interesting gig! (All time low were supporting)

This months been a weird one for me, I had a busy diary.... Turned down a 31 date tour, then had all my work pulled (me and the pa co I was working for), gutted I turned the tour down. But shows have come back in and filled the diary so I'm not as worryed about it now.

Its shaping up to be another good year.

Kim x
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Haha I really like doing monitors too, Every day the manager has come up and said "man the band loved you, best night of the tour!" Its pretty cool, Ive met some really nice people along the way. So far we are really picking up, If it keeps on this type of schedule it will be a good year, May is booked SOLID so far, and in the past month weve have 4 sold out shows (550ppl). Cleveland Economy is not the best so its good to see people coming out again!
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Jay Barracato said:
Seems like I am sitting at home waiting for festival season. Not much at all scheduled until mid april, but then I have quite a bit. Fortunately I am a part timer and this does not pay the bills. But it does keep me sane while working the other job.
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I almost had to get a part time job, then this wave of shows came through and doesnt seem like it will stop for a few months. Luckily, Sound related stuff has been my primary income for over 2 years now. The thought of getting a "real" job was really bumming me out, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do! Looks to be a good year, which figures since I will be deploying and only be available through May.

I agree with Bennett! Keeps me insane! And I Love it.
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Evan F. Hunter said:
Hey all Ive been in monitor work all this week, all last week, and will be most of next week. Gotta say im actually having a good time. Couple tour managers have come up and chatted with me during the show. Good face time with the bands and making lots of connections. Its cool, most of the bands are starting to remember me by name when they come through and Im not even the full time tech here. Im Running a Midas Sienna, Ashley EQs, Macrotech amps and anywhere from 4-12 mixes.

Cowboy Mouth, Galactic, Drew Holcomb and Marc Brouassard just to name a few. Plain White Ts tomorrow but I believe they have their own monitor engineer.

What have yall been up to in Febuary and moving in March?
Click to expand...

when working with Marc, did you happen to catch the name of the bassist? if it was matt campbell, i know the guy. i hope marc was a good one to work with.
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Tim Weaver said:
I'm just happy that there are people in the world like yourself that actually enjoy mixing monitors....

I don't enjoy it myself, yet spend way to many gigs behind a monitor console.
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well to me its just a job. During the 3 weeks I was behind a sienna doing monitors I would have only had 3-4 FOH gigs. so 4 nights of pay or 18 nights of pay? Its not my favorite but I have grown to enjoy it. Many of the bands ive worked with are a pleasure and cool guys to chat with on stage. A few are not. I would still rather be at FOH though!
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Not trying to knock on your gig here. I've known several folks who enjoy the monitor desk way more than FOH. I have a hard time keeping my head in the game after the first round of tweaking is done and the band hits their stride. Thats when the fatigue of the day sets in and the eyelids start drooping.

Like you I seem to get way more calls for mons than FOH. I do it for the money. No matter how dirty it makes me feel afterwards....


LOL
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Tim Weaver said:
Not trying to knock on your gig here. I've known several folks who enjoy the monitor desk way more than FOH. I have a hard time keeping my head in the game after the first round of tweaking is done and the band hits their stride. Thats when the fatigue of the day sets in and the eyelids start drooping.

Like you I seem to get way more calls for mons than FOH. I do it for the money. No matter how dirty it makes me feel afterwards....


LOL
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The only time i seem to start losing it is late into the night, and with 9+ mixes. I typically double as a stage hand and loader for the in and out, then doing monitors during the show, so fatigue def starts to set in on those late sets 12-1:30 when ive already been working for 10-12 hours.
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Evan F. Hunter said:
The only time i seem to start losing it is late into the night, and with 9+ mixes. I typically double as a stage hand and loader for the in and out, then doing monitors during the show, so fatigue def starts to set in on those late sets 12-1:30 when ive already been working for 10-12 hours.
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Don't be drayage. That's what stagehands are for. You already have a full plate setting up, tuning and ringing out the monitor system. It sucks to do your least-responsive work for the headline act because you schlepped the PA, monitors, lights, and then all the back line and band crap, too. That's what stagehands are for.

Have fun, good luck.

Tim Mc
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Tim McCulloch said:
Don't be drayage. That's what stagehands are for. You already have a full plate setting up, tuning and ringing out the monitor system. It sucks to do your least-responsive work for the headline act because you schlepped the PA, monitors, lights, and then all the back line and band crap, too. That's what stagehands are for.

Have fun, good luck.

Tim Mc
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Knowing the venue Evan is in, he's lucky to have more than just the FOH/Mon techs on the show. Doing just ONE job isn't really an option.

Actually, I'm shocked they even run a dedicated Monitor World for a lot of the shows they do.

Eric
 
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Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Evan F. Hunter said:
I cant remember his name off hand, the whole group was really great and easy to work with!
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That's awesome mate.

I too, have been doing the monitor gig really, and honestly, it's a really fun gig. I love serving and working for people, and then seeing the genuine face of happiness when they hear their instrument or voice dialed right where they want it.

What console are you working on at your current gig??
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

John O'brien said:
That's awesome mate.

I too, have been doing the monitor gig really, and honestly, it's a really fun gig. I love serving and working for people, and then seeing the genuine face of happiness when they hear their instrument or voice dialed right where they want it.

What console are you working on at your current gig??
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For most of the time I had a Midas Sienna. Occasionally an M7 or SC48. I typically had anywhere from 7-12 mixes and one night i had 9 stereo mixes, not in ears either. On the size stage I work on this is completely insane.
 
Re: Stuck in monitor world!

Eric Simna said:
Knowing the venue Evan is in, he's lucky to have more than just the FOH/Mon techs on the show. Doing just ONE job isn't really an option.

Actually, I'm shocked they even run a dedicated Monitor World for a lot of the shows they do.

Eric
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Eric,

we run monitors for any band that needs it and its written in their contract. Usually happens a lot more in the busy season with larger acts, Cowboy Mouth, Galactic, Marc Brouassard and the Plain White Ts, were all either sold out or very close to it. They tend to flex more for a sold out show. Being and independent club they just cant justify paying for extra people.

That being said, When i load in and load out + run monitors all i do is get stuff in the room/on stage and then i start monitors. I usually still have the stage completely run out before the band even ventures off of the buss. Really it only effects me working long days and late into the night as I said. But honestly Its just more money for me, and the bands are very happy with the sound.
 
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