Who needs a star Audioman? Everyone! While TV Cameramen have the glamour job, where can they go besides TV -- a wedding video business? Audiomen have a choice of EVERY (yes every) professional entertainment venue! Every TV or radio show whether music, drama, comedy or special needs an audioman. Film needs an audioman. Every concert and every musical recording needs a great audioman. Every theatre whether on Broadway or locally needs a good audioman. This leads to many questions: what natural talents are needed to become a star audioman; what training is needed & where do you find it; and how do you get started in the business?
At its simplest, you need to blend various voices through microphones during a radio or theatre drama, the booming male voice with the softer female voice and have them reach the audience with the same gain or volume. At its most challenging, take a rock or symphony concert or a music recording with many instruments, voices, and soloists to blend harmoniously so every instrument and every voice is heard. Therefore, you need a "good ear", which is the ability to tell when the mix isn't quite right and when it is. Not everyone can do this which is why not everyone is a star! But you can still be a working audioman in less challenging venues.
Some colleges and universities have audio training. You don't need an engineering degree but you will need to know the electronics that pertain to the industry, such as high & low impedance. College is the quickest way to learn but there is another way - apprentice yourself with a working head audioman. Most shows with a head audioman also need assistants. Sometimes all this entails is keeping track of and handing out RF (wireless) mics to the performers. Or working with orchestras, placing and moving the position of the wired mics at the direction of the head audioman during setup at rehearsals. Find a head audioman willing to share his knowledge with you and show you how the audio board works.
Friendships or networking with people in the business is the way to get started whether you're a college graduate or an audio apprentice. Use all your contacts to make more contacts. You will need to establish your reputation as an audioman. As you do more and more venues, your competency will become known.
When you add up all the places that require a competent audioperson (females too), there are literally thousands of places that might hire you. If you're ambitious and want to reach the top of the profession, then you'll be "more picky" & might not work as much in the beginning. But if you just want audio work, once you're established, you should find steady employment. You'll always have to keep your eyes open though for the next gig. Bottom line -- it's a blast! For anyone who loves music, this is a DREAM job!
Hal Danforth is a retired Emmy Award winning Television Studio & Remotes Producer and Production Manager who worked in broadcasting and cable television for 30 years. Some of his credits are: the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, American Music Awards, the first 3 Space Shuttle Landings at Edwards AFB, Summer and Winter Olympics, Good Morning America remotes, Barney Miller, PGA Golf Tournament, General Hospital, John Denver and the Muppets "A Christmas Together", and many other entertainment, news and sports studio & remote broadcasts. His interests now are with the major problems of most people -- Anti-aging and Weight Loss. His 2 internet sites are Anti-aging help with a FREE newsletter
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