Help Working With Others

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bassman1441

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In a few days I'm mixing for a show where originally I was supposed to be the only engineer, but now someone else (who won't be named) is now trying to take over and seems to think that we should switch off mixing every few songs. He is pretty much clueless but thinks he knows every thing. I have worked with him before and have found him very frustrating to work with. Ex: I get everything nicely EQed and then he shows up and just starts changing things to what he thinks they should be and all of a sudden it sounds like were in a a gym with Bose mains and "subs". If we switch off every few songs I'll find all my time trying to fix ridiculous EQs. I would be against switching engineers in the middle of a show even if the other guy was competent.

How do I tell him that this is a bad idea and regain control over what was supposed to be my gig without being too mean since that isn't going to help anyone? I need replies soon so I can take care of this soon.
 
Its the venues but I'm bring some mics and other misc. things headphones, adapters, spare cable etc.
Maybe I'm being to harsh on him since its not my gear.
 
It was a volunteer gig that I was looking forward but I decided the best way to deal with him is to just let him take care of the whole thing since he wanted to so badly, so then I'm not involved if something goes wrong.
 
Yeah, this is an either/or thing: it's either you, or it's me.

Man, when I mix sound, I set mics and ring in the system way before the show starts, and then I probably never touch the EQ's. Pretty much only when something starts to feed back (usually hand-held mics) or a band member makes a monitor change request. Otherwise, I sit back and chill. Changing off every couple of songs and riding the EQ/faders?

INSANITY!
 
bassman1441 said:
It was a volunteer gig that I was looking forward but I decided the best way to deal with him is to just let him take care of the whole thing since he wanted to so badly, so then I'm not involved if something goes wrong.
Click to expand...

This is probably the wises decision. BUT I hope that you are there in the back ground to witness him on his face!!
Briefcase sound gigs are the best gigs ever though.
I would sure be looking forward to it myself they are far and few between ---that is far and few between with really good venue systems to use.

I still don't understand how this guy can just walk right into your space?
Does the band not consider you their guy?

I've had countless times when everyone from the drunk Bass players girl friend to the pope who thinks they know everything there is to being a sound engineer express there opinion on a mix, it just comes with the territory. But never would I give up the helm to them, especially to a person like the one you have mentioned.

I've witnessed people like this and they are pure bullsh!t artist pulling the wool over the eyes of the band and takes a lot away from a band until the truth is discovered and it's to late the damage is all ready done. It could be months down the road and the band has wasted there time and their reputation.

Next time take a stand though and do the right thing. Have the agreement with the band that you are the one representing them at the FOH position.
 
I've been pretty fortunate in that regard, mostly because whenever I'm mixing, all or most of the gear is mine. I've only had two times when I nearly lost my temper.

The first was just a drunk who started out with "I used to do this..." and then started getting sulky when I didn't do much more than nod at him, smile and go back to my work.. He got more and more hostile and tried to start arguments a few times when I finally caught the bartender's eye and my little adviser was escorted off the premises.

The second time I nearly clocked the bouncer. We arrived early at a roadhouse (no chicken wire though), had traveled across two states to get there for a two night gig and when I had everything all set up the bouncer came over, waved his arms around and said "You'll have to move all this." I looked at him kinda twisted and he said "when PROFESSIONAL bands come here they find me to establish where I'll allow them to set up." The bastard had been there all afternoon watching us set up. I sent him off to get the owner and we then had a discussion involving cranky fire inspectors and so forth, ultimately compromising by moving my FOH position as far as we could without disturbing the main gear setup - in the end about ten or twelve feet. I suggested to the owner that this was the first time in over 85 gigs with the same band that we had encountered this type of "assistance" and I trusted that it would also be the last. I also suggested that, even with the confusion, I was really looking forward to the bouncer's assistance when it came time for loadout and packing up the trailer. The owner started to chuckle, put his hand on the guy's shoulder and said "Glad you're going to help these guys. I like that" and walked away. So I told the bouncer if there was anything else he needed to help us with, just please let us know in advance and that would be great. Electricity was all over the frigging place.

The irony is he liked the band as it turned out. By the end of the gig we were bringing each other beer and having a great time. And yes, he helped with the load out.
 
I've been pretty fortunate in that regard, mostly because whenever I'm mixing, all or most of the gear is mine. I've only had two times when I nearly lost my temper.

The first was just a drunk who started out with "I used to do this..." and then started getting sulky when I didn't do much more than nod at him, smile and go back to my work.. He got more and more hostile and tried to start arguments a few times when I finally caught the bartender's eye and my little adviser was escorted off the premises.

The second time I nearly clocked the bouncer. The core band is eight people, plus any guest performers. Setting up is a fair amount of work. We arrived early at a roadhouse (no chicken wire though), had traveled across two states to get there for a two night gig and when I had everything all set up the bouncer came over, waved his arms around and said "You'll have to move all this." I looked at him kinda twisted and he said "when PROFESSIONAL bands come here they find me to establish where I'll allow them to set up." The bastard had been there all afternoon watching us set up. I sent him off to get the owner and we then had a discussion involving cranky fire inspectors and so forth, ultimately compromising by moving my FOH position as far as we could without disturbing the main gear setup - in the end about ten or twelve feet. I suggested to the owner that this was the first time in over 85 gigs with the same band that we had encountered this type of "assistance" and I trusted that it would also be the last. I also suggested that, even with the confusion, I was really looking forward to the bouncer's assistance when it came time for loadout and packing up the trailer. The owner started to chuckle, put his hand on the guy's shoulder and said "Glad you're going to help these guys. I like that" and walked away. So I told the bouncer if there was anything else he needed to help us with, just please let us know in advance and that would be great. Electricity was all over the frigging place.

The irony is he liked the band as it turned out. By the end of the gig we were bringing each other beers and having a great time. And yes, he helped with the load out.
 
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