Depending on whom you ask, the men and women who run sound in local clubs can be anything from the unsung architects of a great set to bitter night trolls who put their own egos ahead of a decent mix. Here, three Bay-area fader jockeys — Jason Smith (State Theatre, Local 662), Mark Bustin (New World Brewery) and Steven "Fraggle" Antebi (Crowbar) — provide a glimpse into the most thankless and perhaps most crucial gig in the original music scene.
A lot of sound guys didn't set out to be sound guys.
Smith: It kind of started out with me trying to start a band, and I was the only one responsible enough to try and buy equipment to rehearse with. The band broke up and I ended up with a set of equipment, and it just took off from there.
Bustin: The first time I ever did it I just got thrown into it. Two guys I used to jam with needed help at the old USF Student Union, what used to be the Marshall Center. "He knows stuff about electronics, maybe he can wing it."
Fraggle: I started out doing lights, and then went on the road as a keyboard tech, and ended up in the studio, that's where I learned to do audio. I moved down to the Caribbean and started my own production company.
Being a musician isn't a prerequisite, but it doesn't hurt.
Smith: I know what it's like to be in a band, I know what it's like to not hear the monitors onstage, and so I kind of keep that in mind — I know how difficult it can be, especially in some of the weird rooms that are around and have half-assed PA setups. I think it's definitely a bonus, regardless of what instrument you play, you've got a little bit more insight into what something is supposed to sound like. It kind of helps.
If you want to be a good soundman, know the room.
Bustin: It's all about understanding a room. If you understand the space, you can make it sound good with a speaker on a stick and two mics.
And get over yourself.
Fraggle: I do come off as an asshole sometimes, I'm not going to deny it. It is my castle, but I make sure the bands are happy.
Bustin: Everybody's there to drink, have a good time and listen to some live music, you know? Do your utmost to make that musical experience worth it for everybody.
Smith: It's like the bands are our customers, we're there to take care of their needs.
If you want to be a good band, come prepared.
Smith: Know your songs. Literally. You can tell the bands that — you know they can't hear everything and they're not happy — but they know the songs, they get through the set, keep a smile on their faces for the audience, and it's just another show to the true professionals that I see. And it's usually the guys that complain that aren't really that prepared music-wise to get through it, you know?
Bustin: Come to the gig ready, and don't be afraid to ask a question in the name of getting it right. But show up prepared, as opposed to, "Oh, I didn't know I needed to bring a guitar cable."
And get over yourself.
Fraggle: It's a control issue, you know? I got a note from one band, it's on the wall in my house, they were really hesitant to let me have control. They didn't want to trust me. And at the end of the night I packed up and went home, and when I came back there was a note written on cardboard on the desk, saying I did an awesome job. That's a real compliment.
It isn't all doing blow with rock stars.
Bustin: The worst thing about it is, sometimes I'd rather be playing than running sound, but — c'est la vie. I don't know if you'd call that jealousy or what.
Fraggle: I don't like dealing with drunks. I don't drink, I don't party when I'm working.
Smith: All the time I get people that are like, "Oh, that's cool, you're a sound guy, you get to party with the bands." It's not really like that. I rarely talk to the artists at all. I wish I could be going home at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and just enjoy my night out, but that's usually right when I'm going to work, and not getting out of there until 2 o'clock in the morning. The weekends are my weekdays, and Monday and Tuesday are basically my weekends. It's flip-flopped from all my friends who call me up to go out and party: "Nope, I'm working." And then I call people up to go out on a Monday night and they think I'm crazy because it's their work week.
But it does have its perks.
Fraggle: It's a passion. This isn't just a job, you have to really love it. It's not about the money. I wish I made more money, but I love what I do. When I do a full show, when it's full in here and I see people enjoying it, I know I did my job. It's satisfying.
Bustin: All the amazing music. I mean, that's why I do it.
Smith: It pays the bills, usually. Plus, being in a band is like being married to four other losers at the same time, you know?
This article appears in Dec 1-7, 2011.