Table Of ContentLiving the Audio Life
Living the Audio Life details the aspects and procedures necessary for one to
have a successful career in live entertainment sound. Encompassing a wide
range of topics, the text clearly guides anyone interested in working in a
position within the live entertainment audio field.
The guide is broken into clearly defined sections, allowing the reader to
easily navigate through various subjects including jobs, career, business,
creativity, lifestyle, and travel. Real-world examples and documentation from
the author and key industry experts allow the reader to gain insight into the
essential practices that are helpful throughout a career. Additional in-depth
interviews provide details of careers from industry veterans.
Whether considering a career in live entertainment audio or just starting out,
readers will find the resources for the key to success in audio. Students, those
new to sound, and workers already within their careers can refer to the text as
a guide throughout their journeys. With benefits to anyone interested in the
audio field, Living the Audio Life is a key navigational resource for success.
Brad Schiller has over thirty years of experience in the entertainment field.
His deep-rooted passion for the technical arts began at a very early age and his
career has allowed him countless opportunities to work around the globe across
diverse facets of the industry. He is also the author of L iving the Lighting Life
(Routledge, 2020) and The Automated Lighting Programmer’s Handbook , now
in its fourth edition (Routledge, 2021).
Living the Audio Life
A Guide to a Career in Live
Entertainment Sound
Brad Schiller
Cover image: Brad Schiller
First published 2022
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Brad Schiller
T he right of Brad Schiller to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
A ll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
T rademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
B ritish Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
L ibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Schiller, Brad, author.
Title: Living the audio life : a guide to a career in live entertainment
audio / Brad Schiller.
Description: Abington, Oxon ; New York : Routledge, 2022. | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021057455 (print) | LCCN 2021057456 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781032037790 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032037783
(paperback) | ISBN 9781003188957 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Sound—Recording and reproducing—Vocational
guidance. | Theaters—Electronic sound control—Vocational
guidance. | Sonic interaction design—Vocational guidance. |
Acoustical engineering—Vocational guidance. | Sound engineers.
Classification: LCC TK7881.4 .S43 2022 (print) | LCC TK7881.4
(ebook) | DDC 621.389/3023—dc23/eng/20220124
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021057455
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021057456
I SBN: 978-1-032-03779-0 (hbk)
I SBN: 978-1-032-03778-3 (pbk)
I SBN: 978-1-003-18895-7 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003188957
T ypeset in Times New Roman
b y Apex CoVantage, LLC
This book is dedicated to the entire live
entertainment audio industry and all its players.
Contents
List of Figures x
List of Tables xi
Foreword xii
Introduction xiv
PART 1
The Job 1
1 Audio Jobs and Roles 3
2 Audio Genres 11
3 Audio Skills 14
4 Organizational Skills 18
5 Working Requirements 22
6 Ethics of Audio 26
7 Best Show Ever 32
PART 2
The Career 35
8 A Growing Career 37
9 Attitude Is Everything 43
10 Training and Learning 46
11 Promoting Yourself 52
viii Contents
12 Networking With Others 61
13 Keep on Moving Forward 64
14 Giving Back 68
15 Moving On 72
PART 3
The Business 75
16 Types of Workers 77
17 Business Structure 84
1 8 Personal Business Paperwork 87
19 Business Operations 94
20 Tax Form Basics 97
21 Getting Gigs 103
22 Planning for Your Future 106
PART 4
The Creativity 111
23 Abundant Creativity 113
24 Creative Inspiration 115
PART 5
The Lifestyle 119
25 Why We Do It 121
26 Work-Life Balance 124
27 Allure of Celebrity 129
28 Healthy Living 132
29 Time to Sleep 135
30 When It Stops Being Fun 138
Contents ix
PART 6
The Travel 141
31 Travel Is Work 143
32 Earn the Perks 145
33 Air Travel 147
34 Tour Buses 152
35 Hotel Living 155
PART 7
The Interviews 159
36 Jim Yakabuski: Director of Audio Projects for Solotech-US
Live Productions 161
37 Big Mick Hughes: Front of House Sound Engineer 166
38 Jessica Paz: Tony Award Winning Sound Designer 172
39 Jim Ragus: Audio System Engineer and Crew Chief 177
40 Kelly Epperson: Audio Designer & Mixer 180
41 Cricket S. Myers: Freelance Sound Designer 186
42 Shared Advice 191
Index 193
