Carving out a successful career in the touring world takes more than technical chops; becoming a top touring engineer requires drive, diplomacy, and wisdom in decision-making that you can only learn on the job.
How many of us would jump at an opportunity to sit down with our industry heroes to pick their brains, glean some words of wisdom, learn from their mistakes? Live sound engineer and educator Nathan Lively has done that for you in his new book, Get On Tour: A Sound Engineer’s Guide.
Inside, you’ll find candid first-person accounts from 12 pros at the top of their game: Robert Scovill, Buford Jones, Michelle Pettinato, Scott Adamson, Chase Benedict, Jon Burton, Heatherlyn Egan, Nathan Lively, Nicholas Radina, Dave Swallow, Aleš Štefančič, and Tomas Wolfe.
They share real talk on how they make a living, what they love (and hate) about their jobs, the best advice they’ve been given, ways they’ve turned mistakes into learning experiences, and what they wish they knew when they were starting out. With their 272 years of combined experience, there’s plenty to draw from.
For one week only—now through October 2—Live Design readers can download a free copy of Get On Tour: A Sound Engineer’s Guide. The book is available in both ePUB format (which can be read by any e-reader) and as a PDF.
No matter where you are in your career, there’s always room for improvement. If you’re just starting out, learn what these folks wish they knew when they were in your shoes. If you’re established in your career, these perspectives might inspire you to step out of your comfort zone into your next act.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? Let us know in the comments!
Sarah Jones is a writer, editor, and content producer with more than 20 years' experience in pro audio, including as editor-in-chief of three leading audio magazines: Mix, EQ, and Electronic Musician. She is a lifelong musician and committed to arts advocacy and learning, including acting as education chair of the San Francisco chapter of the Recording Academy, where she helps develop event programming that cultivates the careers of Bay Area music makers.