I’m not exactly an unconfident person, but also not overly proud except when it comes to some technical abilities I possess; that in particular of mixing a live band or theatrical show. I feel very at home behind a console, any console really at this point even ones I’ve never seen before. Granted, I do like to prepare, so I tend to do some technical research ahead of time such as building a base console file and even try to listen to some of the content I’ll be handling as well. It really depends on the context of the event, show, or performance. I had friend that always used to equate this job to being the perfect blend of “artist and scientist” and I tend to agree with that overall. In fact, I teach something similar when I do hands on instruction in saying that I can teach you what EQ and effects do, but I can’t tell you when to use those tools: you have to have that inclination yourself. Much like a paint instructor could teach me color theory, but can’t inspire me with a subject to paint.

 

This is where my true, unadulterated joy comes from and where my wife says I appear to be the most comfortable in my own skin. That said, if you want to have a good time as an artist that I’m working with, you’re in for some very focused attention and if you’re game for it, we can give the audience a good show together. We can lock your vocal melody into your rhythmic performance and let the audience feel the emotion in your song. We can provide a wide spectrum to your rock ballad. If we’re in church, we can give the parishioners something to sing with at the top of their lungs. If we’re in a theatre, we can both lead the audience to the edge of their seats for the resolve at the end of the first act. We can make auditory magic…and if I’ve done my job right, no one will ever notice that I’m there. I’ll have the same chills the audience does at the end of a piece and will applaud right along with them.

 

This is how I’ll know we won the night.

 

If everything is done right, I can help to give the listener, an emotional snapshot in time and even if we record it, it can only really trigger the emotion of being there in the room where it happened with me and the artists responsible for making people shell out their hard earned money to give an experience and a night to remember.

 

Let’s just hope you forget I’m there.

 

[kyle]