Tom said:
> I'm definitely feeling old fashioned. Do you really need all these technical gizmatrons? If 4-5 people in the hall say it's too loud, then it's too loud-end of story.
I think the gizmos give you a reality check even if, as a tech, you only use it for your own reference. I think they are a plus (and my old Radio Shack meter is a long way from high tech these days.) My experience, it's usually only one person who thinks it's too loud. If two or four people said it to me, I would take it very, very seriously. As noted, customer satisfaction on all fronts is the goal and a sound tech should never "blow off" any concern expressed. I will tweak for one, ask if it's OK and really try to make him/her happy.
>I agree that the level can add to the excitement BUT it can also get on people's nerves in a way that's not always conscious. I prefer a level that various throughout the evening to give people a break.
You're suggesting that sound tech should raise and lower house sound throughout the evening?? If so, I'll disagree on that. I'll leave that up to the band. The musicians I like to work with most put a lot of care and thought and practice into their presentation. In my sound tech role, I want to give them clean, comfortable mixes in the main and in their monitors, and let them provide the dynamic range -- from the slinky jigs that end in a whisper to the big time, high energy (and high volume) reels -- and so on.