Finding The Right Sound Team
For a new rock ’n’ roll band, hiring a dedicated sound company/FOH engineer who brings the PA and runs your shows can be a very good move. It lets the band concentrate on performing while one person becomes responsible for creating a consistent sound from venue to venue.
The key is to hire someone who is more than a PA rental company. You want a sound partner who understands live rock music, knows your band, and can manage the entire audio system.
1. First, determine exactly what you’re hiring them to do
Ask:
“Are you providing just the PA equipment, or are you providing a complete live-sound service including an engineer who mixes our entire performance?”
Ideally, your arrangement should cover:
Equipment
- PA
- Mixing console
- Stage monitors
- Microphones
- Mic stands
- DI boxes
- Snake/stage box
- Cables
- Speakers/subwoofers
- Wireless equipment if needed
Personnel
- FOH engineer
- Monitor engineer, if needed
- Stagehands, if needed
- Setup/teardown crew
Service
- Load-in
- Setup
- Line check
- Soundcheck
- Mixing
- Teardown
- Transportation
You want to know exactly where their responsibility begins and ends.
2. The most important question: Can we hear your work?
Ask:
“Can we hear recordings or see video of bands you’ve mixed live?”
Even better:
“Can we come see you mix a rock band at a live show?”
Don’t evaluate only the PA.
Listen for:
- Vocal clarity
- Kick drum
- Bass definition
- Guitar balance
- Snare sound
- Overall volume
- Clarity when the whole band plays
- How the sound changes when the band gets loud
A person can own $100,000 worth of equipment and still be a mediocre live engineer.
3. Do they understand rock ’n’ roll?
Ask what types of bands they normally mix.
You want someone who understands:
- Loud guitars
- Live drums
- Bass-heavy arrangements
- Rock vocals
- Stage volume
- Feedback management
- Audience energy
Ask:
“How many rock bands do you currently mix?”
And:
“Can you give us references from bands you’ve worked with?”
4. Find out who will actually be your engineer
This is very important.
If you’re dealing with a sound company, ask:
“Will the same engineer work with us at every show?”
If possible, I would strongly favor developing a relationship with one engineer.
Over time, that person will learn:
- Your singers
- Your instruments
- Your microphones
- Your guitar amps
- Your stage volume
- Your monitor preferences
- Your songs
- Your dynamics
- Your personalities
After several shows, they can walk into a venue and know what your band needs.
That consistency is extremely valuable.
5. Ask about the PA system
Get the actual equipment list.
You don’t necessarily need the biggest system.
You need a system appropriate for the venues you’re playing.
Ask about:
Main speakers
- Manufacturer
- Model
- Number of cabinets
Subwoofers
- Manufacturer
- Model
- Number
Mixing console
- Manufacturer
- Model
- Number of channels
- Digital or analog
Monitors
- Number
- Manufacturer
- Model
Microphones
- Vocal mics
- Kick
- Snare
- Toms
- Overheads
- Guitar amps
- Bass
- Percussion
Wireless
- Vocal microphones
- In-ear monitors
- Instrument systems
You don’t need to become an audio engineer. You’re simply trying to determine whether the company has appropriate professional equipment.
6. Make sure the system is scalable
This is particularly important because your band is just getting started.
You may begin playing:
100–200 capacity clubs
and eventually move to:
500–1,000+ capacity venues.
Ask:
“Can your system scale with us as we move into larger venues?”
You don’t want to establish a great relationship and then have to find someone new every time you move up a venue size.
Ask whether they have different PA configurations for:
- Small clubs
- Medium venues
- Large venues
- Outdoor shows
7. Who handles monitors?
This deserves special attention.
Ask:
“Will you be mixing our stage monitors from the front-of-house position, or will we have a separate monitor engineer?”
For a smaller band, the FOH engineer will often handle both.
But as you grow, dedicated monitor mixing can become valuable.
Find out whether you’re using:
- Wedge monitors
- In-ear monitors
- Combination
And how many separate monitor mixes are available.
For example:
Mix 1 — Lead vocal
Mix 2 — Guitar
Mix 3 — Bass
Mix 4 — Drums
etc.
8. Ask about your stage volume
This is something your engi