It's been a long time coming, but I made the decision to quit running sound. There are several reasons, but the main one is simply the fact that my heart isn't in it anymore and I DO NOT want to turn in to one of those bitter and twisted sound guys you meet all too often.
I've been playing guitar in bands since 1983 and have played 1000's of shows. Back in England we were playing 4 or 5 nights a week. This all changed when I came to US in 2002. Things were very different. The number of places and the type of places were very different even the songs were different. It took me while to transition, playing in several bands.
I'd historically always owned a decent PA system (and van) back home so I had learned to run a big system from the stage.
I ended up running sound in Reflections for some extra money, then I ended up dragging a system out and working with various bands, then I end up running sound at Debs full time. It all kind of morphed from me being an active guitar player to being a sound guy !! You stop for a moment and suddenly think 'How the hell did this happen?"
The problem is I am still a guitar player, not the best in the world granted, but still, I put my heart and soul in to it and it's what I love to do !! It got to the point where I detested even being called a sound guy (Devin will no doubt comment...lol). I'm a guitarist who had no choice but to learn how to run sound.

Then through the Debs sound gig I got to work with Last Laugh running sound. The difference with Devin was he had met me back in 2004 as a guitar player. I think we met at some Sunday benefit in Manchester when I was playing with The Maxwells.
So two years later I ended up running sound for more and more shows with Last Laugh. To be honest LL are THE single most easy band to run sound for, ever !! Once everything is set, the dynamics in the band take care of everything so you nd up with nothing to do. Devin noticed this and he said 'I'm not paying you for nothing, bring your guitar and play with us once it's set up'
So the sound gig transpired in to a hybrid sound gig / playing gig.

I love this sitution, and want to continue to work with LL like this. I have a lot of fun working with the guys, especially Johny, who is a fantastic guitar player. It also has the other great benefit of me being able to gig test various amps out in a live situation. So when people ask me do I actually play with LL, the answer is I guess I'm member of the extended family and hopefully add a different dimension to the band when I do play.
Knowing Devin as well as I do, he would have told me if I sucked, so I guess it's not that bad...lol.....!!

As for the Debs sound gig, I will continue to help AJ and the club by looking after the system, but I won't be doing very many, sound jobs there anymore, except LL. Maybe once in a while I'll do one, we'll see.

Just thought I'd let my friends know what was going on.
It's been a blast meeting so many great bands over the past few years by running sound but it's time to get back to what I like to do more.

Yeah, you're not so bad. I mean, how many sound guys can get up with a horror punk band and blast out on "Cemetary Rain"?

s17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...

Alan, you sucked as a sound guy anyways. I was wondering why you wasted your time and everyone's ears for so long. Eric smokes you and he just started last month. The English can't do sound...period. Ever hear old Beatles recordings? They sound like some crappy mix from the early 60's for cripes sakes. Who could ruin The Beatles sound other than the English?

He's just going through a mid-life crisis. Next thing you know he'll have a tupee and will be driving a new Corvette.

Bwhahahah@!

Nah Devin, I gave up on the Toupees, I took your lead and started wearing hats instead. I have to pass on the bandanas though, there's only room for one t*** up there..... ;)
Don't seem to need a Corvette with my accent...lmao....I did buy an MG Midget though.....you know what they say about guys with SMALL cars !! And yeah.....40 is too close for comfort, less than a year away.......!!

Jennifer....that was a cool show. I always loved those guys. Enough so to bother to learn one of their originals. What a blast that was !!

Alan=SOUNDGUY!

Carl, I think the order is Amp Builder / Guitarist / Retired Sound Guy.

Actually if you missed a space Dev, and and it was Alan = Sound Guy !! then I apologise. Though there's some on here that would probably disagree and would say Alan = t**t. So be it, you can't expect the world to like you.

Wait, what's t**t mean? Twat?

If so, that gets my vote. :-)

Christ, all this time I thought you were British!

He is in all those movies.

You can totally tell he's British when he sings "Gethsemane".
Dude, check the history books. He was English.
I mean the only thing bigger than him to come out of England were The Beatles, and John TOLD us they were more popular than him. AND he was from their neighborhood.

Well, Alan, I've always admired your sound work, but I really love watching you play guitar, because it's clearly your first love (even if making amps does pay the bills). Last year with CC and this year with Last Laugh, I'm glad I got to see both.

I'm on the fence about this announcement. Sad, cuz Alan did a really GOOD job at running sound, but happy cuz I know exactly where his head is at.

You see, my degree is in sound engineering. For MANY years, I spent it behind the board mixing others and NOT playing. I think in the end, I grew to resent running sound. Not to mention it was really doing a number on my hearing. So one day I just hung it up and have not mixed a band since. I don't miss it as I just enjoying playing guitar that much more.

Can't speak for Alan, but that's my perspective and experience. So I think I can understand where he's coming from.

Spot on Bill. You know I never knew that about you. It's too funny both of us spent 18 months or so in the same band together and neither of us really got that involved in the sound side of things!!!! That is just too funny. It's like opening Pandoras box.

Yup, I know exactly where your coming from. A lot of times it's just not worth the aggravation of hauling a bunch of stuff around. And after 6 months of hearing the same tunes played by 100 different bands it gets into your psyche, like... is this all there is?

Don't give it up entirely. Just put more emphasis on playing guitar and your amp business. There may come a time when you can fall back on it to help fill-in your schedule if need be.

I have only been running sound for about 18 months but can honestly say it is a thankless job. I have gone out of my way to provide the best mix possible, dial in every effect possible, hit cues for dynamics etc. and not once have I been tipped. I always tip a sound guy when he does a good job and can see why the good ones are a little ornary at times. Jeff Bissonette is an example of a total pro. He works super hard to not only better the sound but better the overall show. Alan is another who does the same. You've all seen my rants on here about soundmen and their egos. I have had some really bad ones.

I'd rather be singing than mixing too.

Leave it to the guinea to throw a plug in for his band...as if they need any more help filling a room. Cellblock Lou? So that's why I haven't seen you in a while.

BTW Alan, Jeff is running sound for us this Friday so you don't have to get anyone. He's working T-F-S at Deb's this week.

Alan, sorry to hear this, as you are an amazing sound man! And, a hell of a nice guy!

But, as a musician, you have to go where your heart is. :-)

Thanks for all the times you did sound for Decadence, we appreciate it!

Good luck with whatever it is you do!

Allan....The best soundmen are musicians/players.
you are one of them...don't give it up...just shift the focus
to playing more...and if doing sound once and a while can get you playing a few more spots ...hey it's all good.
Hey man ...you're only 65 you got many years to go LMAO
look who's talking...
Senor

If Dave's the Godfather, does that make Carl Fredo?

You sonofabitch! Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Green!
I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders.

Hey Alan...
You always mixed BU great & it is/was always a pleasure to have you behind the board for us. The bottoms line is...do what the heart tells ya!
It was very apparent sat. you were having a blast up there with Last Laugh & that's where your heart (at this moment) lies.
All the best in what ever you do because wether it's Mixing Sound...Playing Guitar..& Building amps... None of it sucks & you seem th excel at it all.
However..if you see BU on the schedule at Debs... If you're not busy..come on down to mix & hang with us. It's always a pleasure mate!

Boom

Our plexi is all growed up...

I for one am glad about all this

Now Alan can devote more time to saying things like 'petrol' and 'chips' maybe 'telly' and if something is good, he could say 'bully old man' and then if it sucks he could say 'bollocks' or if a guy did a really great job then he could say 'bloody well then old chap jolly good show'

Alan, we always have room on the stage for a person and player of such as yourself.
See ya on the 27th!

As I said, I'm going to make exceptions once in while, like this Thursday I'm mixing Gary Hoey at The Berklee Performance Center. Some sound gigs are still worthwhile I guess. I just won't be making a habit of it.

Lou, cheers mate. Look forward to it.

Juice, thanks bro. I'm very very lucky that I make make entire living from musical related things, it's just my least favourite has become running sound. CPA kind of summed it up earlier in the thread. Hearing many bands play the same songs gets to you after so long. I can see why sound guys get bitter after a while.
Some bands are hard work to deal with and you get all sorts of attitudes. Being a player for so long, thats a hard pill to swallow, especially if the player/band is shite. I passed a sound gig to Devin a while back and he experienced it for himself, I think he was ready to beat the crap out of someone at the end of it. Other nights once you have the band up and running you are just counting the hours down to getting out. That's not fun and I'm not desperate for the extra money, so why even do it ?
On the flip side there are some fun nights and challenging nights, so it's not all depressing, it's just they get less and less.

I love Bruce too !! We had to set up a fan behind his Marshall amp at one show to keep it cool and a piece of tape to keep the speaker jack in place. I was like....'mate, there's no excuses for this....'

It's right next to Wherethefukistan...

That boy, by all rights, should have the "best" gear... tell him to open the wallet a little and pony-up some dough for reliable "tools" for his job. :o)