Life as a Concert Audio Technician

Concert audio techs are the people responsible for the quality of sound an audience hears during a live music performance.  This means that life as a concert audio tech means working primarily in a live music venue of one sort or another.

Many concert venues employ in-house audio techs.  This is a good position as it means steady employment and gives one the opportunity to thoroughly learn the ins and outs of one particular venue and it’s sound system.

Many major touring artists will take their own audio techs on the road with them.  This is also a desirable position as it also amounts to steady work and affords one the opportunity to travel.  However unlike a house audio tech, touring audio techs have to learn the acoustics and quite often, the sound systems of a new venue from night to night.

Concert audio techs work in venues of all sizes and in every variety and genre of music.  Even classical and choral performances rely on a certain amount of amplification.  This means microphones must be placed, feedback eliminated and a clean sound that’s pleasing to the ear, arrived at.  This is the job of an audio tech.

Life as a concert audio tech is a good career for anyone who loves music and wishes to work in a musical environment.  Many audio techs are musicians themselves.  However, while this can be very helpful to doing the job, it’s not a requirement. 

Working as a concert audio tech requires a good ear for how music should sound, good technical know-how and an ability to work with people.  It’s also helpful to have a cool head during a crisis.  Working in the world of live music is unpredictable and problems will arise.  Good concert audio techs know how to keep their heads and solve the problems.

An average working concert audio tech earns around $35K annually while the top ten percentile of the profession pull in above $62K a year.

Being a concert audio tech is about more than making money however.  Being an audio tech is about being able to work and earn a living in the music business.  So while it may not be the fastest route to a mansion and a pool, life as a concert audio tech can be a rewarding and fulfilling career for anyone who thrives off being in the atmosphere of a live music venue.