Enthusiasm for your work

[burnsy]

Ok whilst sat here reflecting on the past year of my life
*cue violin*

I noticed how much more of a passion and enthusiasm for live sound in my work (theatre) I have then the 3 other sound guys.

Now I feel for some of the shows that come through our venue as it all depends on weather they can be arsed to make the sound good or not on that particular day.
Where as I would always try my hardest to get the best sound even if it meant chucking a couple of extra mics on stage. However these other 3 say they just cant be arsed , which sometimes I can see why but my other side says well if that person leaves with a happy face because their sound was great does that not boost your reputation within your specialism?

Am I being to enthusiastic or am I right in saying some people just lack any effort for their choosen field ?

Craig

[Tim Halligan]

I noticed how much more of a passion and enthusiasm for live sound in my work (theatre) I have then the 3 other sound guys.
<snip happens...>
Am I being to enthusiastic or am I right in saying some people just lack any effort for their choosen field ?


The problem is not yours.

The other guys are just coasting.

Be proud of yourself.

Cheers,
Tim

[dnafe]

The problem is not yours.

The other guys are just coasting.

Be proud of yourself.

Cheers,
Tim


:Thumbsup:

[pounce]

that enthusiasm is a great thing. don't lose it. yes, the other guys are -probably- coasting.

i struggle with this to tell the truth. i am technically better at my job now than i've ever been. i can hit a mix pretty quick, i can get things set and get them up and running quickly. however, i struggle against work burnout. doing this day in and day out means i have trouble showing enthusiasm for it.

however, i still have pride in my work and i do it better than when i had lots of enthusiasm but less experience. there is a way to be good at your job and not getting run around in circles by the bands. so hopefully what you are doing that the other guys aren't doing is making an actual sonic difference. i bet it makes the bands feel important, which is also a good thing. sometimes folks ask me to do stuff which given the venue and our sound system and all of that won't really make a difference to their sound. or if i let -them- run me around then they would do it all day. so i don't let bands run me around. i know what to do and how to pace it better than they do. and i usually know about mics better than they do. sometimes bands ask for goofy stuff, and i have to figure out what i can do that will make a difference. being run around unecessarily too many times for stupid stuff by inexperienced bands will make it so that you don't want to be run around and instead you will take charge of the techinical concerns. so much so that you don't always give a band what they ask for but you do give them what they need. being a confident authority for bands is part of what you can do (in my case in lieu of enthusiasm) to make them feel at ease and taken care of.

in your case, yes - do your best, please. that's a great thing. and not only keep your enthusiasm, let it be the thing that gets you gigs that the other guys won't be offered. otoh, don't let bands run you around, and don't let disorganized bands eventually get you burnt out. sorry for rambling.

[dikledoux]

...you don't always give a band what they ask for but you do give them what they need.
Listen carefully to Pounce...

There's nothing wrong with this when you've got the experience to know the difference. And it'll allow you to retain that enthusiasm, so that when you've got a reason to be excited like a schoolgirl, you'll still have some of that left and you'll be glad you kept some for you. So will the bands who deserve it. The ones who don't deserve your extra enthusiasm will still be fortunate enough to have a competent person running the sound - and that's luxury already.

dik

[burnsy]

I hear you pounce and I have only recently stopped getting run around by them and understanding that there is limitations on what can be done has only hit my as well.
I usually make sure that my side is ready for whatever they can throw at me and if its more then we can physically take I just say 'NO'. Im apparantly quite firm with bands in my local club where more often then not they are A) Deaf B) Cant play for cack and expect a mixing desk to produce a band out of it.


I appreciate all your replies as I've often felt like im in one big struggle against these arrogant to**ers that have the jobs but no interest or effort to make it sound at least ok.

[bunnerabb]

I do two shows a day, all summer, more days off, lately...

Same 12 or so bands rotated in and out... hooting idiots in teh crowd, the room ran under a meter until last year and the bands that bring their own AEs ignored it, anyhoo. YOU try and get a band up over an 89 dBA noise floor of yammering boozehounds with a noise cap.

And it's a cool job, all in all, but sometime around Aug. I am burnt to a crisp.

I bust ass for every show but, man... it's hard not to get a little toasty by late summer.