Go here to read the entire Sound Mountain Series.

Ben had been working for Chief Systems Tech Jim Fredrick for a few months, and he was starting to get the hang of it.

It was a really good break that Doug McDougald, his predecessor, had moved on to Monitors and was now preparing to go out on a major tour.

Most of Ben’s work in Systems wasn’t that different from what he’d been doing for Jack in the shop - maintenance on the AC distro boxes, repairing cables, and labeling new racks.

Jim was a patient and careful supervisor, which is something that Ben admitted he needed but also enjoyed.

The pace was still slow, but he was learning new things and putting the skills he’d learned working for Jack to use on a daily basis.

From his vantage point in Systems, Ben was also starting to get a better sense of the overall layout of the “big PA,” as they called it in the shop. Understanding the distribution of AC was something new, even though he’d been reading up on it. This was serious stuff and its importance didn’t escape him.

One surprise: David had seemed to turn over a new leaf. This former nemesis now was coming by to talk once in a while, and had started to be more polite and friendly. The change really helped to lighten the atmosphere around the shop.

One Friday afternoon, Jim was out on a job and Ben was just buttoning up a new distro box when David wandered in. He came right up to Ben and whistled when he saw the new rack, then said, “Nice work, man. That looks great.”

Ben appreciated the compliment, since it was kind of a rare thing at Frank’s. David continued: “Hey, listen. Would you be interested in meeting some of the crew from The Flaming Skulls tour? They’re in town for a benefit concert down at the convention center.”

It took Ben less than two seconds to reply: “Sure – that would be great!”

David added, “OK, well, we’ll probably have to cut out a little early today so we can get down there before sound check. I’ll let Frank know what we’re up to.” Ben was grateful for the opportunity, and for the attention.

At about 4 o’clock, at least an hour before the usual quitting time, the two of them hopped in David’s yellow Mustang and drove off. For Ben, it was the first time he’d be doing something “fun” since being hired, and it was beginning to feel like he might actually be a part of the “audio business.”

Arriving at the convention center, they found it mostly empty but for the trucks at the dock and the tour buses related to the concert. They entered the big ballroom where the charity event would take place that weekend, and sauntered up to stage left where most of the equipment was stationed.

David nodded to someone he seemed to know, and Ben followed close behind, looking at the impressive collection of racks, monitor console, wireless mic receivers and IEM transmitters. This was obviously a fairly high-level gig.

But then Ben noticed the words “ACME SOUND” stenciled on some of the cases. He hadn’t realized that it was another sound company, from the next county over, working this gig rather than Frank’s - he’d just assumed that since David was taking him here, that it was one of their own systems.

“Ben, let me introduce you to Jeff,” said David. “He works with The Flaming Skulls and has toured with a bunch of other big-time bands, and knows everybody in this business.” Ben shook Jeff’s hand and said, “cool of you to let us check out the rig.” Jeff simply nodded and turned back to his conversation with David.

Feeling just a bit snubbed, Ben climbed up onto the platform with the monitor console and started to mentally figure out how everything was set up. As he stood behind the mixer and looked out across the empty stage, he thought about all the discussions he’d heard about how the monitor job was a tough one, but that it lead to front of house better than any other way.

He didn’t know if he was up to the challenge yet, but resolved to do what it took to get there.

After they’d hung out for a while and talked to a couple of guys on the show, David motioned to Ben that they ought to get going. As they were walking out of the ballroom, Ben brought up the issue of ACME to David.

“I guess I didn’t realize this wasn’t one of our rigs,” Ben noted. “How do you know these guys anyway?” David shrugged it off without answering, leaving Ben feeling uncomfortable. Nothing more was said about it as they headed back to the parking lot at the shop.

The next Monday morning, Ben was in early as usual, going over the week’s work when Jack, the Chief Tech walked in, caught Ben’s eye, and motioned for him to follow. They headed back to Jack’s office where Frank was also waiting. Both had stern looks, and let Ben sit there in an uncomfortable silence for way too long.

“OK, what?” said Ben, to break the frosty mood.

Finally, Frank answered. “So, what were you doing talking to those ACME guys on Friday? Not to mention leaving work early to go down there.”

The color drained from Ben’s face as he began to get queasy.

Frank continued: “Listen, those guys seem to make a sport of low-balling the price here in town just to come in and take business from us. We can’t make a profit that way so we turn those gigs down. It’s not a good situation. And there you were, hanging out down there.”

Ben knew he’d screwed up. Not only by being unaware of what he had gotten into on Friday, but for trusting David. “Never again,” he muttered under his breath.

“What was that?” asked Jack, still glaring at Ben. “Were you saying something?”

Ben decided at that moment not to sell David out, even though he easily could. Instead, he decided to do his best to take it like a man, and learn a lesson from this debacle.

“Nothing,” he replied. “I was just saying to myself that I needed to pay more attention next time…”

Frank was only half listening before he started to speak again, cutting Ben off: “So, were you angling for a job with those guys? I wouldn’t be real happy about that.”

This shocked Ben into defending himself a little more. “Wait just a minute. I may have screwed up by ignoring my better judgment, but I was not at all looking for a new job. This is where I want to work.”

Jack calmed down a bit, but Ben could tell he was still ticked off. As was Ben. He knew then that he’d been set up, and he couldn’t let it happen again. He’d have to stay on his toes and not get burned like that again.

As the week wore on, the only thing he had left to decide was whether or not to get some payback on David. But those thoughts ebbed as he realized that David was his own worst enemy and didn’t need any help ruining his own career.

And for the first time all week, Ben felt a measure of satisfaction.

Taylor Jensen is a freelance pro audio writer.

Go to Sound Mountain, Part 6: The Big Time