Part 3 -Reality check... So I'm not really as cool as I think I am... but I know who is...

So there I was, doing what I do. Being a sound system designer who thinks he has a cool job and who does pretty important work (or so I think most of the time). I was busy designing this really cool sound system for this really cool project. I wasn't sure exactly what the system would be used for, but it would have a computer, lots of speakers, amplifiers, inputs, outputs, knobs, buttons, you know - the usual compliment of totally cool toys and gear that I will get to play with soon.

So the project goes along and I end up at the jobsite while the sound contractor is installing the system. I'm there for a construction administration visit... (You know, to coordinate the stuff that needs coordinating that didn't get coordinated until the place is getting built...) One of the production guys comes into the office and tells us about a recording session where they will be tracking the music for the show. So off we go to hear the creative side of things, and see how they're doing.

We end up at the studio for the session and all these people (well... musicians...) are hanging around and getting instruments out. You know, real instruments. For some reason I was expecting a computer driving some synths while a couple folks hung out and drank coffee. It was a surprise to have a whole orchestra there. The players began warming up and then started rehearsing the piece that they would be recording for the session. As they're playing along, they begin to look at each other... we begin to look at each other. Wow, this music is cool! Then the ideas start flying around about what cool techno-things we can do with this great music like imaging and panning effects around the show space with this cool new sound system.

Finally the end of the project comes and it is time for us to get to play with the toys. The system is installed and show programming is underway. Most of my techno work is finally done. Yeah, we did some cool computer control system programming, some cool speaker systems design, some cool mixing in the space (talk about fun!). But then it all of a sudden hits me - People aren’t going to come to this place to hear the sound system we designed. In fact, most people won't even notice it at all. They'll be too busy looking at the effects, the lights, the lasers, fountains, the whole show. And more importantly, they will be experiencing what the show creative team had in mind for them to experience. If we've done our job as a design team, the show will speak for itself. The music will be experienced by the people that are in the audience and it will evoke visions, feelings and emotions for them, just as it did (and still does) for me. Our job is to facilitate the artist's expression of the desired experience for the audience. I realized that it is not about me and my system or programming or design work - it's all about connecting the artist directly to the audience in the most direct manner with the least amount of interference. Sure we can facilitate some of the creative experience with our technical stuff, but the music speaking directly to the soul of the listener is the goal.
I'm fortunate to be in an industry where I can contribute to such great projects like this one. To be part of a complete design team that uses the available technology to provide the show creative personalities to tell a story like this one is truly an honor. I know that when creative talents have a vision for a show, they really make up the foundation for the project's success. Without a creative vision, all our work is wasted.

Because of the extremely high production quality, this project was a good reminder for me. While I think the work I do is useful, it is nothing without the emotion and feelings of the artist that are often so brilliantly expressed through the music. Regardless of the technology and the toys, it still comes back to the music.

Vance Breshears is a principal consultant with Sound Technology Consultants in Alpine, CA who is not working too hard on recovering from his gear addiction.