I’ve been ranting and raving over here for a couple of months, and I’ve come to realize that I haven’t said much about why I’m here in the first place. Well, I guess that has a lot to do with how my mom and dad were in love and wanted to start a family. But after that, how did I wind up working for a magazine/Web site that covers an industry that I never was a part of?
Well, I came as an editor. As an editor, I can edit anything. That’s the cool thing about being a word-worker: it applies to anything that gets dealt with in words. It doesn’t matter if it’s health, hi-tech dog-food, or Ming-dynasty ceramics. As long as the spelling needs to be correct, it’s my field.
The byproduct of the editing process is that I get to learn about whatever the subject happens to be. I pick up stuff here and there and have been doing so for years. In fact, I can intelligently converse about such diverse topics as Las Vegas tourism, organic foods, skin care products, the San Francisco art and music scene, and even incontinence. Do you know that over 45 million Americans experience incontinence? Do you know that I’m already regretting having shared this fact; however, if you’re one of them, you can now rest assured that you’re in good company?
Anyway, having edited for years, it was time for me to be a little more picky about my choice of magazines, especially since I was hired during an employee’s job market. (Remember way back then?) S&VC was close enough to my interest in playing music. I am the lead vocalist in a local rock band, and we gig about once a month. This magazine deals with sound systems, which I work with to some small degree, and so it was a match made in heaven. I get to see ads for mixers and speakers that I could never afford in between editing stuff that I cannot for the life of me understand.
My band started with just me and a bassist. I’d spiel my lyrics and Steve would fill out my vocals with funky bass lines. I didn’t even need a mic. But then we added a guitarist, and I needed a mic. And then we added a drummer, and I needed to turn way up.
Which brings me to my PA system, which I really love. Though I’m not too technically minded, I can tell you that it’s a Mackie 408-something-something. It’s got a bunch of cool knobs and stuff on it. There’s an EQ and built in effects that can make me sound like I’m singing in a cathedral or a cavern or even at home in the shower. I use Audix 6GR mics, or something like that. They’re black. My sound cords are by someone or other. My mic stand is by Guitar Center. My accordion is by Lo Duca. It all kicks much ass, and now when I sing, I shatter ear-drums. Rock and roll!
And that’s why I work for Sound & Video Contractor. Go figure.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Audix
Using a black magic marker, write “What about this Audix thing?” on your Reader Service Card.
Guitar Center
Visit a Guitar Center near you. I’ll bet they’re having a sale.
Lo Duca
No longer making accordions, eBay is your best source.
Mackie
www.mackie.com, like, duh.
