Hello dear readers. Recently, I ran sound for Preacher Stone (https://preacherstoneband.com/) at The Rooster (https://theroostergastonia.com/) and it was a great show. Despite a few technical issues we had to overcome, it went silky smooth, the performance was top notch, and the sound was just like we hoped for. Local Support band Project XIII (https://www.facebook.com/KMProjectXIII/) was happy, some patrons near the sound booth gave some kudos on the sound, and everyone was vibing the whole night. This is what we strive for! Mission Accomplished!
Fast forward to the end of the night, after the gear had been loaded out and everything was put away and shut down. Michael Carpenter (Owner – The Rooster) and myself were in the Green Room chatting with guys from Preacher Stone, and having some laughs. For those not in the know, this is really what musicians do when they are not playing music. Cutting up, being silly, and socializing. As a musician myself, this is pretty much what I live for, outside of talking about music gear, or the actual playing. With that said, I had already received some very nice compliments from the guys in Preacher Stone. Some people say sound people never get any respect or credit, but I am happy to report that for the most part, that has not been my experience. This night was no exception. Then as the conversations were winding down and we were just about to all go our separate ways, 3 seconds of meteoric rise and fall happened. It came when Jim Bolt (Bass/Backing Vox – Preacher Stone) was telling Michael, as the room had quieted down, that I was the best soundman in the business. Let us break down the aftermath of that statement.
ONE. Disbelief. Scooby doobie what? With my 43 year old synapses firing a bit slower than in previous years, when you hear something about yourself like that, you have to re-evaluate yourself and what you think you heard. Yeah, pretty sure I heard right, but has this dude met me? None of my bands have had the success they have, and he’s no slouch on bass or vocals. Pretty sure I should not be questioning this dude, even if it’s in my mind, in this particular nanosecond of thought stream. I can only imagine some of the not so great sound people he has met in his lifetime and had to endure through nights with. God knows I have had my share of them too. The Flip side, I am sure he has also been privy to some pretty amazing sound people as well, with proper training and utilizing all of the tools available to make the greatest sound possible. Me, I am a caveman. Analog in a digital age.
TWO. Acceptance. In that moment, maybe Jim meant what he said. He could have been waxing Michael on to make him feel good. Maybe he was still in “stage high” mode (nothing to do with drugs, folks) and that had his opinion boosted. All perfectly fine. Whatever it was, just accept it. Take the win. Yeah, that night, that show, everything coalesced just right. Why not. Best Soundman in the business. What business? Who cares! Taking the award. I would like to thank my Mom and Dad for believing in me, Tim Von Tye for working with me in the early days and getting me interested in sound, and Sweetwater for putting those little candy packs in all of their boxes! No flash photography, please! Easy there superstar. Don’t start looking for your Hall Of Fame invitation just yet…
THREE. Humble Pie. After hearing these words come out of Jim’s mouth, the first thing Michael Carpenter does is immediately turn to look at me with this look of both surprise and and disbelief, both of which I understood completely. Now, to be fair, knowing Michael, I believe it was more surprise to hear someone say it aloud, and then turning to me to make sure I heard what was said. Michael has always been encouraging and supporting, and while he would certainly never want me to become some kind of self obsessed ego-maniac, he has always advocated that I not dismiss praise. In my mind, I work hard to stay even keeled, and I am quick to self-judge when the good time rock and roll compliment start flowing in.
I am getting better about it in my old age, and i truly appreciate compliments, atta boys, and affirmations, but I am careful not to let them run amok. My attempt at words for wisdom for you, dear readers is this. It’s okay to be good or even great at what you do. Humble doesn’t have to mean that you sabotage yourself to be less than your potential, just to not become a spectacle or to seem more that you are. You should strive to be the very best you every day, and be even better tomorrow. Simply be careful not to fall into that trap of creating an echo chamber of self praise in your mind. Accept praise, be thankful, and remember where you came from and the journey that led you here. Also remember that your gifts are on loan from the big man upstairs. Use them to lift up the people around you, so when you give them back, you can say you did good things with what you were given. That is the real accomplishment. Stay humble, but awesome!