Sound Guy School

How Cool It Is to Be a Sound Guy

On the field at Atlanta Braves Stadium

If you’re sitting there thinking, “this all sounds fine and good, but I still would rather be doing music recording instead of television,” then maybe this isn’t for you. But just to make sure you know what you’d be turning down, let me tell you how cool it is being a TV Sound Engineer.

Sound engineers are some of the most respected people at any shoot, simply because they are the only ones there who know how to do what they’re doing. When you’re the only sound guy on a shoot, you are the department head, just as the Director of Photography on a film shoot is head of the camera department.

Sound Crew for History Channel's "Blood Sweat and Gears"

It really is true, you get to do things you only see on TV. You know those cool reality shows where the contestants on camera get to do something awesome like ride a speedboat around Lake Michigan, or meet famous people, or do fun things like ride a Zorb (google it) down a huge hill? Well, when you’re working on those reality shows, often times you will get to do those awesome things that the people on camera get to do. No joke!

You can make a great living doing this. Being a TV Sound Guy pays way better than working for 10 years earning minimum wage in some recording studio listening to
Kenny G wann-be’s 16 hours a day. And you really can work as much as you want because the vast majority of the jobs out there are looking for freelancers and independent contractors for their productions.

Blair with the Comanche Indians in Texas

YOU decide when to go on vacation, without having to ask for time off from the boss or worrying about how many vacation days you have left. For me, it’s the only way to go. I just couldn’t handle the typical Monday through Friday grind. As a TV Sound Guy, I have a lot more freedom in my life to do the things I want to do.

And on top of all that, once you’re in as a TV Sound Guy, you are automatically a part of an elite group of sound mixers who travel the globe utilizing a highly specialized skill set that very few people have. All of a sudden you’re part of the elite class of sound engineers known as TV Sound Guys. You will belong to a tight-knit group of colleagues and peers who, for the most part, are there to support their fellow TV Sound Guys whatever it takes. It’s family.

At the Zoo in Atlanta