[Del Pickup]

I've just started learning how to set up and run the PA at the local blues club. It's not the biggest set up in the world but with 16 channels and all the usual bells and whistles it's not a set and forget set up either. It's a case of watching and listening to the band at all times and continually tweaking settings to get the best sound at all times.

As a musician on stage, it's very easy to downplay the role the soundman plays in making your band sound at its best.

And the number of musos who are downright rude and act like prima donnas is amazing. They forget that what goes around comes around and a bit of respect and courtesy for the sound guy goes a long way towards him trying to do his best for you while you're playing.

A three hour stint at the desk is every bit as tiring as actually playing that set as part of the band - and don't forget that the sound guys are usually the ones who are there to set up the gear and are breaking it all down while the musos head home. As Jackson Browne said 'they're the first to come and the last to leave, working for that minimum wage".

I think it would be a worthwhile exercise for every musician to have some time at the desk so that they could learn just how difficult it can be and then perhaps they'd have a bit more time for the soundman when he tells them the amps are too loud on stage!!