Importance of the crew
Lesson time: (0min 0sec)
Sister Bliss explains the touring crew behind Faithless, from the front-of-house engineer to the monitor engineer who shapes what the band hears on stage.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Studio to Stage: How Faithless Created Their Live Sound
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Importance of a Monitor Engineer
When we started out, we didn't have our own monitor engineer. We just had a front of house engineer. This person mixes the sound that the audience hears. However, due to financial constraints, we couldn't afford a dedicated monitor engineer.
What is a Monitor Engineer?
A monitor engineer is crucial because they create the sound that musicians hear on stage. Musicians often require various elements in their monitor mixes, such as:
- Drums: To keep in time
- Vocals: For cues and lyrics
- Bass: Sometimes needed for depth
A good monitor engineer responds to each band member's unique requirements based on their role.
Challenges Without a Dedicated Engineer
Often, we would arrive at a venue where the house would provide their own monitor engineer. We had to make the best of the situation, which was challenging. When we could finally afford our own monitor engineer, it transformed our shows. We could signal our needs directly during performances, such as:
- "Drums up!"
- "Increase the click volume!"
The Importance of Communication
Clear communication was essential. The monitor engineer typically works off to the side, so having a good line of sight was necessary for gesturing and relaying needs. Additionally, the monitor engineer needed to pay attention to all eight musicians, each requiring different things.
We encountered monitor engineers who ignored us, making gigs difficult because it felt like our sound was never right. You can't immerse yourself in the performance when you're constantly distracted by sound issues.
Rehearsing for Success
Rehearsals are crucial for setting levels correctly. A solid monitor engineer understands that each song brings different textures and layers. We were fortunate to collaborate with some of the best monitor engineers in the world, allowing us to relax during gigs, knowing they understood our needs.
The Game Changer: Programmable Desks
Another significant advancement was the introduction of a programmable mixing desk. For each song, we could set a scene with the desired levels. Once we finalized the levels during rehearsal, the engineer could activate the scene at the touch of a button, followed by minor tweaks as needed. This digital desk made it easier to rearrange our setlist and adapt on the fly, revolutionizing our performances.
Expanding the Team
Initially, our crew included only a lighting engineer and a front of house engineer. Over time, as we expanded our shows, we each started gaining our own roadies and techs for various roles:
- Keyboard technician
- Drummer's tech
- Guitarist's tech
- Bass player's tech
This financial burden is significant, but as shows grew in scale, the pressure on musicians to deliver high-quality performances increased too.
The Role of Crew
The crew that travels with us is essential for our success. With eight musicians, we typically have an equal number of crew members, plus backline, lighting technicians, VJs, and caterers. We might even require drivers for articulated lorries carrying our equipment.
For instance, one of our shows utilized four artics filled with backline and LED screens. An arena is just an empty space upon arrival, it requires extensive preparation. Technicians set up not only the PA system but also staging, risers, and screens.
Building Relationships with Crew
Developing a good relationship with your crew is vital. They make everything happen. I've been fortunate to work with dedicated crew members who enable me to tour successfully.
Key Takeaways:
- Respect is essential. The crew works tirelessly setting up and breaking down shows. Treat them with kindness; they are crucial to your success.
- Community matters. Many crew members know each other, and word of poor behavior spreads quickly. Maintain a humble attitude.
In conclusion, the crew is central to creating stunning live performances. A great show is the result of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.
About the instructor
'Sister Bliss never stopped writing music. She's an accomplished composer for film and TV, a club DJ, and an advocate for the creative industries'. Billboard One of the most successful British dance music artists of the past 25 years, Ayalah Bentovim AKA Sister Bliss is the musical force behind Faithless. Together with iconic front man Maxi Jazz and producer Rollo Armstrong, she formed Faithless: one of the most successful electronic acts of their generation, with a career spanning more than two decades that included 8 albums (3 at number 1) and six top 10 singles. To date, Faithless have sold in excess of 15 million records worldwide and have played live to millions across the world, headlining festivals, stadiums and arenas. The band have collaborated with artists such as Jazzie B, Boy George, Cat Power and Dido, never conforming and moving effortlessly across an eclectic range of genres. Over a 25-year career that took her from the underground UK club scene to sold-out arena shows and festival headline slots around the globe, Sister Bliss has become one of British dance music's longest-standing and most influential female electronic artists. She comes off the back of releasing Faithless' first studio album in ten years, the highly anticipated 'All Blessed' - Faithless' love letter to electronic music that presents them at their very best. The album reached number 6 in the charts and the singles, along with their premiere remixes, garnered extensive support across BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and BBC 6 as well as Kiss FM and Capital. A classically trained multi-instrumentalist, she has also scored numerous TV, film and theatre productions. Credits include 2012's film Knife Fight starring Rob Lowe and directed by two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag, commissions for Sex & The City 2, Chasing Amy, Danny Boyle's The Beach, A Life Less Ordinary, acclaimed British film The Hide, Crossing The Line and the BAFTA-winning TV dramas Life Begins (ITV) and The Poison Tree (ITV). For theatre, Bliss has written music for The Black Album and The Emperor Jones at The National Theatre in London, as well as composing an original piece for the London Sinfonietta, which was performed at Fuse Festival, UK. She recently had a lead role in major prime time BBC1 show 'This is My Song', mentoring the contributors and producing their final recordings. She released a new collaborative album with Rollo and Dido in 2019 under the moniker 'R PLUS' - 'The Last Summer', following a jam-packed summer of festival headline DJ sets throughout the world including sets at Bestival, Exit Festival, Glastonbury, Creamfields, Ibiza and beyond. Her hugely successful weekly radio show and podcast 'Sister Bliss in Session' is syndicated to over 100 stations and 43 countries worldwide. She recently guest presented Gilles Peterson's acclaimed show on BBC 6 Music and regularly stands in for Ana Matronic on the Dance Devotion show on BBC Radio 2. She has also presented a 5-part series on Bauer Media's Scala Radio station joining the dots between classical and electronic music, which won the Bronze prize at the New York Festival Radio Awards, competing against 30 countries. She currently teaches at Tileyard Studios' Masters MA course, including modules on songwriting, production and writing to commercial brief, and mentors individual Masters students - the same hands-on knowledge she shares in Studio to Stage, breaking down exactly how Faithless turned their records into a stadium-filling live show. read more