Veteran sound engineer Tom Schieding has some advice for local bands cutting their teeth on area stages: "The most common mistake," he says, "is prioritizing the rock star thing over the basics. If you're a rock star, it'll show. If you're up there posing at the expense of playing well, it's just crap."
Bands should take heed, as Schieding has been working in music—both as a musician and sound engineer—for decades. After rocking out in local bands like DeLex and then engineering sound at the dearly departed Sheehan's, he "spent a couple of years schlepping stuff around in my van and then went dormant … I explored the universe."
Schieding came back to Earth itching to once again immerse himself in the music scene. Luckily, he found The Elevens, a bar and live music venue on Pleasant Street in Northampton. Along with fellow knob twiddler Bruce Tull, he has done much over the years to improve conditions at the club, formerly known as Harry's: "Bruce and I have worked hard to make the room soundman-friendly and, we hope, a good place to hear and see local talent."
Schieding is excited to be part of a scene that he believes is thriving. "The openings of The Basement and The Sierra Grille, in addition to increased blogging and Myspace activity, have stirred up new interest in local music," he says, and adds, "Attendance at The Elevens is up." He encourages young fans to check out the "old geezer bands." When asked to name his favorite Valley act, Schieding, like any smart soundman, demers: "I'm not touching this one. I love them all, of course."
Although he still loves playing music, Schieding spends more of his time behind the boards these days. He feels well suited to the challenges of handling bills comprised of multiple bands, most times without the safety net of sound checks. "I relish the challenge of working with bands for the first time with no sound check," he says. "For me, rock is about balancing on the razor's edge. No doubt it makes some bands a little nervous, but maybe that helps put them on the edge. Sound checks are for babies."
Schieding concludes with a few more pearls of wisdom for neophyte and veteran bands alike: "Once you have set up your equipment and made sure it works, get off the stage and let me do my work. Don't stand there noodling at your guitar or 'tuning' your drums. Nobody wants to listen to it, especially me!" Oh, and one last thing: "Bands shouldn't play drunk."
Sound advice.
