Looking for a career in concert sound etc.?

There are a few schools that offer training in pro audio - check in the back of Rolling Stone magazine to find them. As a sound man myself, I really think some hands on experience is all you need to get started. It seems no matter how much you've learned, every job is just a little different from the last and you're always learning something new.

I do all kinds of events myself, concerts, bar jobs, churches, parties, they're all fun to me because I love to put on a great show for people.

You mentioned churches, and I would say that may be a great place to start. If you wanted, you could probably find a church in your area that uses a sound system and could use some help. One good thing about working with a church is that the atmosphere is much more relaxed (from a sound man point of view) than a big concert or bar show. Don't expect to get paid much, if at all, when you're just starting out. If nothing else, you'd be getting experience in a pleasant work setting.

The other thing to do is get into the network of this end of the business. Show up at places while bands are setting up for a show. Clubs, parks, whatever. Let people know you want to do this. These kinds of jobs are just not the kind you see in the local classified. Some people will listen and might give you a shot. Some may just ignore you. It's all part of the business and nothing to get down about.

Another possibility is to get a job at a music store for a while. I did this myself early on and learned a lot about what works and doesn't from both coworkers and customers. Make sure it's a store that actually has PA like Sam Ash or Guitar Center or a good local store if there's one nearby. The pay is never great, but where else are you going to get to mess with thousands of dollars worth of the most current PA equipment without having to buy it. It's also a great place to network or even find good used gear for your own rig. Just an idea.

Hope that helps you a little, good luck.

You can email me if you want to discuss this further.

just have some hands on training by a pro , and i hate that too!!