Interview with Samantha Potter
Install Empress and Manager of Commercial Audio for Allen & Heath
Meet Samantha Potter, Install Empress and Manager of Commercial Audio for Allen & Heath. Samantha teaches a variety of subjects in the audio industry and is a part of the non-profit, SoundGirls. We loved talking to Samantha and learning more about how she got started in the industry and what she has been up to this past year.
How long have you been in the industry and what got you started?
I’ve been in the industry full-time for about seven or eight years. Like many others, I got started because I was a musician. I also had an itch for technology and stumbled upon this world where the two collided. My foundation is in studio work, but once I got a taste for live sound, there was no going back. It started as an effort to experience and respect the other side of the “audio coin,” but there’s something really special about doing it totally live, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.
Where does the nickname “install empress” come from? We love it!
It’s the all-encompassing title to try and wrap up everything I do for Allen & Heath USA, as well as much of my work outside of A&H. Also, alliteration is awesome.
You are currently the Manager of Commercial Audio for Allen & Heath, what does that job entail?
Other than being the Empress of Install, my job is to help Allen & Heath understand the US commercial and install audio market and vice versa: help that same market understand and utilize A&H technology. It means running demos, helping with product development, doing design checks for installs, teaching users about the technology, and being a resource for people. I also end up doing research on interesting projects and prepping press releases to highlight fun, weird, big or awe-inspiring installs that deserve to be seen by others. I suppose my position means being an advocate for those in A/V, commercial and install audio and helping everybody be the best they can be.
You teach quite a bit; Can you tell us about some of the different things you teach?
Some of my teachings are foundational audio. It is usually aimed at the house of worship market as their education sometimes seems to either be nonexistent or incorrect. I want to get them caught up with the rest of the live audio industry so that they can participate fully and learn how to truly use the tools at their disposal. ProSoundWeb, with whom I am a senior editor and author, and I launched a program called Church Sound University back in 2019 to give hands-on learning to house of worship techs. We’ve also been developing quite a bit of online content as well, to make sure the learning doesn’t stop just because we can’t meet in person for the time being.
Other things I teach are more advanced; whether they be mixing techniques or some sound system engineering topics, I enjoy teaching these from time to time. Other things are simply about phase, or streaming, or about life in this field.
As I mentioned above, some of my teachings these days are about Allen & Heath consoles and gear specifically — which I enjoy because I get to understand the technology on a whole other level. My colleague Mike Bangs and myself share Wednesday mornings to do Mini Masterclasses on topics that extend beyond A&H, but easily lead into what sets A&H apart from other manufacturers. It’s a casual get-together for people to ask questions and dive into a specific topic as it relates to pro audio.
What inspired you to start teaching and what future goals do you have in educating?
My teaching inspiration started and still stems from the idea of free knowledge for everyone. There’s so much to learn and I think it’s best for the entire industry if every person knows more. Pro audio has been a little bit “Wild West” in its short life. That is quickly changing and while it is becoming easier and easier to enter into audio, the bar for entry and advancement is simultaneously rising. A double-edged sword, really. My hope is that more people are inspired to join the field, but only those who put in the effort get to stay. My part in that is teaching. I take it as a great challenge of my own understanding of a topic to be able to teach it as simply as I can, for only those who truly understand something can properly teach a newbie.
I’ve seen very reputable, successful engineers say horrendously wrong things in writing and on video — and other people just eat it up because they don’t know any better. I’m trying to fight that. True education should be attainable and not just come from someone because “they’re famous.” All of this to say, don’t believe everything you read or watch. Anyone can start a YouTube channel or a podcast; that doesn’t mean they’re right.
Any future goal I have about education is simply growing my reach. The more people I can reach and assist, the better I’ll feel I have done. Everyone deserves to learn and have a chance. Allen & Heath help me with this goal, ProSoundWeb helps me with this goal, and many others. The future of pro audio shouldn’t hinge on the egos of insecure engineers.
How did you discover and what led you to getting involved with SoundGirls.Org?
You’d be surprised what a bit of Googling will get you. I’m sure I was searching around the internet wondering if there were others like me. I stumbled upon the website back in 2012 or 2013 back when the Facebook group was meager compared to today’s. I immediately tried to get involved as much as possible and while it hasn’t always been the easiest journey, I’m proud to help support them in any way I can. I suppose to some people I’ve “made it” or whatever you’d like to call it, and if that carries any weight then let me bring along whoever I can.
I blogged for SoundGirls for a while, was the Kansas City chapter head for some time, and I currently host panels and discussions, among other things. Giving back isn’t difficult. It’s just about finding some time and leaning into your strengths!
What were you working on right before the pandemic hit?
Just before the pandemic, I had planned 7 or so seminars across the country for HoW techs with Church Sound University, had 15 work trips planned, had just launched my podcast (Church Sound Podcast,) and was preparing for the best year of my life and career to date. I had gotten through my first NAMM, held a CSU session in California, and done a large corporate show here in town. And then the following week it all imploded. I was also working at a mega church and a graduate school at the time.
Has the pandemic affected that? If so, how and what ways have you been able to work through it?
It changed all of it, save the podcast. We moved CSU totally online, which brought a whole new level of work I still begrudgingly participate in (bless you, video engineers and producers. I hate recording videos of myself teaching. You’re the true MVPs of the world.) I also ended up leaving my main job to join the team at A&H.
For better or worse, the install and commercial market has been doing fairly well during the pandemic. Many places have chosen to take advantage of the fact that nobody could be in buildings so that the large projects they wanted to get done, could finish. Of course, there are some projects that had to stop or keep getting pushed back, which is understandable. Overall, the field is in great shape, all things considered.
Do you believe that the music industry will ever really be the same after this pandemic?
If we’re lucky and do everything we can to prevent another pandemic? Maybe. I think this will have 9/11-style after-effects. It’s been quite a few years since the tragedy, but we can look around and say, “Oh, hey, remember when we could just walk right up to the gate?” I imagine it will be like that. There’s no replacement for that togetherness and that experience of music. If we are lucky… we will get it 95% back.
What's the best tip you've received or best tip you would give another Sound Human?
Always keep a spirit of learning. Never become stagnant. Once you stop moving, you’re already behind. If you can accept that you will never know everything and learn to enjoy the process of living and working in this field, you will do great and be great.
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