Interview with Kevin Glendinning
Monitor Engineer and Artist Rep for JH Audio
Meet Sound Human, Kevin Glendinning, touring Monitor Engineer and Artist Rep for JH Audio. Kevin has toured with many well-known artists such as Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars. We got a chance to talk with him and he shared with us how he got into the industry, what has kept him successful in the industry and about his role as an Artist Rep.
How did you get started in the industry?
Well, I somehow convinced my parents to let me go see a Guns N Roses concert in '91 back in WI sort of near where I grew up in Chicago area, good ol Alpine Valley... Seats happened to be next to the soundboard, watched their mixer the entire concert, Axl who right? Shortly after I joined a punk band and we van toured around Illinois and I somehow was in charge of all thing's audio, mics monitors cabinets etc. Gear was used and abused to every length you could imagine. Learned quickly how to improvise on $0.00 budget and little no technical knowledge, not too sure I was even old enough to drive a car yet. (VERY PRE GOOGLE), we read a lot of user manuals and asked a lot of questions at Guitar Center and local house techs. That developed into close relationships with other bands and small sound outfits, none were really that great and the gear was C level at best, but we put our minds, stacks, and racks together and in '95 my close pal and business partner Patrick created Vintrick Sound (keVIN & paTRICK, terrible I know). I got my foot in the door shortly thereafter at db Sound Chicago and got called to tour quickly. They were not the biggest PA ship around but had some mega accounts that needed a lot of road staff, right place right time does matter in this line of work that is for sure.
What lead you to becoming a Monitor Engineer?
I was taking some live sound practicum / audio reinforcement courses in Chicago over at Columbia College, and the lead instructor Jack Alexander had told the class, "If you can mix monitors, you will never look for work, your phone will always be ringing, you will never starve.” That and my first few runs with db Sound were all teching for MEs of the highest caliber. One of our senior staff guys told me to keep my mouth shut and eyes open, that was out on AC/DC Metallica and The Rolling Stones, picked up quite a few tricks of the trade and learned a ton in the way of tour politics and dealing with artists personally on stage and off, never really attended a course for that in college. Have folks like Paul Owen, Christopher Wade Evans, Kenny Check, Niall Slevin and the late great Jon Roden to thank for that invaluable upbringing in the early days of my career, '99 - '04. Can't forget of course the guys that got me there too. The Harry Witz, David Shadoan and Dave Rats of the business. Without their trust in me those doors would have never been opened and I would still be cleaning casters and sweeping their shop floors.
What are some of your favorite tours or gigs you have worked on?
Man, it's been a blur, but a lot of fun and so many great experiences over the last 20+ years. Got to meet amazing people, hero, and idols both in and out of the music realm. For me as a monitor mixer though it really came down to the guys and gals on the tour staff not just who I was mixing. Timberlake was a lot of fun; we all stay close still to this day from his security guys to the gals in the office and even the former ShowCo techs Andy Meyer (FOH) and I had. Alicia Keys was a lot of fun musically, true talent and was our first client we converted over to a JH Audio IEM (13v1), loved being a part of that introducing Jerry Harvey back into the IEM game with her and the band. Deftones are for sure on that list as well, musically one of my favs, still pop them in at the gym and when I need a little extra pep in my step and coffee just isn't working for me. Another great road fam that all stay in touch today still. I will say this, for the bonds that are formed personally it is imperative to remember you are still a hired employee. A bit too close personally with someone or a band even can make for an awkward experience when a show was less than perfect, or some technical mishaps occur.
You have toured and worked with a handful of successful artists. How do you go about managing your time and do you ever come across tours overlapping?
I have been very grateful and fortunate that is for sure yeah. Time management is crucial, especially when you're globe-trotting, jet lagged, having too much recreational / off the clock fun, etc. Making sure your health is in check, getting rest when you can, and ensuring those upgrades clear so you can get sleep at 35,000ft really matters, especially when you wake up one day in your 40s, much more of a challenge than it is in your 20s. When and if your schedules don't line up perfectly, and they never do it's always great when a trusted colleague can fill in or takeover for you. late 00s I was faced with deciding between, Lenny, Alicia, Maroon5 and Justin. Without sounding cocky, it was a good problem to have, one I never thought I would ever be at a crossroads with. I was able to juggle Lenny and Alicia back and forth fortunately but handed JT off to good pal and colleague Dan Horton and Maroon5 over to one of my oldest pals in the business, legend for sure Mr. Steve Walsh. They both did great and went on to long runs with the two clients. Lenny and Alicia became some great experiences although was difficult missing the other two tours as well, again grateful to of even been at that predicament. Moral of the story is top associate with good people, a trusted network, clients never like to be told no I can't do it, but as long as they're covered and the audio is to their liking, they will quickly forget who you are, I assure you that, ha.
Do you have any advice on finding work for audio engineers who are just starting out?
Learn your frequencies, know your 20Hz to 20KHz. That's more important than having 20/20 vision. Feedback, transducer response and of course basic mix principles require a proficient knowledge of frequencies. Get as much time on as much equipment you can. Consoles, system software, fx units, radio systems. They all act differently and once you start touring in a van and or stadiums, you'll be forced to use it all. One thing we did in the up-and-coming day (late 90s) was to place a wedge on the floor of the shop. Run a recording rig of some part, DAT back then. Take a 58, mount it near the center axis of the wedge's throw, have a 1/3oct EQ inline, call out a freq, raise that corresponding freq on the GEQ and then back down. That way you have a recording of what offensive frequency is about to go. Just a small trick to get the ear training further along. I never got too in-depth with ProTools, something I regret fully. Knowledge is power, that's the truth. Never turn down work either. Fly PA, be a runner, book travel, mix IEMs, sweep the shop, patch the stage, help dressing room power issues when the iron and toaster take out the wall circuits. Never know what will be asked of you and experience is key, as in any other industry as well as life, you'll be thrown some curveballs that is for sure. Read up, tune in and do your homework. Ask questions, don't be scared to get laughed at. Folks like Matt Larson - DigiCo, Dave Rat - Rat Sound, Jerry Harvey - JH Audio / Pooch and Rabold all have terrific outlets for furthering one's knowledge in the touring business. There is a wealth of education with the longtime road veterans and equipment designers.
What lead you to your position as an Artist Rep for JH Audio and what does that entail?
Jerry and I met in his UE days when I was the #2 Asst ME out on The Stones' 40 Licks tour. He was based in Vegas back in 2002 and he came to visit Wevans and I at MGM Arena. Of course, I knew who he was. We were all UE7 users back then and I had just finished a couple Metallic runs (UE5). He couldn't have been a greater human. We hit it off immediately became close friends and anytime I could, and the account called for it I used his product. He left the business for a few years after his days at UE, called me up and asked who I was out working with and if we could send in some impressions. Day #1 of JH Audio, the birth of the JH13. It was A level personal audio for sure, just absolutely blew the doors off anything he had done prior, not to mention from the competition. I told him ' get ready to be busy Jer' , and man JH grew to be the monster industry leader it still is today. Within 3 months I had moved Bruno, JT, Alicia, Lenny Maroon5, Deftones, Rush etc. to a JH product. Lab ops and production grew so fast they couldn't build product fast enough. JH needed support and industry experience outside of the FL offices. I was still on the road 300+ days a year back then in 2011. One night after a show in Vegas (again) he said, "Monday you're going on payroll". Remember that whole, timing is everything / it's all who you know comment? Yeah, it matters I promise. My role with JH these days is really enjoyable. I live a couple of miles from our offices in North Orlando. Wearing a few different hats day to day at JH but the direct concentration is always sales of course. Getting IEMs to the touring and audiophile community. A lot of consultation and advice leaning on my couple decades of mixing and road work comes into play for me daily. We have a great team and have big plans to develop our business and expand product appeal in the very near future. Standard IEM design is still our scope and pushing the flagship pieces out there like the Roxanne and Layla will never be a thing of the past. JH Audio is an industry leader, it is a proud family we have, hardworking and knowledgeable. It all starts at the top from Jerry and his innovations these last 25 years. I can speak for all of us, as he has built something special that we are all quite proud to be a part of.
What gigs were you working on or getting ready to do when the pandemic hit?
March 2020 hit hard on us all. I don't care who you are or where you work at, it has been a rough time. 9/11, SARS, H1N1, those were terrible occurrences without question, but nothing hit our industry like this. I had my standard JH accounts to look after and Jerry and I had a few ideas on new products at the company, as well as an L'Acoustics IEM in the works, was business as usual Q1 2020. I had just completed an Australia / Africa run mixing Solange Knowles, went to Malaysia with Leona Lewis for a one-off corporate, mini vaca safari in Nairobi and was flying back to have a couple of days at JH and then some down time in The Keys. That weekend, starting Friday the 13th and on into St Patrick's Day we all won't forget. From Friday to Monday almost all our JH accounts and most of my mixing clients called to tell us to stand by, cancel orders and pushed back schedules. Of course, all resulting in a full stop cancelation until further notice. I had some Solange, Santigold, Chance TR and Paul Simon shows / tours booked. It was going to be a busy 2020 as well as the JH workload from the road. I was actually working remotely before it became a thing. Who knew?
How has the pandemic affected you?
I have been very grateful to have a steady position at JH Audio. ZERO complaints and I am quite humbled. Hardest part of all this has actually been seeing the effect on friends and loved ones in and out of our business. We are turning the corner on C-19, getting busy, phones ringing for availability inquires and seeing folks getting back to work, in some capacity. I hope by this time next year we are fully back to a normal touring market and have put all this behind us.
Have you picked up any new hobbies during the pandemic?
Cooking and eating. Not in catering or an airport lounge either. Been enjoying that even past the few fried experiences in the kitchen or on the grill. Professionally I was along for the R7D phase of the JH L'Acoustic Contour XO IEM Jerry designed alongside the fine folks at L'Acoustics. I usually am road testing new product or reading up on them pre delivery to a venue somewhere. However, these past 12 months was a terrific experience being aboard for the start to finish of two great new products. March 5th, we launched the first ever JH 4 - way IEM, the JH Jolene. Total game changer in IEM audio and small enclosure developments. Never heard detail and musicality lie this in any audio source. Folks who have auditioned her thus far use words like 'Midas' and 70s analogue to describe its sound signature. We are very pleased and so is the marketplace.
What is the best sound tip you have ever received or would give to another Sound Human?
Received? That's got to be from my AC/DC Crew Chief Kenny Check at db Sound. "Always take care of your carpenters on tour Kevo. When you break something, and you will, they will be there for you to repair and rectify whatever issue you have." Lot of thank you cases of beer and cigars over the years have gone to that touring department. Give? Hmmm, that is tough, so many nuggets of knowledge and tidbits to pass on down to the younger up and comers. I would say attitude though. Make sure it is positive and productive one. Leave the chauvinistic racist BS nonsense at home too, we have no place for it out there. Treat people professionally and in a positive manor and you would be shocked what doors open for you. I have gotten a lot of calls because I get on well with a manager or had a kind experience with an artist, wasn't always the most skilled engineer at the console but had the right mindset and a positive vibe on the clock. Safe road everyone, and we WILL see you out there soon.
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