On the days where Athens Theatre is not running a show during their production season, you will oftentimes find them hosting bands that rent the space out for a show or two. The bands I have seen perform in the space are tribute bands, but I am uncertain if that is always the case. While shows are running Thursdays through Sundays, the rental bands typically play on Wednesdays.

As of writing, I have sat in on a few rental performances, including tribute bands for the likes of ABBA, Electric Light Orchestra, and Elvis Presley. My duties for these days are normally pretty light, but there is still plenty to learn from them. The bulk of my work comes before and after the performances. In the beginning, I am tasked with helping set up the stage with microphones and hooking up XLR cables from the microphones to the snakes. I also have to help set up DI’s. After the performances, I help the crew with tearing down and loading out. We’re asked to only strike the theatre’s equipment and not to touch what the bands bring in.

My down time is during the performances themselves. Because the mixing is supposed to be done a certain way, I have to remain hands off with this process, but I am always asking questions about the process itself and what Lamar is doing in his mixing to try and understand how he goes about it. I am still quite inexperienced with live mixing and engineering, but it is something I still wish to learn down the line, and watching how the mixing is done helps with figuring it out.