International Women’s Day: Amplifying Women in Pro Audio International Women’s Day: Amplifying Women in Pro Audio...
In recognition of International Women’s Day, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate the remarkable interviewees featured in the L-Acoustics Women in Pro Audio series over the past year. Since its inception in 2021, this initiative has provided a vital platform to spotlight a talented and dedicated group often underrepresented in the industry.
It’s crucial to emphasize that the interviewees featured in this series are not merely participants because of their gender. They are exceptional professionals, each with a unique story of perseverance, talent, and a deep-seated passion for live sound, technology, and the arts. These women and non-binary individuals have overcome challenges and broken barriers in a field that is not always welcoming to them.
They’re not here to fill a quota or to be token representatives.
They are here because they are talented, driven, and passionate individuals who have earned their place in the pro audio world. Their stories deserve to be heard and celebrated.
Listen to the stories from these 14 inspiring Women in Pro Audio interviewees. Their candid accounts reveal experiences that are both sobering and galvanizing. These stories demand attention to acknowledge the hurdles these individuals have overcome, and to spur a collective effort toward creating a more inclusive and equitable industry for all.
Challenges for Women in Pro Audio
Julie Sloan, a seasoned audio engineer and tour manager with over 25 years of experience, remembers the industry’s early days. “Back then, we called it ‘getting girled.’ Getting girled is being dismissed in various capacities because of your gender. Early on, I ran into a lot of people (crew heads, house guys, etc.) who just outright wouldn’t listen to my input even when I was the one in charge.
Laura Moakes, a freelance live sound engineer based in Chesterfield, UK, has also echoed the sentiment of getting dismissed, “When I first started out, I found the industry to be quite patronizing, especially towards women. Nobody wanted to listen to me, and nobody wanted to hire me. I was often spoken down to, and it was extremely frustrating to be constantly turned down when all I wanted was to learn and work.”
Gracie Finch, a diverse audio pro who has worked as a stage technician for Hans Zimmer, also shared her experience with being overlooked. “I often find myself in the situation where there have been countless shows where I am never thought to be a part of the audio team. It is assumed that I am everything from a producer, show caller, video tech, or lighting tech, but never a part of audio.”
Vienna-based audio engineer and tour manager Conni Ettinger acknowledges that while negative experiences are less frequent than positive ones, they tend to leave a more lasting impression. “It’s not super common to see young women at the FOH, so sometimes you get inappropriate comments, but it also happens that you’re being side-eyed or simply ignored. It’s definitely not a daily occurrence, but unfortunately, the few bad experiences stick out way more than the many good ones.”
Production Manager Nicole Erin Massey, who began her entertainment career as a dancer, has revealed the harsh reality of gender bias in the industry, stating, “I’ve been threatened, spoken down to, and the worst is when they speak to other men versus not looking at me because they don’t think I’m worthy.”
Anything You Can Do, I Can Do
Beyond being overlooked, many talented women in the audio industry have faced the disheartening experience of having their knowledge and skills questioned simply because of their gender. This lack of trust can be a significant barrier, undermining their confidence and hindering their professional growth.
Ashley Costello, an audio technician who discovered her passion for live sound while working as a stagehand, has said, “I had a band member ask if I knew how to turn up their mic while I was their monitor person. Maybe they had bad luck with engineers earlier on their tour, but I have a strong feeling that comment wouldn’t have been made if I had a beard.”
Audio-visual designer Rosa Della Sala, with a decade of experience in the industry, highlights a pervasive challenge for women in pro audio: “In this industry, the challenge for women often revolves around gaining consideration, credibility, and trust,” she states, emphasizing the frustrating reality of having abilities and contributions underappreciated due to gender bias.
Freelance live sound engineer Isabella Di Biase, known for her work at prominent London venues, points out the persistent prejudices women face in the live events industry, emphasizing the unfair burden of proof placed upon them. “In the live events industry, like in other male-dominated industries, there are still prejudices like women are less strong, women are more emotional, they are not cut out for technical jobs, etc, and this affects both women’s and men’s minds and attitudes,” she shares, highlighting the damaging impact of these stereotypes. “It’s a matter of fact that many women who work in live events have to struggle twice as much as male colleagues to prove that they can do this job.”
Differences for Women in Pro Audio
Philadelphia-based front-of-house engineer and mixing engineer Alice Wilder observes a disparity in career advancement, attributing it to gender bias rather than differences in skill. “I’m very good at my job, but I’ve seen other engineers’ careers launch right past mine, and I know it has nothing to do with mixing abilities and everything to do with gender,” they state, highlighting the frustrating reality of how “cis men are just trusted inherently without question.”
Sound and system engineer Kseniia Sokolova, known for her work on large-scale events like Scarlet Sails, has often felt the heightened scrutiny placed upon her as a woman in the industry. “It wasn’t easy knowing that people were watching and evaluating my every move, but it strengthened me and fueled my determination to become a confident professional,” she shares, acknowledging the added pressure. “I believe many people experience this when starting in a new workplace, but as a woman, the pressure feels twice as intense.”
The Magic of Live Sound
Despite the challenges and biases women in pro audio face, the passion for their work shines through. Their dedication to what they do, their joy in creating unforgettable experiences, and their unwavering love for sound and music are truly inspiring. For all of these interviewees, the allure lies in the magic of live sound and the connection it creates between artists and audiences. “The magic of taking what a band is doing and translating that into an experience for the audience is everything,” shares Alice Wilder.
Kseniia Sokolova finds joy in the entire process, from the initial venue schematics to the final moments of a show. “My work is my biggest hobby, and I truly enjoy every part of the process, from the very beginning to the end of a show,” she enthuses.
Passion for Music
The power of live sound and music to evoke emotions and create unforgettable experiences is a driving force for so many. “I love that I can combine my passion for music and technology,” says Conni Ettinger, an audio engineer and tour manager. “It’s great to work on something and instantly hear the result.”
Victoria Cordero, an audio engineer, artist, and producer, finds a sense of belonging and endless fascination in the world of music. “Feeling how liberating it is to express yourself through art,” she shares. “Music has always been the thing that makes me feel like I belong in the world, and I love that it’s endless. You’ll never ever listen and learn everything there is to know about music and sound, and that’s so interesting to me.”
No Two Shows Are the Same
The dynamic nature of live events, with its constant challenges and opportunities for growth, is a source of excitement for many. Ashley Costello enjoys the ever-changing landscape of her work. “My favorite thing about what I do is that I never do the same thing every day,” she says. “I get to travel to different places and meet a lot of different people.”
For Laura Moakes, the highlight is touring with artists and witnessing the evolution of their shows. “The best thing in the world is touring with an artist from the start, building a family, being in it together, and seeing the show grow every night,” she shares. “It’s a special feeling.”
The Thrill of Problem-Solving
The challenge of problem-solving and the satisfaction of making things work are common threads among these women. Julie Sloan enjoys the troubleshooting aspect of her job. “I love the problem-solving aspect of it—figuring out how to make things work,” she states.
Gracie Finch finds the science behind audio intriguing. “I really love the science behind everything I do in audio,” she says. “It’s quite intriguing and I can get stuck for hours watching videos and reading manuals or books on the physics of sound.”
Rosa Della Sala thrives on the creative aspects of her work and the opportunity to design immersive audio-visual experiences. “But the most beautiful part of my job is being creative and having the opportunity to imagine and design an audio-visual sensory experience for people in real life.”
A Satisfying Job Well Done
The sense of accomplishment and pride in contributing to a successful performance is a powerful motivator. Song Bookyeom, a front-of-house and monitor engineer, finds satisfaction in the final moments of a show. “My favorite part is unplugging the cables after the performance,” she reveals. “We prepared a lot for a single performance, starting with pre-production and going through the setup period. When we finally unplugged the patch cables after successfully finishing the performance, it brought relief knowing we did a good job.”
Collaboration
The collaborative nature of the industry and the opportunity to work with talented individuals inspire many. Kathleen Chen, a freelance live sound engineer and Tech Support Specialist for Ableton, appreciates the close connection with artists and the role she plays in their performances. “I feel really lucky to work closely with insanely talented and passionate people,” she shares. “It’s always inspiring to see an artist move an audience and an honor to be a part of that process.”
Responsibility Matters
Many people are driven by the responsibility of ensuring a high-quality audio experience for the audience. Valerie Gard, an FOH engineer and system engineer, loves the challenge and responsibility that come with her job. “The travel, the access to incredible venues, and working with the latest technology are all amazing,” she says, “but what I love most is the responsibility. I’m the one making sure thousands of people experience great sound.”
The Impact of Share Sound Experiences
The ability to create unforgettable experiences for audiences is a source of pride for many. Nicole Erin Massey finds joy in watching the audience react to the performances. “I love to watch the audience; dancing, laughing, freaking out – it’s all so good and makes me smile so much,” she shares.
These personal stories highlight how these 14 individuals have had to navigate a field where, as Isabella Di Biase points out, “many women who work in live events have to struggle twice as much as male colleagues to prove that they can do this job.” Yet, their passion for transforming artistic expression into unforgettable audience and shared sound experiences propels them forward. These personal quotes about their love for their work, their dedication to learning more, and their profound love for the industry deserve to be shared not just today, but every day.
