I figure a little about myself is in order. Because, who would want to listen to myself rant. I know that I may not.
I have been in the professional audio world for over 20 years. It is tough sometimes to determine exactly when this "professional" starts from when you start doing audio. I was doing audio as far back grade school and running the events all through jr high and high school in my school, church, and a summer camp that my family attended every year.
So putting a date on this is hard. Maybe it was when I worked with more than 16 channels on a console. Oh that day . . I layed my paws for the first time on a 24 channel console. I was overwhelmed. Knobs everywhere. That was 1986. Already had my own cassette 4 track and produced a little "album" with a sax player friend. He sold at least 15 copies of that cassette.
I have spent the bulk of my experience in the non-profit/church arena. I know that you touring guys out there may not consider that real. But I worked for years with over 40 inputs doing a completely new show every weekend with the same quality expectations that you have with doing the same show night after night.
I did do a year and a half of "touring". Small PA with a single artist, doing a different public school or church each day. I was also the driver and guitar tech. I drove across the US at least 4 times in that stint. Did the "event" in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and had my next "event" in Jacksonville, Florida, USA 5 days later once (drove 90% of that myself due to a "helper" driver that couldn't drive more than 2 hours before having to stop). Heck, how many people can say that they burnt their road vehicle to the ground out in the desert between Needles, CA and Kingman, AZ midday in July. Literally, flames, everything. Rent a UHaul, load the equipment and do a gig in Phoenix that evening. (more on that later)
I was an early digital adopter. Bought first generation BSS Soundweb and Innovason later on. Built a studio with Yamaha 02R's version 1 with 4 ADATS for the decks. Oh the days. . .
I have done Live PA, Recording (both studio and live tracking), Mastered many albums, TV post, TV live to satellite, Film shoots, and "film style" video shoots. Done football arenas, Soccer stadiums in Africa, countless auditoriums, and way too many school gymnasiums.
So I think that I should have some things that might prove interesting and possibly helpful. Don't know exactly what this will turn into but hopefully, it will be an interesting read.