My first response to this question usually starts like this... "Uhhh... well.... I do sound for 90% of the productions at ASF..."

One would think with as many times as I've had to answer this question... (which is the one that comes after: "Where do you work?") that I'd have a better response.

But I don't.

There are few times where I am as reminded of how intangible sound design is... not only as a design element, but as a concept.

A good friend of mine used to say "I make fake clothes for imaginary people." As a costume designer, it's a perfect description - even if lacking in detail. I have yet to find the equivalent as a sound designer. "I make the soundtrack for a live movie?" Eh. Not so much...

Sometimes if I know the person, or am in a more casual setting, I'm more comfortable in giving more details with a longer explanation. Better yet, if he or she has been to a show I've done recently, I can say: Do you remember the church bell that starts Act 2? Or the piece of music that they dance to in the party scene? Or the crickets and owl in the transition into the night scene? Yeah... I did that. THAT's my job.

But most of the time people asking me haven't seen one of my shows, or aren't expecting a 15 minute response. I try to give the person a basic: I'm responsible for the music and effects for the shows, I'm in charge of the show related communication systems in the building, any microphones used in the show, the sound systems in the theatres, and working with guest designers when I don't design. Sometimes I try a film analogy comparing the score and effects in a movie.

Regardless - I tend to get "glazed eyes" or "deer in head lights" in response.

At times I'm not bothered by not having something concise and "canned" to say to someone, but other times I feel almost defensive - not of myself specifically - but of my field and of theatre artists in general. I mean, I'm not the only one getting paid to do this - and I'm not the only one in my building that went to school, trained, built a resume. Is what I do art? Yes. But what I do is also WORK. It's not a hobby, I don't volunteer. I'm not about to tell someone how much I make, but it's clear I'm not in poverty and make a living with this "theatre thing."

I suppose this is something that all arts professionals face in one way or another. (And I also wonder if folks who are CPA's, nurses, or human resource managers face these kind of questions.) SO. How do you explain a career to someone who may or may not even understand the industry you work in? There's almost a need to describe all of theatre before I can even begin to explain sound design, or lighting, or stage management. And how much should one go into the general aspects of the field, when every job I've ever had (even with similar titles) has different requirements and expectations? I'm working on it!

Until next time, cats and kittens!

~R