International Women’s Day: Amplifying Women in Pro Audio 国际妇女节：放大专业音频领域的女性声音
值此国际妇女节之际，我们借此机会颂扬过去一年中"L-Acoustics专业音频领域女性"系列所呈现的杰出受访者们。自2021年启动以来，该倡议为业界一个才华横溢且敬业奉献、却常被忽视的群体，提供了至关重要的展示平台。
必须着重强调的是，本系列访谈中的女性并非仅因其性别而入选。她们是卓越的专业人士，每个人都以独特的经历展现了在未必总是对她们友善的领域中，那份持之以恒的毅力、出众的才华，以及对现场音响、技术与艺术的深切热爱。这些女性及非二元性别个体克服了重重挑战，打破了种种壁垒。
她们并非为了凑足配额或充当象征性的代表而来
她们在此，是因为她们才华横溢、积极进取、充满热情，并凭借实力在专业音频世界赢得了自己的一席之地。她们的故事值得被倾听与颂扬。
倾听这14位"专业音频领域女性"受访者的故事。她们坦率的叙述揭示了既引人深思又催人奋进的经历。这些故事需要我们关注，以认可这些个体所跨越的障碍，并推动集体努力，为所有人营造一个更具包容性与公平性的行业。
专业音频领域女性面临的挑战
拥有逾25年经验的资深音频工程师兼巡演经理Julie Sloan，回忆起行业的早期岁月。"那时，我们称之为'被女性化看待'。所谓'被女性化看待'，即因你的性别而在各种层面被忽视。早期，我常遇到许多人（团队负责人、场馆工作人员等），即便在我负责时，也完全不听我的意见。"
来自英国切斯特菲尔德的自自自由现场音响工程师Laura Moakes，亦呼应了这种被忽视的感受："初入行时，我发现这行业相当居高临下，尤其对女性。没人愿听我说话，也没人想雇用我。我常遭人颐指气使，当我一心只想学习与工作时却屡遭拒绝，这令人极度沮丧。"
曾为Hans Zimmer担任舞台技术员的多元化音频专业人士Gracie Finch，也分享了其被忽视的经历："我常陷入这般境地：无数场演出中，从未有人视我为音频团队一员。我被臆测为各种角色——从制作人、演出呼叫员、视频技术员到灯光技术员，却唯独不是音频人员。"
常驻维也纳的音频工程师兼巡演经理Conni Ettinger承认，尽管负面经历不及正面经历频繁，但其影响往往更为持久。"在主扩声位置见到年轻女性并不常见，因此有时你会听到不当言论，但也可能遭遇侧目或直接被无视。这绝非日常，但遗憾的是，少数糟糕的经历远比众多美好时刻更令人印象深刻。"
以舞者身份开启娱乐生涯的制作经理Nicole Erin Massey，揭露了行业中性别偏见的严酷现实："我曾遭威胁、被居高临下对待，而最糟的是，他们与其他男性交谈时却对我不屑一顾，只因认定我不配。"
你能做的，我也能做
除被忽视外，许多才华横溢的女性在音频行业还经历过因其性别而致知识技能受质疑的沮丧。这种信任缺失可能成为重大障碍，削弱其自信并阻碍专业成长。
在担任舞台工作人员时发现自己热爱现场音响的音频技术员Ashley Costello曾说："我曾遇到乐队成员在我担任监听工程师时，问我是否知道如何调高他们的麦克风。或许他们巡演初期曾遇不佳工程师，但我强烈感觉，若我留有胡须，便不会有此评论。"
拥有十年行业经验的视听设计师Rosa Della Sala，指出了专业音频领域女性面临的一个普遍挑战："在此行业，女性的挑战常围绕于获得关注、可信度与信任，"她强调道，点明了因性别偏见而导致能力与贡献被低估这一令人沮丧的现实。
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.
