Today, we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Curtin.
Hi Stephen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story started in the summer of 1996 when I had my first real job working as a costumed character at a theme park. The job was simple for the most part. We had to dress up in one of the oversized character costumes and walk around the park, meeting people and taking pictures. We were essentially the park’s brand ambassadors.
The other part of the job was behind the scenes in the two performance venues in the park. We would usher people in and out of the theaters, run both the sound and lights for the shows, and finally help with any set changes on stage. For me, the sound part became the most fascinating. I don’t ever feel like I knew what I was doing behind the console. I only had a basic understanding of what things did, and my technique turned into me putting my head down and closing my eyes while I would turn the eq knob. I was simply listening for what sounded right to me.
When I got to that spot, I would stop and go back to adjusting levels with the faders based on who was singing. Eventually, I started getting compliments from some of the performers. They would tell me that when I was behind the console, everything seemed to sound cleaner, and it was easier to sing. I spent the next few summers while I was in high school working here, all while learning that doing sound for shows was a real job, and there were real schools that focused on this type of training.
After graduating, I began the next part of my journey at Full Sail. Full Sail is a trade school that focuses on the different disciplines of the entertainment industry. They had courses on everything from film and recording arts to gaming and animation to film and video.
This is definitely where I needed to be. I chose to take a course in Recording Arts. This focused on the studio side of the industry, with a side study of working in show production or concert touring. Show Production was a course that was offered, but it was only just beginning then. It has now become a staple in the school and among the touring staff in the industry.
After graduating with my Associate of Science Degree in the Recording Arts, I felt like I was ready to take the final step and land a job with a major touring sound company. Lucky for me, one of the largest in the country happened to be in Cleveland, Ohio, about 45 minutes from where I grew up. Eventually, I took my resume down to the office.
I walked in the door, introduced myself, and said that I was looking for a job. I handed over my resume and a small list of accomplishments so far. The owner, Tom Arko, gladly gave me a tour of the warehouse and introduced me to a few people. Eventually, we ended with a more formal interview, and Tom asked me if I could start the following week as a trial to see if I was a good fit. Nearly 24 years later, I have been a part of the Eighth Day Sound family ever since.
Once I began working for 8th Day, I was tossed into the flames of proving myself. At the time, the industry was full of veterans who believed quality techs and engineers could only come from working in bars and clubs, eventually making their way to the big time. People such as myself coming out of school were given no grace whatsoever.
Within a few months, I was put out on my first tour as a PA tech. I was meant to learn how to hang the speakers and troubleshoot any problems with the sound system. By the end of the tour, I was working on my own with no problems and ready to take on more challenges. On my next tour, I went from being the 5th tech to the only tech. I was fortunate to work with two great engineers who helped me where they could, and ultimately, we had a very successful tour.
I continued on this path for the next few years and tours. My goal was to accept any challenges that presented themselves, make some friends and mentors, and hopefully find myself behind a console. This opportunity came in the role of a monitor engineer for a band called 311. The engineer who had been there needed to leave the tour for a while, and I was tasked with covering for him. I had a great relationship with the band and crew, and they all supported my decision to take a shot.
We had great success, and when the next tour came around, I was asked to come back as the monitor engineer. The previous engineer, Tim, had chosen to take another tour that conflicted, and I took advantage of the opportunity. Continuing on my journey, the next step was to become a Front of House Engineer. It turns out that my relationships and skillset didn’t go unnoticed in the 311 camps, as my first opportunity at FOH was offered to me by a guy named John. John was our production manager on 311 and had recently started working with an up-and-coming band called Gnarls Barkley.
They were looking for a new FOH Engineer, and John knew I wanted the opportunity. He offered me the job, and I then spent the next year with them, accomplishing my next big goal of becoming a FOH Engineer. Over the next few years, I bounced back and forth between FOH and Monitors, working with some of the biggest names in the industry.
I had the pleasure of working with people like Whitney Houston, Eminem, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Arcade Fire, Jennifer Lopez, Dr. Dre, Beyoncé, and P!nk to name a few. None of these gigs came easy, and they all have their challenges. Along the way, I was able to form some amazing work relationships and friendships. Many of which led to the next gig. I think it is important to note that every single artist that I have mixed for has become a repeat client after our initial tour together.
Now, later in my career, some colleagues and I have decided to expand our relationships and start a company called Offstage Storage. There isn’t anything glamorous about a storage company. However, it is a very necessary part of our industry. Most artists own their gear, such as their backline. Set pieces, wardrobe, production equipment, etc. When they are not on tour, this gear needs a home, and that is where we come in. After more than 20 years in the industry, more than 100 collectively amongst my partners and I, we managed to capitalize on the relationships that we have made over the years.
We ultimately provide a service with a familiar face as well as a complete understanding of the needs of the industry. Offstage Storage began in 2016 in a 16,000-square-foot warehouse, and as of 2024, we have grown to over 75,000 Square Feet of warehouse space in the greater Los Angeles area with plans to expand very soon to Las Vegas. There is always a new challenge to be conquered, so don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most jobs and everyday life, there are always challenges along the way. In this industry, one of the biggest challenges is learning how to navigate the politics of everything. What I mean by that is the concert touring industry was always looked at as a massive party on the road. The shows were just a short 2-hour inconvenience during the ongoing party.
As the years went by, that has slowly evolved into being just as much a corporate business as anything else. Artists wanted to put on bigger shows and give the fans a better experience. Promoters consequently needed to raise the budgets to make this happen. This trickled down to the crews as well. The tour managers and production managers who were hired to make these shows happen started to demand higher quality crew. They wanted the people that were the best at their respective jobs.
Ultimately, this will turn the industry from a party on wheels to a fine-tuned machine that is more or less choreographed to be within an inch of its life. Today, the standards and demands are as high as ever. Everyone involved, from the artist to the fans, demands a level of perfection in every single show that I think is a rarity outside of this industry. We have one single opportunity in each city to execute a show as flawlessly as possible for our artists and the fans.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
Currently, I have what I consider to be two jobs within the same industry. My primary job is as an employee of Eighth Day Sound and Clair Global. The world’s largest sound reinforcement provider is currently. My title within the company is “Senior Staff Engineer,” and my tour title is most often Front of House Engineer. I specialize in mixing what the artist and band are performing on stage into what the concertgoer hears from the speakers.
The simple way to say it is that I mix a live record every night, or at least that is the objective. I’d have to say that there are a couple of things I am the proudest of. One is the people that I get to work with. We choose to work with each other and help elevate each other to be the best in the industry. We don’t back down from challenges, and more often than not, that has changed how others view what they thought might not be possible. I have heard countless times that something can’t be done until we do it, and then years later, everyone is doing it and patting themselves on the back for the accomplishment.
My accomplishments are not my own. They are always part of a group effort that makes these shows happen. I just so happen to have some of the best in the industry supporting me. This last part is what I think sets me apart from others. Call it what you want, but I consider it being a good human and a professional. My secondary job is 1 of 4 owners of an entertainment-specific storage facility called Offstage Storage.
At Offstage, we specialize in the storage of touring sets, wardrobe, backline, and production elements. Pretty much anything it takes to put on one of these concerts. We take great care in organizing and securely storing these items between tours. We offer a friendly face and familiarity with the business that allows our clients to have complete faith in us looking after their gear.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a younger brother who wanted to do everything my big brother did. We played sports, built forts, and went on adventures in the woods near our house. When I was a kid, our parents wanted us to be anywhere but in the house.
We were always outside doing something until the street lights came on. At some point, we found ourselves in the scouts. This brought on a love of camping and backpacking that consumed many summers while growing up. I’d say personality-wise, I was a pretty shy kid. My report cards would always say “needs to participate more”. I guess I liked to listen and observe. I wasn’t so big on talking.
I was big into sports. I played soccer from a very young age through high school. I also ran track and played the trumpet in marching and concert bands. At some point in time, I became fascinated with science, more specifically physics, although that wasn’t really until high school.
I still have the same group of friends today that I hung out with growing up. Although I live on the other side of the country and spend most of my time on the road, we manage to keep in touch and can start up a conversation right where we previously left off.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://offstagestorage.com http://www.8thdaysound.com https://www.clairglobal.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-curtin-sound-eng/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/offstagestorage/
- Other: https://www.guitarsoverguns.org
