Space Bear’s 2025 Roadmap to Live Audio
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Josh Cruz. Some people call me by the name of my business— Space Bear (Audio). I am a monitor engineer based in Atlanta, Georgia. I have had the incredible opportunity to travel with a number of talented artists and work alongside some remarkable individuals.
I am by no means at the “top” of the industry, but I have been able to reach a level that my younger self would not believe. This has put me in rooms with individuals that have inspired me to grow and learn in not just my audio skills, but also adjacent disciplines—specifically computer networking. While pursuing these new skills, I became instantly aware of my lack of direction. Learning a new skill is far more approachable in 2025 than it was in years past because of how many online resources there are. Unfortunately, just because we have a remarkable amount of information at our fingertips does not mean it is presented in a digestible format.
I have been fortunate to have a successful journey in live audio thus far. Reflecting on this, it was apparent that a lot of the approach to learning and succeeding could be transferrable. Even more so, breaking down my journey could be beneficial to others.
If you have ever wanted to be a part of the team that makes live concerts a reality, just know that it’s completely within reach. There are so many departments that are always in need of talented individuals on any size tour. In the modern age of education, the incredibly young discipline of audio production has now found its way into colleges and universities. I am not advocating for nor against the idea of getting a degree in audio. I truly think it depends on the person. If you learn best from structure, routine, or in a classroom, then it may be the right choice. Personally, I did go to a traditional four-year university and got a bachelor's in performing arts specializing in audio. Has anyone asked me if I had a degree? No. Would I be where I am today without it? Also, no.
The most important thing to know about pursuing any career is understanding that it will be what you make it. In my 101 class for my degree program, we had a production manager speak with us. I don’t remember what he said, apart from all you need to make it in this industry is **be good at your job and don’t be a jerk** (thanks Rhys). This seems so simple, and yet it is unfortunately rarer than you would expect to find both attributes in an individual.
Practically, how do you get to be good at a job you don’t have yet?
When speaking with a dear friend about the best way to approach sharing this, a good point was brought up: the path for live audio is so different for everyone. There is no specific ladder to climb or path of certifications to follow. This roadmap is by no means the definitive guide to a career in an ever-evolving industry. This is purely my response to the question, “How did you get to be able to do this as a job?”
I will be approaching this in sections. It is not a chronological path, but more like puzzle pieces that helped me establish who I am and who I want to be as a monitor engineer.
Section 1 — The Fundamentals of Audio
Section 2 — Get Connected
Section 3 — Expand Your Toolset + Find Your Niche
Section 1 — The Fundamentals of Audio
If you have absolutely no foundation at all, my first suggestion is to start listening to as much music as possible. If you want to have a career in audio, I would bet that a big portion of your desire comes from a love of music. Listen to as many types of music as you can. Start a journal and write down things you notice or that standout to you about what you are listening to. It is incredibly important to learn to be critical and discern what is happening. Start to associate adjectives with certain sounds. Make note of what sounds harsh, boomy, clean, dirty, punchy, dull, etc. Use whatever words come to mind. Listening well is the number one skill in the world of audio, and beginning to train your brain as soon as possible is imperative. This is the moment when you give up the ability to casually listen to things. As an audio engineer, listening becomes your life. Train your brain to process sounds critically.
Next, find some way to get your hands on the basic audio tools. If you have access to an audio console of any size, that is wonderful. Learn it. Read the manual. Discover its features like gain, EQ, and even compression. If you don’t have access to a console, but you have access to a computer and some headphones, download a digital audio workstation (DAW). There are so many options. Apple computers come with one called GarageBand, or you can get one called Reaper that comes with a very generous trial. Start to experiment with audio tracks. Play with EQ and compression. Don’t get lost in the endless tips and tricks online with how to use it. At this stage, it is important to just adjust the settings and see what happens. If you have been listening to things critically, you should be able to hear the differences when you apply these processes.
There are a number of online tools and resources to learn more specific approaches to these tools. YouTube is filled with information. I would personally suggest videos by MxU as they have a wide range of resources dedicated to live audio and the tools we use.
I remember how overwhelming it was to get my first copy of Pro Tools and an interface. There are so many settings just to try to get audio recorded onto a single track. If you’re anything like me, you will want to be able to navigate every menu and option with proficiency quickly. This just isn’t feasible. I keep this perspective with me when learning something new. Learn the parts that get you through your current goal, then circle back around later to fill in the blanks.
Spend as much time as you can listening and learning about the tools you have at your disposal. This should be a mantra you take with you for your entire career.
Section 2 — Get Connected
This next section is all about getting connected. This industry is incredibly relational, hence the aforementioned tip of “don’t be a jerk.” People will say it’s all about who you know, not what you know.
Find places to get involved. I lucked into this because the university I attended had an incredible theater program. I was able to get real-world experience almost immediately. Furthermore, I spent years learning from the myriad of professional orchestral, band, musical theater, and traditional theater groups that came through. Find what opportunities are local to you and get involved. Whether it is a house of worship, a theater, an amphitheater, a club, or any other type of venue, try to get connected. Even if you have to volunteer your time, the exposure to that environment will teach you a lot more than any classroom will. If you are fortunate enough to be in a city that has production rental companies, try to get involved there. It will quickly give you an opportunity to be around more types of people and equipment to continue to learn.
It is important to understand that you don’t necessarily have to be proficient in anything related to audio to get involved. Plenty of people in this industry are more than happy to share their knowledge with people new to the industry. I met a friend of mine years ago when he joined a small production team I was working with to load in a church. He came from a very different background, but was there willing to serve and learn. I taught him how to fly a PA, patch a stage, and all about the monitor console. Now he mixes for that very same church a few times a month.
Once you have found a place to get involved, try to find a mentor. It does not have to be a formal mentor/mentee relationship, but find someone who is doing what you want to do. Personally, I have had so many mentors throughout my career. I always felt like I could ask them anything, no matter how ridiculous the question felt. Find someone who will be honest with you, who will tell you what you are doing well and where you are falling short. If they ever read this, I do want to publicly thank Nick Geiger and Stephen Bailey for pouring so much into me over the years. I would not be where I am without them.
Balancing professional work environments with the continued pursuit of audio knowledge and listening will give you a huge advantage in this industry.
Section 3 — Expand Your Toolset + Find Your Niche
Even if you don’t have a huge interest in every part of audio, it is important to learn “enough to be dangerous.” This makes you that much more valuable. In section 3, I would encourage you to deep dive into manuals, do online certifications, and talk to your peers about what the latest technologies are. The audio industry is constantly evolving. It is hugely beneficial to understand how and why these changes happen. My professor would always tell me the somewhat crude statement, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.” Essentially, in audio, there are usually two or three ways to accomplish the same task. It is critical to know why you are doing your job that way.
This section is a more intense version of section 1. I wouldn’t say you have to do this to be successful in your career, this is just my approach. As someone who is analytical and systematic at heart, I strive to know all the ins and outs of a system. It helps me design, run, and troubleshoot each system I get to work it. The ability to call on knowledge deeper than the basics will set you apart from other engineers. Sometimes this knowledge comes from reading a manual. However, many times this knowledge comes from experience. Being able to put those two resources together in the moment nets a valuable individual.
As you start to become more aware of every facet of audio, you can start to pursue a niche. Do you happen to be more drawn towards Front-of-House? Monitors? Broadcast? System Engineering? System Design? Corporate events? There are so many specializations that can all be very lucrative careers. If you are anything like me, the further you get into audio, it can be very valuable to realize you don’t have to be good at everything. Find the thing that you are most passionate about. Pursue that.
Bonus Section— The Fundamentals of Music
If you already play an instrument, amazing. If you don’t, I would recommend you pick up one. You don’t have to learn it intending to be a pro musician. Treat it more so like an introduction class. Being able to pick up on and understand the language that musicians speak will give you that much more credibility as an audio engineer in music. Also, being able to play an instrument makes you a little more interesting at parties.
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to guarantee the ideal career for anyone. However, if you have explored all sections successfully, chances are you have a career doing what you love in audio. The connections you make, the friendships you build, and the skills you grow will all push you towards the next gig. In other words, the real audio career is the friends we made along the way.
