Entry Level Live Sound Audio Engineer Jobs Near Me

The Organization

The Lincoln Theatre is a cultural icon that is committed to transforming the lives of diverse communities through the joy of multi-ethnic, multi-generational, and multi-purpose arts and education. The mission of the Lincoln Theatre Association is to serve as the steward of the historic landmark theatre, as an incubator for talented, emerging artists in our community, as a presenter of the highest quality artists from around the world, and as a creative partner that is an economic catalyst for the revitalization of the King-Lincoln District and downtown Columbus.

The Opportunity

• Are you a skilled live-sound professional who can prepare, mix, and troubleshoot performances with accuracy, calm, and strong musical judgment?
• Do you enjoy collaborating with artists, stage managers, technicians, renters, and community partners in a historic, mission-driven performing arts venue?
• Are you dependable for evening and weekend work and able to report to the theatre for rehearsals, load-ins, performances, changeovers, and occasional short-notice needs?

Primary Function

The Lincoln Theatre Association seeks a Sound Technician interested in a position that is a meaningful opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in Theatre production within a large nonprofit organization. This position supports the Executive Director, Technical Director, and crew by providing support to ensure efficient event management of both signature programming and patron rentals. The associate is an active participant in ideation and implementation in all things Lincoln with the goal of creating a memorable experience for staff, artists, patrons, and the community the Lincoln Theatre serves.

The audio technician sets up and prepares the soundboards and equipment for live productions at the Lincoln Theatre. You will work alongside sound & lighting technicians, stagehands, production assistant, and other designated partners appointed for the success of the event. The work of an Audio Technician can vary depending on the production.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Key Performance Objectives

• Communicate frequently with the Technical Director regarding call times, assignments, event details, technical requirements, schedule changes, and operational concerns.
• Review technical riders, input lists, stage plots, run-of-show documents, cue sheets, and production notes; identify missing information, conflicts, or risks before the event.
• Set up, patch, test, operate, and strike front-of-house and monitor consoles, microphones, wireless systems, stage boxes, audio interfaces, playback systems, monitors, direct boxes, intercom, and related cabling.
• Configure digital console routing, channels, buses, matrices, scenes or snapshots, equalization, dynamics, effects, and monitor mixes according to the approved production plan.
• Conduct line checks and sound checks; establish proper gain structure, feedback control, clear signal flow, consistent coverage, and safe operating levels.
• Mix rehearsals, performances, presentations, and other live events with accurate cue execution, appropriate musical balance, intelligible speech, and professional judgment.
• Monitor system performance throughout each call and respond immediately to audio quality, RF, playback, network, power, cabling, or equipment issues.
• Troubleshoot audio systems during live events, restore service when possible, and promptly escalate unresolved failures, safety concerns, or production risks to the Technical Director.
• Work within Dante or other networked-audio environments when assigned; preserve approved system configurations, patching, naming conventions, access controls, and show files.
• Take direction and cues from the Stage Manager or designated production leader and maintain clear, professional show communication.
• Support load-ins, load-outs, stage setups, changeovers, strikes, emergency response, and full post-event restoration of assigned work areas.
• Maintain safe and organized cable paths, workspaces, equipment locations, and access routes; follow all venue safety, rigging, electrical, fire, and emergency procedures applicable to the assignment.
• Inspect, clean, secure, and return audio equipment after use; report damage, failures, missing items, or preventive-maintenance needs without delay.
• Maintain accurate show files, work notes, checklists, maintenance records, incident reports, and equipment condition documentation as directed.
• Represent the Lincoln Theatre in the best possible light through professionalism, respectful communication, appropriate dress, customer service, confidentiality, and dependable conduct.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, and key performance objectives that are expected of the employee. These items may change, or new job-related items may be assigned from time to time.

First Month:

• Complete CAPA/LTA onboarding and required safety, emergency, access, reporting, and workplace-policy training.
• Learn the theatre's audio inventory, stage and front-of-house signal paths, storage locations, show-file conventions, wireless workflows, and pre-show and post-show checklists.
• Meet with the Technical Director and key production partners to understand reporting lines, communication protocols, cueing procedures, and interdepartmental workflow.
• Successfully set up, test, operate, and reset assigned systems under supervision while demonstrating punctuality, safe work practices, attention to detail, and clear communication.
• Identify any technical training gaps and complete assigned practice, documentation review, or vendor training.

First 6 months:

• Independently prepare and operate routine events with minimal correction, including complete setup, line check, sound check, cue execution, strike, and reset.
• Consistently maintain appropriate gain structure, clear and balanced mixes, feedback control, accurate routing, and safe operating levels.
• Troubleshoot common console, signal-flow, wireless/RF, monitor, network, cabling, and playback issues and escalate unresolved risks promptly.
• Maintain accurate show files, work notes, incident reports, maintenance requests, and equipment condition records.
• Demonstrate dependable attendance, evening and weekend availability, and timely communication regarding schedule conflicts or changes.
• Contribute practical recommendations that improve audio quality, safety, efficiency, documentation, inventory control, or the artist and renter experience.

First Year:

• Demonstrate reliable proficiency across multiple event types and venue configurations, including concerts, theatre, dance, film, presentations, educational programs, and rentals.
• Support preventive maintenance, system testing, inventory audits, show-file organization, and updates to audio procedures or quick-reference guides.
• Provide clear technical guidance to less-experienced crew members when assigned, without assuming supervisory authority.
• Maintain a satisfactory performance record based on event debriefs, supervisor review, professional conduct, safety compliance, equipment stewardship, and communication reliability.

Other Duties

• Work schedules vary by production. The position requires dependable availability for evenings, weekends, occasional holidays, extended calls, split calls, and short-notice schedule changes.
• This is an on-site role; regular physical presence at the Lincoln Theatre is an essential function of the position.
• May assist with basic lighting, video, stage, communications, or other production tasks within the employee's training and supervisor direction.
• Protect confidential production, artist, client, patron, personnel, security, and organizational information.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, and key performance objectives that are expected of the employee. These items may change, or new job-related items may be assigned from time to time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced working knowledge of live sound reinforcement, signal flow, gain structure, equalization, dynamics, feedback prevention, monitor mixing, and microphone selection and placement.
• Working knowledge of digital consoles, stage boxes, wireless microphones, RF coordination, audio interfaces, playback systems, intercom, direct boxes, and analog and digital patching.
• Dante or comparable networked-audio knowledge is strongly preferred.
• Ability to read and apply technical riders, input lists, stage plots, patch sheets, run-of-show documents, and cue sheets.
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, including the ability to isolate faults and make sound decisions during live events.
• Excellent verbal communication, active listening, customer service, collaboration, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Strong planning, time-management, documentation, and organizational skills with close attention to detail.
• Ability to remain calm, agile, and professional under pressure and to meet fixed show deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a production crew while following the direction of the Technical Director, Stage Manager, or designated production leader.
• Ability to safely move and handle production equipment; walk, stand, sit, climb stairs and ladders, bend, kneel, and work at heights or in dim, loud, crowded environments, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to perceive, evaluate, and respond to audio quality and system-performance conditions, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Credentials and Experience

• Must be 18+ years of age.
• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent and/or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of documented professional audio experience required.
• Demonstrated experience with live sound reinforcement and mixing.
• Demonstrated experience with digital consoles, wireless microphones, monitors, and audio signal flow.
• Dante or other networked-audio knowledge strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot audio systems during rehearsals and live events.
• Theatre, concert, performing arts, broadcast, corporate event, worship, or comparable live-event experience preferred.
• A resume and documentation such as professional references, production credits, portfolio materials, or verifiable work history sufficient to confirm the required experience must be provided.
• Qualified candidates may be asked to complete a technical interview and/or practical skills assessment before selection.
• Base pay for this role is $19-22/hr.

Special Requirements

• Successful background check.
• This is a hands-on, on-site position. The employee must be able to report reliably and on time to the Lincoln Theatre for rehearsals, performances, meetings, load-ins, load-outs, emergencies, and schedule changes.
• A practical commuting distance - generally within approximately 30-60 miles of the Lincoln Theatre - is preferred. Candidates outside that range must still demonstrate a dependable ability to meet assigned and short-notice reporting timeframes.
• Reliable transportation or another dependable means of reporting to the theatre is required.
• Dependable evening and weekend availability is required. Occasional holiday, extended-hour, split-call, and short-notice work may be scheduled according to production needs.
• The majority of CAPA/LTA public events take place at night and on weekends. Work hours vary by event and may change as production needs evolve.
• The employee must comply with all venue safety, security, emergency, equipment use, attendance, timekeeping, confidentiality, and conduct policies.

The Lincoln Theatre Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CAPA does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, lactation status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other protected status.??