Working in location sound can feel like juggling a hundred things while being invisible. You’re expected to deliver flawless audio, be lightning-fast, stay out of the way, and somehow not lose your mind. But thriving on set isn’t just about knowing your gear—it’s about staying focused in the right ways, being a great collaborator, and keeping your workflow clean and sharp.
Here’s how to do that.
🎯 Focus on the Right Things
The biggest mistake newer audio folks make is trying to control everything. Instead, control what you can and let go of the rest.
What to focus on:
- Signal chain health: Always check your levels, battery life, timecode sync, and mic placement before every take.
- Environmental awareness: Know where the boom shadow is. Know if the lav is rustling. Know if there’s a generator humming off-frame.
- Script knowledge: Even a loose familiarity with the scene helps you anticipate where to boom, who’s talking, and when something might go wrong.
What not to stress about:
- Camera settings: Let the camera team handle exposures and lenses.
- Actor blocking that changes mid-scene: Just adapt—don’t argue.
- Background noise you can’t control (planes, birds, city traffic): Flag it politely, then keep moving.
⚡ Stay Fast
Being slow is the quickest way to lose trust on set. Here’s how to keep your workflow tight:
- Prep your kit ahead of time. Label lavs, check frequencies, organize cables. Know where everything lives.
- Pre-wire talent early. Do it as soon as they hit wardrobe or makeup—don’t wait until the director calls rolling.
- Have backups ready. Spare batteries, extra lavs, gaff tape, and a second boom—these save your butt.
- Use your headphones smartly. Check gain staging in the first take, then only spot-check between takes if you're in a fast-paced scene.
🤝 Be a Good Hang
Sound can be a lonely department, but you're still part of the team. Here's how to be someone people like having around:
- Keep your vibe calm. If you’re panicking, people notice. Quiet confidence goes a long way.
- Don’t be a gearhead all day. Be into your work, but don’t monologue about RF noise floors at lunch.
- Help without overstepping. If you can fix something quietly, do it. But don’t start lighting scenes or moving C-stands.
- Make actors feel safe. When wiring talent, be clear, polite, and professional. Ask permission. Respect personal space.
🧠 Stay Productive During Downtime
Every set has hurry-up-and-wait moments. Use them:
- Log takes. Note anything problematic (airplane in line 2, lav rustle on take 3) for post.
- Organize files. Rename takes, flag wild lines, or prep media for transfer.
- Mentally reset. Hydrate, eat, breathe. Mental fatigue kills focus faster than anything.
- Shadow a department. On slower days, politely observe how other teams operate. It makes you a better collaborator.
🗣️ Communicate Clearly
Sound problems often come from poor communication—not poor technique.
- With the 1st AD or director: Be brief, direct, and solutions-oriented. “We’ve got loud AC noise in here, can we kill it before rolling?”
- With camera/audio sync: Be proactive about timecode checks, slates, and scratch audio. Build a relationship with the DIT if there is one.
- With talent: Explain things simply. “I’m placing a mic under your shirt, should take 30 seconds—cool with that?”
- With your team: If you’re working with a boom op or utility, communicate constantly. Even quick eye contact can signal adjustments mid-take.
🚫 What NOT to Do
- Don’t stop a take unless it’s really necessary. You’ll quickly wear out your welcome.
- Don’t blame others. Even if it’s wardrobe’s fault the lav is noisy, phrase it kindly: “We’re getting some noise—mind if we adjust the fabric?”
- Don’t isolate yourself. A headset doesn’t mean you should be a ghost. Stay engaged with the crew.
- Don’t bring a bad attitude. Long days, tough conditions—it’s all part of the gig. Be the person people want to see walk on set.
🧰 Final Tools for Success
- Stay curious. Learn from every set. Take notes. Ask other sound pros what works for them.
- Invest in soft skills. People remember how you made them feel more than how clean the lav track was.
- Be honest. If something goes wrong, admit it, fix it, move on. Everyone respects transparency.
In the world of location sound, technical skill is just the foundation. What really makes you stand out is your focus, speed, attitude, and ability to mesh with a crew. Master those, and you won’t just be the sound person—they’ll start calling you the reliable one.
