Soundcheck Etiquette: Tips for Professional Bands

Soundcheck is a technical process, not a rehearsal. The promptness and professionalism you show here will determine how hard the crew works for you during the show.

Silence is Golden

The #1 rule: When the engineer is checking the Kick Drum, DO NOT play your guitar. It makes their job impossible. Stand still, stay silent, and wait for your turn. If the engineer has to shout "Guitar, please stop!" over the PA, you have already lost.

Communicate, Don't Complain

If your monitor mix is bad, say precisely what you need: "Current mix is muddy. Less Keys, more Vocal please." Don't just say "It sounds bad." Be constructive. Use the talkback mic if available.

Respect the Clock

If you are 15 minutes late, your soundcheck is 15 minutes shorter. Never eat into the opening act's time because you were late for load-in. That is the fastest way to make enemies in your local scene.

The "FOH Song"

Play one song fully for the FOH engineer to build a balance. Choose your loudest/most complex song, not a slow acoustic ballad. They need to set limiters for the peak volume.