Ian Burch, senior Engineer at Diablo Sound, a company in Los Angeles that designs Audio and Show Control for Themed Entertainment, and Pat Janssen, a Los Angeles based sound editor, re-recording mixer, and engineer who is currently employed by Netflix, talk about their work on Monday in Frederickson Theatre and share their experiences since graduating from Emporia State as a part of the Pflaum Lecture. The lecture was sponsored by the Department of Communication and Theatre.
The Department of Communication and Theatre sponsored Emporia State grads Ian Burch amd Pat Janssen for this year’s George R.R. Pflaum lecture. Their lecture “Sound in Entertainment: A talk with sound Designers for Stage, Screen and Everything in Between” focused on their experiences at ESU, California Art Institute and their professional careers.
Ian Burch works as a Senior Engineer at Diablos sound, a company in Los Angeles that designs audio and Show Control for Themed Entertainment.
Pat Janssen is a Los Angeles based sound editor, re-recording mixer and engineer who is currently employed by Netflix.
Both Burch and Janssen used the quote “Jack of all trades, master of none” to tie how their education and personal knowledge helped prepare them for the workforce. They both hold the titles engineer, editor, producer, actor and musician to some degree.
“Having a passion opens up opportunities,” Janssen said. “I remember I just worked on so many side projects in school. Stuff I did with friends for fun.”
These side projects gave him the experience that led him to be able to work sound for multiple theme parks including Universal Studios Orlando, The Making of Harry Potter and the San Diego Zoo, Janssen said.
“You can actually make a living doing what we are doing,” Burch said. “The best way I can explain it is that if we pay the prop master a lot, if the prop master messes up nobody really notices, but if the sound guy messes up then you have hundreds of people demanding their money back.”
His job is enjoyable but can be high pressure, Burch said.
For a musical, he has to scan through 27,000-30,000 cues per show. If he misses more than two or three of those cues he could lose his job, according to Burch.
“Most people don’t really think about everything that goes into it,” Burch said,
He explained how sound technicians must reinforce the actors and design the sound system, but most of the time their work goes unnoticed.
“Nobody really notices sound unless it’s bad,” Burch said.
Work ethic, versatility and passion were three highlighted virtues both Burch and Janssen discussed.
“Everything you do benefits you,” Janssen said. “Make mistakes. It never stops. It’s all important for your future.”
Burch and Janssen said they shared their experiences to show students at ESU that they can become successful. These two were once in the same exact spot that theater students at ESU are in.
“Don’t forget to live a meaningful and enjoyable life,” Janssen said. “Math and science make life possible, arts and literature make life enjoyable.”