Meet the roadies
December 1989
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
The Rainmakers Fanzine
celebration, and Bob Walkenhorst had come by.
"I told him, 'if you ever need a soundman, let me know,' he said. "And Bob said, I'll keep that in mind."
That was earlier this year when Mark was working shows with Stage Pro. Now Mark is working the soundboard for The
Rainmakers.
Mark began working soundboards 12 years ago after some musician friends hired him for thier own shows. Before that,
he had been in and out of bands playing guitar.
"I always liked production," Mark said, "I always thought that if I could make a band sound good, then that would be
neat."
Stage Pro gave Mark the opportunity to continue doing what he enjoyed for a living. Mark ended up working shows for
Kath Mattea, Henry Lee Summer and L.A. Guns. Stage Pro assisted with several Rainmakers shows this past year, and
that helped Mark become acquainted with the band's sound.
"When I started, their soundman Mark Schoffner told me certain things they liked," Mark said. "You have to be able to
make them come across the way they want to come across."
"The band likes the guitars up front, and the vocals above that," Mark said. "Except on "Big Fat Blonde" where you turn
everything up. Makes them sound like Led Zepplin, only Bob's on stage."
Aside from a few courses in equipment repair, Mark picked up the trade himself. He also reads industry publications to
keep up to date on the latest electronically-programmed tools of the trade.
"you get to be sought after if you have a good ear, and have knowledge of how electronics work," Mark said.
Mark, 32, began working with the band in September after the band's current soundman and tour manager, Mark
Schoffner left to work with the B-52's. Mark, who's nickname is Buzz, will continue working for the band through
December and will be on-call next year.
"These guys in the band are real people, not a bunch of fakes," Mark said. 'The thing that's cool about this band is that
there are people who fly 800 miles to see them. You know they dig the music."
Even thought Mark's only been with the band a short time, he's learned that anything can happaen when you're touring.
On a recent stop in Wichita, Kansas, Rich Ruth had gone down to the club to check on the t-shirts for that night's show.
Instead of getting to the club, Rick ended up being chased by several men carrying guns.
"Rich came back to the hotel later," he said. "Rich said, 'I've had a kinda strange afternoon. These guys pulled some guns
on me."
Mark wants everybody to let the band know if he's doing his job.
"It should sound good wherever we go." he said.