I take my place behind rows of blinking lights and racks of equipment: gates and compressors and EQs and effects units from which I shall draw the evening's sound. I assume that old familiar stance that I so easily fall into these days: legs slightly spread, both hands on the faders, eyes darting back and forth from the board to the stage, waiting for my cue to unmute the subgroups and allow the sonic creations to pour forth like so much water. The band is rehearsed, the team members are in their places, the first lighting cue is loaded and the house lights are standing by.

Load in was hard - but the out is always easier. The PA went up without a hitch, and although I had to make small adjustments to what SMAARTLive told me the mains EQ should be set at, the system is sounding pretty good. From behind me, I can hear the murmur of the crowd as it grows, people finding their seats, laughing, wondering out loud when the show will begin. A gentleman walking by asks if I know what all those buttons and knobs do. He chuckles as his own joke, as though he's certain nobody has ever been clever enough to ask me that before. I smile and give my standard answer ("No idea. Why, do you?") before turning my attention back onto the crowd. There's a diverse mix of people here tonight, people from all walks of life. The young people tend to gather down front, so they can be closer to the stage. I briefly consider telling them that coverage isn't very good close to the front, but they're not here to hear my perfectly-crafted mix - they're here for the experience. The band will come out and the lights will go down and the music will start and they will be there at the front, wide-eyed and totally immersed in the experience of a concert.

The sudden overhead darkness calls my attention to the sound board, where I unmute the subgroups as I have so many times before, and grin as the stage lights illuminate the talented performers before me. The crowd behind me applauds thunderously, but I'm not doing this for them: I'm doing it for the kids jumping up and down in the front rows, singing with all their heart.

Exit, stage left. Sparks