Ken “Pooch” Van Druten Primary Source Interview
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Full Transcript Below
Cool so here's why I love this concept of where this kind of came from OK I've always worked for manufacturers that deal with with with rock stars and what I love about that. Is you you guys hold me to my game meaning that in three seconds flat you're gonna see if I'm in your way or if my I got it means I got it cause you don't have a choice like your show still has to go on. You can either work around me or work with me and
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Right
You
What I try to teach everybody that I work with is that the environment that we're in and so every tell that we make really magnify and really matters right and I it's sad, but I don't think every manufacturing the property of space operates this way fully ingest or understands that and I certainly don't do it to my best ability all the time but I try I think that there's so many lessons that you can teach me like life lessons from the road that if magnified out and became an MBA class It's I think you guys run circles around around the guys coming out of Warden and Harvard and that's kind of the
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Ha ha ha ha
You
respect intent that I'm trying to put these together with and I'd like to see this keep going and so does that sort of a line with what you see out in the field and where you think as well
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Ha ha Yeah, I mean absolutely there's all kinds of any sort of partnership that I have with any sort of of manufacturer is you know the first part of that is that I'm putting my ass on the line right like I am. I am saying to my artist this is the best choice or this is the best thing or you know whatever it is. And so I have to believe that I know there's guys that don't. I know there's guys that just kinda you know throw something in there and go yeah whatever but I but also it's my ass on the line when something doesn't function as you know as promised her or is good or is better, you know all those kind of things so yeah I mean there's a lot that leads up to any sort of partnership with a manufacturer you know and so I think a lot of manufacturers don't understand the you know what what a An engineer and an artist are kind of you know what they're what they're putting up here just say hey I will use your product. I will check it out and if I like it or you know, we'll promote it and so yeah I think there's a lot there's a lot of that you know.
You
I do too and gears gear that's one thing, but it's the service that goes behind it because things will fail
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah That's 100% it it doesn't you know what it it matters to me that the thing is good right like that matters but what matters way more to me is that I know that for instance with digit code like I could call James Gordon at 2 o'clock in the morning and he would answer his cell phone. Do you know what I mean that that matters to me more than the fact that his gear is fantastic you know
You
Yeah, yeah OK now now now we're close to it. OK so
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Cell
You
let's let's take a step back pooch. What is actually the product that you sell like when you when you're putting on a show? What is the experience like? What are you? What are you actually making?
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
As far as what I'm not sure what you're asking me
You
But you are a part of a team what is the biggest experience like? What is it that you're
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah
You
selling like what is the concert experience to you?
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Oh man boy
You
I guess what I'm saying is your job is a piece of the puzzle but before we get your piece like what is that big puzzle?
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah Yeah, I mean you know it's all kinds of things right like it's it's an experience that the person is expecting to get by coming to a live show that is wrapped up in all kinds of things you know it's it's an artist that maybe they've you know I don't know worshiped for years or it's an artist that they've loved for years and they have already preconceived ideas of what that artist should be or what they're going to experience And the real deal is it is living up to what that is and so yeah my job is to translate that you know as a as of a front house guy as a sound guy is to translate that too to the person if the person doesn't get what they expected. You know let's face it take price is ridiculous these days you know and so. Boy I feel I feel that pressure and I also feel horrible when for whatever reason there's a show that is not at the excellent standard that I expected to be at because I feel like I let down however, many people there are 20,000 people I feel like I let him down and so yeah, I mean there's a lot of pressure. It's a thing you know, and I think artist have that feeling along with all the rest of the crew that are there too. You know most most of the crew have that feeling I think.
You
Is that something you guys talk about as a team like hey this is the experience we're trying to convey or do you just leave that up for interpretation of each fan coming with their own version of experience?
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
That's a really great question you know each bands in each artist handles that in a different way. The best situations are where the environment is collaborative and for instance, working I work for LINKIN PARK for you know 15 years and they're their experience is very collaborative. A lot of discussion about what it should be with the final product should be delivered to their fans how I want it represented how I want it how they want it what are the things that we need to do to make that happen and it really feels feels like a team effort. There's that and then there's all the way on the other side of the spectrum where I get hired by you know whatever don't print this but like you know, an artist like Justin Bieber, do you know who literally has no communication with me for the three years that I worked for like I think we said two words to each other other The rest of the people around him, including myself are working very hard to make it be great, but with no Leadership from him as to what that is and so all of us on the peripheral of it are having discussions about what how to make this the best experience for fans now the question becomes is he that way because he just hired me and expects that of me like he just expects that and so doesn't wanna have a discussion about it because you know it's like hey dude I pay you a lot of money to make that happen Or is it that he doesn't care and doesn't you know you know it's just like whatever I hire these people and you know we try to make the best experience we can I don't know I don't know what the answer to that is
You
I don't have that for you because obviously I'll be
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah
You
obviously both work right
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah, yeah yeah totally and I think in the end it doesn't matter because the audience as long as that guy, whoever that is is hiring people that care then the ultimately the experience is the same, but what happens when an artist who doesn't give a shit hires people that don't give a shit then I think you end up with that you know and a concert experience that isn't as great as it could be for sure
You
Well, I think that translates to every other company as well right and so so really that goes down
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah, yeah yeah for sure
You
right what is your philosophy on teamwork because that's if we really that's what we're circle act right
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah, yeah I mean listen for me teamwork, is you know and I say this a lot in all you know interviews that I have with people it's like I am not even though I get all the accolades I get the awards. I get the people coming up to me after a show, saying by the sound of the most amazing thing whatever All of that does not happen without the 10 people behind me that are on my sound team right
You
Yep
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
and so you know, I spend a great deal of time working with my team and making sure that our shit is good I do not wanna be that guy that's on the Desert Island all by himself you know left of his own devices. You know what I mean it matters to me all the way down to the young kid that this is his first tour and he's all he does is but you know maybe plug microphones in That guy matters to me because if he doesn't do his job right then how do I do my job you know and so yes teamwork for me is important now I know those guys are the operate outside of that there are I know I can name front house engineers that literally don't give a shit about any of that they just show up and say I'm the mixer I'm gonna do my job and whatever else invite anybody else does that's on them And unfortunately, I think that the product that they deliver is not not as good
You
Oh my God this is going like a dream for boo OK so so Dublin down on that like these are two I think they're silly business terms but but I think they're they're fun to talk about. I walked into my old bosses office and he had this like pamphlet sitting on his table and I'll never forget it right so what what does managing up mean to you and the same thing what is managing down mean to you?
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Interesting You know, I don't know I think that There are moments where it is required for you to be as the leader of this audio team. You know I'm not the crew chief I'm not the you know. I hire vendors to do their job, but I also feel a responsibility as the leader of the team that everyone is kind of looking up to. To make decisions that are needed when necessary, but I also do not spend a great deal of my time talking down to anyone you know I think that every single person like I said from the kid you know who just joined the team has something to offer and something to say that that's important and if as a leader, if I don't listen to those things if I just important knowledge and don't pay attention to what other people are saying to me, then I think you don't succeed. I think you know you have to you have to incorporate whatever everyone is saying around you
You
And as far as managing up, who is your actual boss or does it matter is each gig different or
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
That's a great question. No it really is because sometimes it's hard to figure out who that is in my position. You know I mean as a quick answer you would say oh it's the artist right you know it's it
You
You would think
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
You would think but in reality a lot of times I get my I get my work through either a partnership with a vendor like global will say to an artist. Hey you know pooch is great for a house engineer. You should hire him. He's great so I got my work through them, right Or or even one of their sales reps maybe you went to bat for me or that's one way of getting work. The second way of getting work is a production manager that I have a relationships with for years and years will say to an artist hey as I'm putting together this team for you, I have a friend of house guy that has you know this resume blah blah blah here it is check it out suit you think so then this production manager is the guy that got me the gig and then the third way is you know just an artist management you know board mouth whatever those are the main like three ways that I can get work so when you look at that. Who's my boss like? The guy that that is the production manager that got me the gig has a lot to say about whether or not I'm doing the gig well and is in discussions with the artist because he's the one that brought he put his ass on the line To be there and so what he says to me is is is very important you know it's it's he's easily the guy to put his ass on the line recommended me and now he's you know saying I can't think of an example but he's now saying you know, well, you really need to do it this way or whatever there are some guys that wouldn't listen to that they would say well fuck off. It's the the you know the artist is who my boss is and I'm not listening to you. I don't think that.
You
I did not say that to say it right he's really not just saying that to shoot the breeze right
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
No, no no he's saying these things because of for whatever reason a discussion he had with the artist or you know
You
Yet
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
whatever So there it's it's a little bit convoluted. There is not a complete definition now throw into that all of the situations where you know there's girlfriends and managers and who the best friends and all these people that are standing at a house. That all have the artist, ear or management ear or someone that's important ear And a small little comment can turn into something that you know could get you fired and so it is it is a constant check in my world to see you know I can't really say like hey that's my boss there's about 20 people that are my boss you know what I mean and all of
You
Now you see why I think this is so fascinating like I could I could there's no answer on any of these and so
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah, yeah yeah No, no it's in and it is. It's evolving a part of part of the reason of my success and I tell people this all the time is that I am able to navigate those things like less of being a great mixer more of navigating the fact that there are about 10 people that are involved in this soup of who's in charge and then figuring that out I'm good at that and that's what has kept me in positions. For a long period of time you know
You
Boots that managing up I read that I read the note on my bosses desk. I was like all of a
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah
You
stick like I keep getting promoted and we're not.
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah, I know that's it. That's it that's it.
You
This last question is gonna be my favorite because I actually think you've answered it in every question but I wanna hear it in your own words
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Sure
You
What makes you so damn good I mean, punctuate this for a second OK your level your echelon you are surrounded by legends there's any of guys in your rare air and yet
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah
You
you dunk every time they have to put you on timeout so the other people can win awards
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Ha ha ha ha ha ha that's hilarious
You
So what is it that takes you from?
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
It's a it's a it's a
You
Great to
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
combination of things, man. It really is a great deal of it. And I am, I have much gratitude and feel very lucky that a great deal of this is is you know whatever you believe in but I happen to believe it's God given just like I use this example all the time I said just like Eddie Van Halen is a guitar player that is so far above other guitar players And is an innovator all of those things art because he spent more time practicing it just was given to him right like he just is who he is and it happened and he was born this way and he was meant for greatness I truly believe that some of the guys that are at the top of this game as far as engineers go that is a major factor and in my case, I believe you know with much gratitude that is is a lot of the case The second half of it is has nothing to do with being a good mixer or not, and has everything to do with the psychology of people and how to manage situations. I am really good at walking into a room full of crazy people. And by that I mean, you know a band or a management or whatever I'm really good at walking into a room full of crazy people and immediately identifying what the needs are of every single person in that room and and quickly like I can walk in the room and be like OK I know what is up with that guy and I know what his needs are and I definitely know what's going on with that guy You know and managing that quickly and being able to give those people what they need not in a not Not in a way of just placating them, but being able to say the right things to deliver what their needs are in a real way as opposed to a just placating, the people in the room and saying, yeah I got you you know whatever, but having an honest, real discussion about one of the things that I'm gonna do to help you to achieve whatever it is, you're asking of me That's what I'm really good at and so I think that that is the different that's separates between a really really great mixer and a world class mixer are the psychology of it. You know
You
Yeah, I agree with everything on her
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah, and knowing knowing what to say in the right times and right listen I'm not always right like I fuck up. You know there are definitely situations where I'd say something. Oh shit I shouldn't have said that you know so it's not like I'm always right, but I am for the majority of the time you know for whatever reason I'm good at saying the right things at the right time. And that's it and I think that's really the the The recipe for a world class mixer is someone that has talent. There is nothing. I hate more than being in a room full of 50 kids and all who are interested in either taking my master class or whatever and seeing a kid who is is doing all the right things he's paying attention. He's learning he's free now spending hours asking the right questions and all these kind of things. But he doesn't have it like he doesn't have that little thing that is to me is just a God-given thing and so I know that that kid there's a place for that kid right like that guy is gonna go onto serious situations, but he is not going to go makes you too that's the difference between that you know that kid and and somebody else that has the spark And so that's that's it and it's unfair. It's not fair right like you know you look at that shit that sucks and believe me I spend a great deal of time in gratitude of the fact that whatever little bit of that I have and it's it's gotten me to where I am. Because I think it's not anything that I did from learning her or spending time you know trying to trying to own my craft I think it just is is what it is. It just was given to me and so yeah I mean that's tough to watching a kid that wants it really bad but then you see that they just don't have this thing you know.
You
So do you got five more minutes and this is this is not part of the interview it's just picking your brain now I go with this on my daughter all the time because this is this is the core of the things I love right this is about
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah, sure course no yes
You
Digging deep and performance psychology
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Sure
You
As sad as it is to see that kid who puts in all the time, but doesn't have the spark, it breaks my heart when there's the spark, but not the follow up for the drive
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yes, just as
You
that breaks my heart more
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
bad
You
and I happen to believe That most of that is driven by fear or sadness like I can't put my finger on what prevents us from achieving or potential and so in your own lesson when did you know you had it but more than that? When did you say fuck it? I'm doing it like I'm betting on me because I can and I'm getting out of my own way.
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
You know, I think it has everything to do with your environment and in what you placed in I grew up in an environment, where my parents from the start were supportive of me in every single way, saying if you work hard, you can fucking get it and in along the way Were people that I ran into was totally by chance you know like my chorus teacher in my seventh grade you know I mean like people like that that all saw something in me and said to me, you know hey this might be something you know you wanna pursue like you you know you have a real thing you know not not in regards to sound, but in musicianship in general yeah this is something that that I see in you that you know you may want to check out So support like all the way there was not ever someone telling me I was less than you know or you know so there was never ever someone saying oh you're you're never gonna be you know somebody that's gonna succeed or you're never gonna succeed at that or you know those things not once was any of that ever said to me, unlike I know people have situations like that all the time people say to them while you're nothing you're gonna you know
You
Right
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
And so I think it's the perfect storm of nurturing versus nature you know and I just happened to have that and have the opportunities to be near people that were supportive. I think that kind of made me believe in my own self but also made me go OK cool I do have this thing I think and let's see where it goes. You know And so I think it was it was from very young age. You know my my piano teacher when I was fucking three years old you know I was saying to my parents you know hey you know I think this kid is gonna end up being a musician he's you know he's got whatever it takes and so you hear enough of that you start to believe in yourself and and you keep going. I don't think there was ever a moment. There wasn't a moment where I said OK cool I'm you know I know I've got this. I've gotta go do it. It just was a culmination over a long period of many people. Supporting me in and giving me the right encouragement, you know
You
This is so awesome man thank you I'll get everything
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah
You
transcribed. I'll send you a draft and what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna send two drafts actually the one that will publish in
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Cool
You
headliner and then sort of an extended play version that I'll just post to follow up with that and it's again this is tag
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Great
You
team. We're both writing this together. Anything that you don't like the flow or the look or the feel you'll let me know and I'll get it adjusted to make this land for exactly how you want it to be
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Awesome man looking forward to it
You
Yeah, thank you just a big die. This is super
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
Yeah, of course
You
illuminating and again. I love hearing these nuggets, especially as they relate to my daughter so that's even the best part.
Ken "Pooch" "Pooch" Van Druten
I understand and I totally get it. Totally get it. Cool take care bye-bye
Sent from my iPhone
END OF TRANSCRIPT
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