Lost Dogma singer produces other musicians, as well as booking talent at Bellevue's Blue Martini.
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Toby C. Brady at the sound board at the Skagit Valley Casino’s Pacific Showroom. (Courtesy of Toby C. Brady)[/caption]
What do you do? I am a musician, record producer, audio technician and talent buyer in Seattle. I play guitar and sing with my band, Lost Dogma; I make my own records and record other bands, as well. Currently, I am the entertainment director at Blue Martini [in Bellevue] and book shows at various venues around town. I also work for AVR Productions and Hard Rock Cafe, mixing front-of-house sound.
How did you get started in that field? I started playing music in elementary school, and in high school was always in charge of the school sound system. Playing in bands, I had to book my own shows and record my own music. I picked up work with an AV company loading trucks and wrapping cables. Once I proved myself behind the mixing board, the rest just fell into place.
What’s a typical day like? First thing is to make a pot of coffee, and then I sit down and go over my booking calendar and emails. Then I go to my studio and work on whatever project I have just recorded and work on my own music. After that I would either have band practice, or a recording session or go to a venue to mix a live show, depending on the night.
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What surprises people about what you do? People are always surprised at how much I have to work and the wide variety of acts that I work with.
What’s the best part of the work? As a songwriter, it’s when I see the crowd singing along to my lyrics and getting lost in the moment. When I’m running sound for a band, I try to make them feel like I’m a member of their group, and making it sound good for them and the audience. Mostly, I really just love being surrounded by music and the business of it.