It’s Not Better
By Sonny Phono
Hello World.
I’m an “Ol’ Dog” as I like to refer to myself. I can come off sometimes as, gruff, bitter, mean, judgmental. For someone that’s unfamiliar to my sense of humor, or strong opinions, I am a total asshole.
I work at a S.F. nightclub as a sound man. I am also a DJ around town so you’ve heard me play, or seen me at work. I’m the handsome dude running around with microphones and cables. I might even be on the Mic commanding you to dance or sing along, or, to get the fuck out of my bar.
Anyhow, that’s a little about me. I’ve been around the block a few times and I’m a fun loving take no shit kinda guy. Today I want to write about my path that landed me where I am today, at least professionally. I wouldn’t want to torture you with how I got to be me emotionally. Yet.
It all started out when I was 11 years old. My older brother was in a thrash metal band called Malicious Intent. They totally ROCKED. I liked to hang out at their practice space and smoke cigarettes and headbang. While this was going on I ended up with the P.A. duties. Dragging the speakers and amp/mixer combo to their gigs at house parties, handling the mics and whatnot for practices. It was rad. He got kicked out of the band over some other bass player that had more gig hookups. He didn’t really play in another band before joining the Army.
In high school, I was an Actor. I had leads in all 12 plays that happened. During these productions, we learned how to “tech” the plays. If we didn’t do it, it wouldn’t have any tech. There were some drama nerd chicks (basically the chicks I made out with in the dressing room after rehearsal) that would operate the light and sound board during the shows. However, I unwittingly ended up becoming a little more of a lighting and sound guy in this process.
After high school, I got involved in the San Diego Hip Hop scene. Some of my friends were becoming DJ’s and MC’s. Doing shows in the park and whatnot. I had a (BITCHIN!!!) ’87 Ford Ranger so naturally I had to truck the equipment. Then being that Djs and MCs are always late, I’d be setting the shit up. Later on we all became of age and started doing shows at bars and clubs. An old friend who’s dad owned a bar when we were kids opened the Rhythm Lounge. I used to joke with Zig that I was going to work his bar and he’s pay me in Guiness. Little did I know that wasn’t a joke, but, a prophecy. I worked the Rhythm Lounge for 3 years before I moved to San Francisco. When I landed here I worked for a corporate A/V company and that’s when I became a full fledged Engineer. After 6 years there I began working for myself freelancing and being in house that the club I’m typing this from now.
Here’s the point to all of this. I’m happy doing what I do. I never went to college for it. I never set out on this path or had any goals to be a one man A/V company. All I ever wanted was to be self employed and it happened by itself. I did work hard to get to this point, I just didn’t work hard towards this point. I’m putting this out there for you younger folks who struggle with the “I’m not there yets”, or the “When’s it going to happen for me’s” What you want will happen for you, if, you put your head down and grind out a struggle that you can be rewarded for getting through. That’s just the nutshell of my little pointless trip too. The meat is pretty amazing actually. Keep reading this page and maybe I can teach some things. Maybe you’re dumber for reading my rant at all. Either way thanks for the time. It’s not better, but it’s getting there.