About me
Kim Watson
Freelance Sound Engineer · UK Rational Acoustics SMAART Instructor
"My interest in sound started when I first learned how to play with my parents' Hifi system. One of my earliest memories is plugging a microphone into the headphone socket and it making noise."
I realised right then that microphones and headphones are the same inside — just designed differently for different applications. Oh, and feedback. Much to my parents' dismay, I loved feedback.
The beginning
From that moment I was hooked. I played bass in bands and was always the one messing with the sound kit. After leaving school I moved on to college to study an A Level in Music Tech. One of my lecturers caught my imagination showing us how to use a real sound desk — I was obsessed. By the second year I was working for free with local PA companies just to gain experience.
The career
A few years later came my first paid gig. From there to working in venues, then working for bands on tour. I've been in the industry for over 26 years — standing in the dark corners of stages all over the world. A mixture of roles: FOH system tech, monitor engineer, mixing both wedges and IEMs. There is no better feeling than hanging a sound system, seeing the show happen, knowing you put it up there and designed it.
Now
I'm still very much active as a system tech and PA tech, touring and working festivals. More recently I also moved into instructing other sound engineers — I hold the position of UK Rational Acoustics SMAART instructor, offering public and private SMAART classes, and work with Yamaha teaching their DM7 console. Educating the next generation with my lifelong passion for audio — I love what I do and continue to do it with the same passion I started with.
26+
Years in the industry
20+
Tours & festival seasons
∞
Passion for audio