Meet Robin Steele
Welcome Robin. We're standing at a well-stocked bar. What are you having?
A single malt please.
How did you get involved/started in sound and lighting?
At the tender age of 14 I was helping a friends band as a roadie come sound/lighting, gofer etc. and I enjoyed
playing with the equipment so much that I decided there and then that if I couldn't be a pop star I would be
something behind the scenes.
What is the most enjoyable or interesting aspect of your job?
The diversity of projects and knowing that I've done my job well and assisted in helping the performer(s)
or client to obtain their desired result. And I get to travel, eat good food and meet a variety of people
that most people wouldn't believe actually exist in real life!
What's the proudest moment or achievement in your life to date?
This is a hard one (no this isn't the answer), I'm fortunate enough to have had many proud and satisfying moments.
I still get a great buzz from a good show. I haven't got married or had kids, so I can rule out the obvious
answers there. Just getting to the age I am now still seems the most incredible achievement that I have made.
What's the most likely thing to make you laugh?
A good joke.
What's the most likely thing to make you weep?
Death, illness, injustice, cruelty or people that still think wrestling is a real sport and isn't set up.
What's the most likely thing to make you get up on your soapbox?
As I'm not the sort of person to hide my opinions, just about anything really.
What would you say your main influences in your life and career are?
I don't really feel influenced, only motivated to enjoy my life to the best of my abilities and to always
strive to obtain the best result in whatever project I'm working on.
If you could lig at the party of any famous person in the world, who would it be any why?
Been there, done it and got not only the t-shirt but the soap on the rope too. I've never understood people that
lig and get star struck. People are just people, rich, famous, talented, Boyzone. Whatever.
What's the funniest or oddest thing that's ever happened to you in your work?
I'm currently writing a book that will contain many weird and funny occurrences thinly disguised as a story, so
you'll have to wait and see (and pay £6.99!)
Where do you see the sound and lighting industry being in 5 years time?
Who knows? It's very much like the music biz. Just when you think It's going to all be done by computers and
that the skills are dying out, it all goes full circle and 'back to basics'. Technology will certainly stop
for no man and sound and lighting systems will become more and more efficient (and hopefully cable-less) but
even though computers can do so much automatically people will still need the creativity that only a person
can supply and apart from that you'll still need roadies to move the boxes and keep us all amused with gaffer
tape and crap bar tricks.
Do you have any pets?
Yes a dog, cat and a guinea pig.
I did have a pet rock but it got lost on the beach whilst on holiday.
Do you have a favourite colour?
Yes Lee 126, yes really! even my motorbike is purple (ish)
What's the most pointless sport in the world?
Ahhh, back to the American pastime of pretend wrestling.
There's a table waiting at the restaurant of your choice. What cuisine would
you prefer and what dish?
Depending on my mood...but I love a well cooked Chinese meal.
Where would you like to see yourself and your business in 5 years time?
Still working.
