Sound Engineer Hire

I am available for hire individually or can arrange for the hire of other professional sound engineers, either for front of house or monitor engineering roles. Engineers can be hired either by the hour or daily, with rates becoming negotiable for longer events, tours and residencies.

Technician Hire

Technicians are available for hire in a range of different fields and specialties, including sound, A/V, lighting/LX and power distributions, etc. Technicians can be hired by the hour or day for short term events, with rates being negotiable for longer events, tours or residencies.

Load-in/Load-out Crew

General crew can be hired for load-ins and load-outs at a standard rate of £10 per hour (subject to a minimum three hour call out).

Other Crew...

There is a long list of crew positions that you may require in addition to those three mentioned previously which I can assist you in filling. Some of these roles include:

  • Stage Manager (and ASM, DSM, etc.)
  • Lighting Designer
  • Lighting Operator
  • Follow spot Operator
  • Riggers
  • Fly men
  • System Technicians
  • Sound Designers
  • Guitar/Drum/Back line Technicians
  • Electricians
  • Set Designers
  • Set Construction/Painting
  • Drivers (of all types of vehicle)

Other Services...

Through my relationships with various production and hire companies I am positioned in such a way which allows me to provide you with complete event solutions, including:

  • Event and/or Stage Management
  • Staging (including Marquees)
  • Lighting
  • Rigging
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Power generation and distribution

Not forgetting my own specialty of course, sound.

Personnel Hire Terms & Conditions

Working Hours

Hired personnel will not be made to work, by Michael Cookson or the hirer/client, for more than a reasonable number of hours in a given day, which is ordinarily limited to twelve hours. Consecutive hours of work are undertaken at the discretion of the individual crew member, and are charged at one and a half times their usual hourly rate. For multiple day events/tours the number of reasonable working hours per day may be lowered. This is to ensure that the work performed is safe and always of a high standard.

Breaks

Personnel must be able to take regular breaks in line with employment laws and legislation.

Safety

Personnel will not work in environments or perform tasks they deem to be unsafe or that they are insufficiently competent to complete safely. Neither I nor the personnel involved are responsible for the cancellation or delay of an event due to work being stopped owing to safety concerns. The hirer will still be charged in full for the hire of the personnel and equipment should this occur.

Noise

The maximum and average SPL (volume) to which personnel are exposed to, and the duration of the exposure, must be within the permitted limits of UK Noise at Work regulations. Personnel have the right to leave loud areas and stop work should they deem their exposure to be dangerous to their hearing and where adequate PPE is not available.

Manual Handling

In line with Health and Safety guidance, personnel are only obliged to lift and/or carry what they are personally comfortable with, however, a maximum one person lift of 30kg is also enforced. Equipment should be on wheels or suitable mechanical aids, such as dollies or sack trucks, should be provided. Where stairs or difficult get-in/get-outs are part of the work the maximum lift per person may decrease while the number of people required to perform the task may increase. It is the responsibility of the hirer to inform Michael Cookson and/or their liaison about such situations well in advance of the event as extra crew may be required. At outdoor events it is the responsibility of the hirer to ensure that a suitable means of access for equipment to the stage is provided, our personnel are not obliged to carry equipment over muddy fields where there is no alternative.

Expenses and Accommodation

These are charged on top of the hourly rates of personnel. Costs covered include, but are not limited to, food, drink (non-alcoholic), accommodation, parking (including penalty notices where no other reasonable option is provided by hirer), congestion and low emission charges, toll roads/bridges, ferry charges, public transport, fuel etc. Accommodation must be of a reasonable quality with same sex only rooms (where requested by crew members) as well as being safe and secure with hot and cold running water and a shower. Please ensure suitable parking arrangements are available for the vehicle/s which will be used by the personnel.

Drivers Hours and Vehicle Restrictions

In the case of any vehicle over 3.5T, the driver is restricted by government regulations regarding driver hours. No exceptions can or will be made. Accommodation arrangements must be made for drivers as and when required. Drivers will only drive below the speed limit, or the speed to which their vehicle is limited to should the speed limit be higher.

Late Running or Cancellation of Events

Where events are delayed or cancelled due to any of the above points being contested the responsibility lies solely with the hirer, and as such, he/she/they are obliged to pay the full cost of services and equipment rendered.