Check Out Tristan Graves’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tristan Graves.

Tristan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a Performer and an Audio Engineer. I got my start in performing at age 14-15 when my dad handed me his bass and said “Play this.” Since then I have gone on to play with several bands of all kinds, including the Jak Fiddler Band, On the Tip of your Tongue, Jake Neuman and the Jay Birds, Drive-In Romance, and most recently with Jayme Graves. I have been playing bass guitar now for almost 10 years, having fallen in love with the instrument. There is a certain joy I take out of playing that not many other instruments give me. No matter who I play for or what I end up playing, I almost always go back to the bass as it is where my foundation began.

With that love of playing on stage came my love for Theatre. I got my start running sound in High School for a production of the musical ‘Annie’. Since then I have gone on to perform on stage as well. Some of my favorite shows I’ve done include Willy Wonka, Cicada, Cabaret, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Bright Star. A lot of my work as an engineer came from working in theater spaces in the Middle Tennessee area. I am a graduate of MTSU where I received my Bachelors in Media and Entertainment. During my time there I was fortunate to perform on stage as well as behind the scenes in set construction, and of course sound engineering. My time there showed me much, but I have learned even more working with other professional Theatre spaces in and around Nashville. My most recent sound gig was with the Circle Players on their production of Jonathan Larson’s ‘Rent’. Working with a company like them has been instrumental in my continuing education and practical application to what I like doing.

Since graduating I have been working to develop my own unique voice as a performer and a singer/musician. I am currently working on my debut album that I am setting to release on new Years Eve. This will not be my first music release I have been a part of, but it is one hundred percent my own flavor and style. Alongside that I am a co-owner of Spark Studios, an independent recording company that looks to help musicians bring their music to the next level. I work with them as a consultant, as well as being active in the recording process. You will most likely hear me on a lot of what we produce in some way. My next venture is to work as a director in Theatre. My hope is to help create the spaces I wish I had when I was starting out to make everyone feel welcomed and safe to express themselves in a creative environment, while also getting to be a part of a great production with other talent.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My road to where I am currently has not been the smoothest. I struggled a lot with school, even as far back as elementary. I have always had to work harder to make it than others have. While I can manage well enough with information, I have always been a hands-on learner. I prefer to actually practice what I am learning rather than read on it or listen to a demonstration.

There has also been a lot of challenges I’ve faced coming into new spaces and wanting to be accepted as a member of the group. Theatre has many spaces that are not always fully welcoming to newcomers, so I have faced much of that myself coming into shows in the past. The same has also held true in music, as not every band I’ve been a part of has been the most welcoming.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work in various fields in the arts, but most people know my work as an Audio Engineer. There are various avenues one can take in that field, however mine has thus far lead me to work in Theatre as a live sound engineer for live performances.

This involves putting mics on the actors you see on stage, and controlling their volumes from the booth during the entire show. In some cases, I may even be playing musical tracks from the booth for the song and dance performances if it is a musical. Typically the engineer is constantly working to fine tune every piece of the sound system to optimize the performance. This includes checking batteries for mics during breaks, adjusting volume levels on the fly, fixing or repairing broken or damaged equipment, and basic cleaning and organization of our work space. On top of that, we also work directly with the actors on stage. When applicable we put their mics on for them, and help them make adjustments that will help them perform their best without hindering them in any way. This I find to be most rewarding as I have made many friends and acquaintances from doing sound work.

Given my experience onstage, I understand the stress of what actors go through. The grueling rehearsals, the long hours, the exhaustion from singing and dancing on top of holding character. These do add up and can wear one down. I have always done my best to have a kind approach working with any actor. At the end of the day, we are all human and we all get exhausted from time to time. I think of myself sometimes like your favorite bar or restaurant, somewhere you like to be around because it feels comfortable and safe. I am most proud of having been told by multiple people over various shows that they enjoyed working with me for not adding stress to their plate. That in itself is very rewarding.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Don’t be afraid to try something new. I was afraid to perform in front of people for years, but now it feels like second nature. Similarly with engineering, I never felt solid enough in my work to call myself an engineer. Now I have a great network of friends and colleagues that sometimes call on me to help them with their shows. It may take time to find the right space for you. I have worked around several performance spaces since graduating, and I feel like now I have found a few that I feel supported and respected in.

Also expand your skillset! I recently delved into the world of dance with a good friend of mine who was my teacher. With her instruction I feel much more confident in my dance abilities than I did before. Never be afraid to find someone who is better at something than you, even if you do that same thing. You can always learn anything from anyone, from any age, any background, and any walk of life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tyranusgraves @tristangraves_bassman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristan-graves-120490317