My new years resolution is to put myself out there and make some goddamn connections. Someone will be paying me for my real talents and passions by this time next year. Hear me, self??!

…Maybe it should also be to cut down on the swears.

I had no idea that sexism was still quite so prevalent until I spent my four years in college as a sound girl in the local music venue. Weekly, I would introduce myself to bands, and usually get the same standard response:

“Hi, my name is Meg, I’m your sound technician. Let me know if you need anything that isn’t out here and I’ll get you set up…”

“Oh hey thanks Meg, yeah, uh… so when is the sound guy coming?”

Even. With. Women. (Oh Dirty Projectors, I still love you, but really? You’re half female!)

Through the years, my partner Carly and I brought more girls on and eventually made a seven-woman sound crew. Which was nice–not only because I got to order people around–but also because I had visible power to the visiting bands. I was not just some girl in a cute dress saying that I was the sound technician; I was leading a bunch of girls in cute dresses and telling everybody that they were sound technicians. And as the semesters passed, I found bands taking me more seriously. No longer did they try to worm their way behind the soundboard, or demand a man for the job. They didn’t second-guess me; they listened to me.

There is strength in lady numbers! It’s not easy to push through sexism in any kind of environment. It’s hard to find a network of women (and men) who know what you’re going through, and who are willing to talk about it. When you experience overt sexism for the first (or 151031^st) time, it seems like someone just punched you in the face. Hard. It’s even harder because most people don’t even realize that they are being horrible. Don’t yell at them. Take a deep breath. Tell them they’re “lookin’ at the sound guy.” Find an ally, if you can, and do a good damn job.

Maybe next time they won’t make assumptions.

With Flavia Michel.

I’ve started embroidering things. Etsy shop to come. Suggestions welcome.

Sounds like a forgotten icon.