Meet John Roy | Owner, John Roy Sound LLC. Partner, Escape Hatch records. Owner Smoke and Mirrors Sound System

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Roy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, 9/11/2001 took away my touring life with various bands as a saxophonist/singer.
By January 2002 I needed to pay my bills.
Sound engineers often make more money than musicians and I have some corespondent skills.
I put on a suit during the day to work hotels, casinos, weddings etc.
At night I’d mix clubs and festivals.
I bought gear one piece at a time as I worked on getting my own gigs.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve played in bands since the age of 15.
I took as many gigs as I could schedule, while still holding part time and full time jobs as a security guard, hot dog cart vendor. AV tech, sound engineer etc.
I’ve made the arc from no money gigs, to weekly gigs, to small tours, to national tours and back to playing and losing money for ‘Exposure’.
I play because I can’t do without it.
It wasn’t easy.
It isn’t easy.
It won’t ever be easy.
If someone handed me a fortune, I’d spend it sharing music.
I love each and every song I record like it was my baby.
There’s no filler.
The drive to continue triumphs over all setbacks, or at the very least, keeps me banging my head on the wall, despite it all!
I’ve learned that being kind and respectful on the way up, makes the way down less bumpy.
I don’t know if anything sets me apart from others. Maybe I’m fatter, uglier and older… That’s what sets me apart!
Learned to record, edit, mix my own music.
My labor is free to me, so I can get more done now than I could 30 years ago.
Technology’s advances have allowed someone like me to create more efficiently, despite Multiple Sclerosis.
My current concept is live remixing of stems I’ve recorded in sync with animated videos.
‘Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!’
I also incorporate other musicians playing live as I mix for some performances and occasionally, an 11 piece band, playing live in sync with the animated videos.
It takes a lot to gain and hold the attention of a potential listener/viewer.
I also love vinyl, specialty vinyl, multicolored vinyl records.
Seeing interesting artwork on album covers and detailed liner notes has always intrigued me since I was a child, listening to my parents’ records.
Now I press records that I’ve dreamed of for decades.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I was hosting someone and had the funds (California has a hefty sunshine tax),
I’d take them to Balboa Park a few times! The Spreckels organ pavilion tour is amazing.
The model railroad museum is nerd stuff I enjoy.
The Carousel is over 100 years old and works beautifully
A sunset or two on our beaches is priceless.
And plenty of burritos and tacos etc.
San Diego has a great taco shop or three in every neighborhood

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Carolyn Samovar, my mother, loaned me $2000, using her credit card for my first amplifier and pair of speakers.
Andrea Roy, my wife, let me work the crazy shifts and spend all of my surplus income on gear and vehicles, while contributing support, as well as looking after my health and healthcare during numerous rough times. She’s my rock!

Website: https://www.smokeandmirrorssoundsystem.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smokeandmirrorssoundsystem/

Twitter: Nope! no thanks Musk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smokeandmirrorssoundsystem

Yelp: nope

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@smokeandmirrorssoundsystem4505

Other: https://escapehatchrecords.com/pages/opk

Image Credits
credits: John Roy