Becky Pell is a monitor engineer with 25 years’ experience in the live music industry. Originally from the UK, Becky now lives in QLD Australia. Her mixing credits include Westlife, A-ha, Anastacia, Take That, Il Divo, The War of the Worlds, Muse, Kylie Minogue, Bill Wyman, James Brown, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Brightman, and Natalie Imbruglia. She is regularly in charge of monitors at the world’s largest festival, Glastonbury, and writes a monthly column for Live Sound International. Becky is also a qualified Yoga Therapist, and between tours, she runs yoga retreats in beautiful locations around the world.
What would you normally be doing this time of year?
Most of my work is UK/Europe based, and it would be festival season right now. So, normally running monitors on the main stage at Glastonbury as I have done for several years, or touring with my two main clients Westlife or Anastacia. I was days away from getting on a plane to begin Westlife rehearsals in London when everything changed.
What’s a fairly normal day at the moment for you?
I hate routine – I didn’t get into this game to have a 9-5 life so every day is different. So doing yoga, walking on the beach, working out and writing tend to feature heavily. I’m a trained yoga therapist as well as a monitor engineer, so I do private coaching and yoga clients on Zoom.
Are you learning anything to improve your skills set?
I’ve been brushing up on the new tech available – I’ll be using the new Digico Quantum console and integrated Klang 3D IEM system when Westlife resumes.
What bad habits have you slipped into?
It’s tempting to drink too often, so I limit it to a couple of glasses of red wine at weekends.
How are you coping financially?
I’ll be ok. I’ve had tours cancelled last minute before, so thankfully I’ve learnt from that to keep finances healthy as possible for downtime.
When do you think live entertainment with return and in what format?
I think the wisest thing any of us can say right now is ‘I don’t know’. It’s good to see things easing here, but it’s going to be a while till my clients are on the road again as their market is UK/Europe/Asia. The drive-in thing is interesting I guess but I don’t see it being sustainable without massively increasing ticket prices. Honestly, I think it will all come back, it’s just going to take time.
Do you have any words of encouragement?
‘Remember when you wanted what you currently have’. I can recall many many occasions when I’ve been on the road and felt exhausted and wished I had more time for myself and with my husband. I’m trying to see this as an unplanned sabbatical rather than the end of days! Even so, I’ve certainly had my dark moments and really miss touring and being with my tribe, but allowing myself to feel that and then declining to be distracted by things outside of my control – avoiding the news apart from the most cursory catch-up – has mostly kept me focused and positive.
What makes you happy at the moment?
We both love animals but can’t have one normally because we both travel so much. We’ve taken the opportunity to foster cats for a shelter during this time, which is a real unexpected bonus. So right now I’m enjoying hanging out with my husband and the cat, being in nature and lots of reading.
