Western Michigan Student Gains Live-Sound Experience at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
When Aiden Lambert, a multimedia arts technology major from Western Michigan University (WMU), stepped into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on a hot June day, he was stepping into a world where the roar of a crowd and the hum of equipment blend into a single pulse. The six‑week internship, which ran from early June to September 10, gave Lambert hands‑on experience in live‑sound engineering, including mixing shows for touring indie‑rock acts Spoon and The Beths.
Lambert was chosen from a pool of hundreds of applicants. WMU’s Multimedia Arts Technology (MAT) program, which trains students in audio engineering, multimedia content creation, and sound reinforcement, prepared him for the role. “Western’s program taught me the basics for running a live sound setup,” Lambert said. “That gave me a really solid foundation going into the internship.”
The internship began with a behind‑the‑scenes tour of the Hall’s museum, including the private vault that houses historic artifacts. Lambert noted that he saw original lyric sheets for Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” as well as instruments used by Muddy Waters. The tour was followed by weekly career‑development sessions and panels with Hall staff.
During the summer, Lambert and his cohort of interns set up and ran the Hall’s “Lunch by the Lake” concerts, which feature performers from the Artist in Residence Program on the Hall’s outdoor stage. “The production interns basically worked the shows by ourselves,” Lambert said. “I had a good enough foundation from Western that I was really able to contribute during the internship.” He also assisted with the Hall’s larger summer concert series, loading equipment onto stage, setting up power, monitors, microphones, and drum kits, and operating audio consoles. Once a touring band arrived, the interns performed sound checks to establish levels and monitor mixes for the front‑of‑house engineer. Toward the end of the internship, Lambert had the opportunity to mix a few shows independently, describing the experience as “awesome” and noting that lectures and shadowing had prepared him for the task.
The experience broadened Lambert’s career outlook. Originally envisioning a future in studio production, the internship’s focus on live events opened the possibility of a career in live sound. “Working live events changed my perspective, and I could definitely see myself considering a career in live sound,” he said. “When I’m working at the front of house creating a mix or setting up for a show and then I can watch the crowd and see them dancing and having fun because of my work, getting that immediate feedback is really satisfying.” Lambert’s internship concluded on September 10, and he has expressed gratitude for the opportunity. While he has not announced specific next steps, his experience has given him a clearer view of potential career paths in live sound engineering.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, founded in 1983 and located on Lake Erie's shore, is a museum and hall of fame that documents the history of rock music. The Hall’s summer internship program is designed to provide students with hands‑on, project‑based learning in the audio and live‑event industry. Lambert’s internship exemplifies the practical training offered by WMU’s MAT program and highlights the Hall’s role in nurturing the next generation of audio professionals.
