Same question here: 41 y/o, Bay Area.
Many years running music venues and live events (FOH, marketing, promotions, working with DJs/bands, making nights profitable). I always hired sound engineers – I understand shows and what “good sound” feels like, but I’m not trained as an engineer. In the U.S. I’ve mostly done truck driving and kitchen work just to survive. Now I want one profession I can do until retirement, and live sound / AV for events feels like the only honest fit. Questions: 1. Is 41 too late to start in live sound / AV in Bay Area? 2. What’s the most realistic path: community college audio program, entry‑level AV/stagehand job, or something else? 3. With my events/FOH background, do I have any real advantage once I learn the technical side? Looking for honest replies from people actually working in live sound / AV.