CALUMET --

Jon works as a freelance sound engineer and production manager, and he says his day usually takes a lot of preparation.

"As a sound engineer, I set up the sound, get it ready for the audience, and get it ready for onstage for the band when they come in to do sound checks as well as for the show," said Picciano.  

This past spring, Jon was on tour with the South African vocal group, Ladysmith Black Mombazo. Jon showed me Mombazo's live multi-track recording.

When he is at work, he mixes audio and makes adjustments to the different levels on each recording track.

Jon said while he was in school, he used to work at the coffee shop above this music store. It became somewhat of a hangout for Tech students in the '90s, and inside the shop there was a performance area where local bands and artists could come. Jon says that was the first time that he realized he could become the engineer that he is today.

He also shared he has worked with R&B artist, Ledsi.

"I got an e-mail from her tour manager, and he said, 'What are you doing and can you come work for us?' So I went out and did a couple of one-offs, just a couple single shows, and then a couple weeks later, I was pretty much out on tour with her," Picciano said.

Jon's advice for anyone interested in his career is do not let go of your aspirations and dreams because anything is possible.

It has been three years since Jon has been home, and he says he is going to enjoy the time off and spend it with his family and friends.