In a time where staying healthy is the #1 priority, audio pros still have monitor the health of their mics, monitors, racks and rigs.

As it turns out, fixing gear was a formative experience for Riley Difford. Today, he’s in charge of dBm Pro Audio Repair, the busy repair division of Pro-Sound in NYC (official title: “chief wrangler”), and it’s been a very interesting road that got him there. Difford started off his techy career by being born into a musically astute family: His dad is none other than lyricist/songwriter of the acclaimed band Squeeze (“Tempted,” “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)”).

While Difford’s famous father soaked up the limelight onstage, his son developed slightly different interests. “I was always really drawn to what was going on behind the scenes,” he recalls of his upbringing in England. “I found a lot of roadies friendly as a kid and got interested in how everything was made to make the show.”

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