Women in Pro Audio: Jenny Joo Women in Pro Audio: Jenny Joo...
In this installment of our Women in Pro Audio Series, which celebrates the invaluable contributions of women in the professional audio industry, we had the pleasure of spotlighting Jenny Joo (Zhu Junlin), an accomplished sound engineer making incredible sound in China’s audio landscape. Having once managed sound for her sister’s band, she now oversees complex audio systems and live event tuning in Hangzhou with Rightway Audio Consultants. Get the inside scoop on her experiences, challenges, and unique perspective on thriving in this vast industry of pro sound.
Meet Jenny
Jenny’s journey into professional audio didn’t begin in a formal setting, but rather with early explorations rooted in her native Sichuan. During her college years, she found herself drawn to the sound control room for the school’s art troupe and also took the reins for her sister’s band. While she recalls these initial forays as ‘very interesting,’ she candidly admits her involvement then ‘was not particularly professional.’ The real turning point came after graduation with an unexpected opportunity that steered her towards her true calling. Embracing professional training, what started as a curiosity blossomed into a deep-seated passion. Today, this enthusiasm fuels her work in intricate sound system design and PA tuning at Rightway Audio Consultants (RAC), where she continues to build her career.
Getting Started and Overcoming Hurdles
Jenny’s career truly began to take shape when she joined RAC immediately after graduation. Driven by her passion, Jenny chose to stay in Hangzhou, immersing herself in the steep learning curve ahead. She soon understood that mastering sound engineering meant deepening her knowledge into a wide array of subjects, including basic physics, electroacoustics, music theory, music psychology, and music appreciation, among others. For Jenny, this commitment to continuous learning became her most significant investment. Alongside these professional demands, she faced the personal struggles of a young woman forging her own path away from home and family expectations. Nevertheless, her resolute determination enabled her to overcome these obstacles and firmly establish herself in the field.
Unique Challenges as a Woman in Pro Audio
For Jenny, a significant challenge at this stage of her career is the delicate balance between her professional life and her family. With a two-year-old son, she faced the demanding reality of returning to work when he was just seven months old. “I travel a lot for my job, and I feel like I’ve missed out on so much of his growing up. However, my child and family love me very much, and I wouldn’t be able to thrive in my field without their wholehearted support. I’m incredibly grateful to them.”
Beyond the personal challenges, Jenny also recognizes the historical gender imbalance within the audio industry. She acknowledges that “the audio industry has long been a male-dominated industry” due to the intensive nature of the work, conceding that “men have an inherent advantage in terms of physical fitness.” However, Jenny firmly believes that “women, through their professional sensitivity and attention to detail, can perform just as well as men.”
Women in Pro Audio: Perspectives and Encouragement
“Physically, women might not have the same innate stamina as men,” Jenny says as she reflects on the fact that there are fewer women than men in this industry. “And the demanding nature of the work can be a bit taxing.”
Shifting focus, she continues, “Then there are family reasons; traditional thinking often suggests that a woman’s best path is to get married and raise children, along with ideas like ‘men work outside, women manage the home.’ These kinds of mindsets have limited women’s development in many areas. However, I want to tell all my fellow women: don’t be afraid and don’t hesitate. Do whatever you want to do. As you start down that path, you’ll find it’s not as difficult as you might think”.
Overcoming Challenges and Memorable Projects
Describing herself as someone with “a strong passion for learning,” Jenny enjoys challenges and the “sense of achievement after conquering challenges.” Throughout her career, she has encountered numerous obstacles, including “careless suppliers, mismatched equipment, long working hours, bad weather, and poor environment.” In these demanding situations, she relies on her “strong perseverance” to manage everything effectively. Jenny emphasizes that she has “never wanted to give up because it’s what I love to do, and I want to show the best.”
One of the most memorable projects she has been involved in is the musical She Niang. “I absolutely loved the musical director. There were over 50 songs, and every single one was beautiful. I rehearsed and put it all together with the cast, and then performed it so many times. Every time, I’d be at the sound console and feel my eyes well up. Music truly has an incredible power to stir people’s emotions. I think that’s why I’m so passionate about my job. In my work, I don’t just experience the hardships; I also feel happiness, joy, and tears.”
Advice for Aspiring Professionals
“Find what interests you, go practice extensively, equip yourself with solid technical theories, take good care of your hearing, and stay enthusiastic and patient.” Jenny shares this sage advice for fellow women looking to build a career in the audio industry:
She adds: “Be a strong learner and keep asking why. The industry can change really quickly so continuous learning is important. Always keep your head sharp; every decision made during work can affect the results, especially for live shows.”
Reflecting on a particularly intense experience, Jenny recounts the 2024 CAN Festival: “We had a performance right by the sea. Two strong typhoons were approaching back-to-back. Our show wasn’t cancelled, but to deal with the typhoons, we had to repeatedly set up and take down all the speakers. The three-day event was compressed into two days, so time was a real battle. In the end, it all wrapped up smoothly. Over those seven days, I got less than 35 hours of sleep in total, but they are seven days I will vividly remember for the rest of my life.”
Why She’s a Woman in Pro Audio
When asked about what she loves most in her work and her proudest moments, Jenny points to a pivotal experience: the inaugural EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) in China in 2018. This event was not only a landmark for the country’s music scene – it was a personal milestone for Jenny, as it marked her first time managing the entire Outside Broadcast for the carnival. She vividly recalls the immense satisfaction of working on EDC. “I watched the live broadcast on my phone; it just felt so great, letting more people hear voices from China.”
This drive to connect people through sound naturally extends to her vision for the future of live events, where she hopes to see a more consistent and equitable listening experience for every audience member.
Jenny’s reflection on such a significant moment, coupled with her aspirations for the industry, paints a clear picture of an engineer deeply invested in more than just the technicalities of her job. What makes Jenny so brilliant at what she does is her power to unite and deliver shared joy by connecting people through the best shared sound experiences.
To follow along on her adventure in live sound, Jenny can be found on Instagram at @jennyjoo1123.
Read last month’s Women in Pro Audio interview here.