Over the past few years, I have gotten to know a few of the older, more influential players, sound guys, equipment repair techs, and even a couple of promoters. Not ALL of them were people I would surround myself with on a regular basis, but were all VERY knowledgeable.
That said, they dwindle, the light goes dim, and many are lost to a multitude of demise. Age, diminished mental capacity, health complications from good times back in the day, Natural causes and of course so many to different types of cancers.
A recent realization is that slowly, the art of repairing vintage equipment is one of the skills that goes when these folks are lost. I hope that there is a Renaissance in this field. I know there are a few - but HOW MANY really?
I never got to study under anyone to learn to do sound, and consider myself almost somewhat competent. That said - I do ok on small scale local and occasional national act sound jobs. Trying to find people to teach has been pretty fruitless.
Curious - how many of you are noticing similar, or in the circle to help slow the loss of knowledge and experience? You know .......helping to pass the torch