Well, multiple things, really. But aside from him not knowing how the board routing works...We were tracking a string quartet, right... So I got in early and set up 4 chairs & 4 headphones/stands/mics. He points to the diagram he printed out and said "Can't you count? I need 16 chairs! Didn't you read the printout?" And the printout he gave me was not only sideways, but it did indeed include 16 chairs, which I didn't understand and he never explained. I guess his theory was that he wanted the quartet to do doubles/triples/quadruples in different chairs. Ok I get that, (first of all, tell me that before insulting me), but the room's only 10' by 20', so shoving 16 chairs and a ton of music stands plus 11 mic stands and a conductor in that tiny space is just fucking unreasonable. Just have them scooch their chairs over a foot for doubles.
So he yells at me, claims I can't count, and makes me set up 16 chairs for 4 people. I mean, that wouldn't be a problem if he had told me that 2 days ago when we talked about the session, but he springs this on me during set up. We didn't have enough chairs, so the poor runner had to shove 8 chairs into his camry and deliver the chairs from another studio to get them there in time for the string players to show up. Then the players show up and everyone's like "Whoa, I thought it was only a quartet, why are there so many chairs?" It was suuuper crowded and nobody liked the idea of 4 sets of chairs and we ended up shoving them all into the corner and only using 4, like I initially set up.
So that was strike 1, and a huge one cause it cost us about half an hour of setup when the dude scheduled the union string players to show up exactly 45 minutes after the start time, expecting the entire setup to be finished and ready to record in less than an hour. Plus bringing extra speakers, extra outboard gear to set up and test, 11 mics to plug in & test, and for some reason 16 chairs & headphones to set up. These poor union string players sat around for an hour & a half before we were even ready to record.
So I get everything plugged in and on my end everything's ready, but he doesn't know how the board works so the players are waiting on him and he doesn't know how to route the channels to Pro Tools. I already patched in all the mics and labeled the console, but he didn't route anything. I suggested using the large faders since we're in mix mode, just flip the channels and route like normal (SSL G series). But he insists on using the small fader, and I'm like "so you want it in record mode?" and he's like "No, I want to stay in mix mode, but I want to use the small fader to record." And I'm like okay, that's odd, but it can be done. Normally I'd just go to record mode w fader swap... But he cut me off, wouldn't let me explain, and kinda went on a mumble of frustration insisting on staying in mix mode and using the small fader. I'm like "well, the input button takes the large fader signal to the..." And he cuts me off again and asks the players to play so he can test the signal. I know it's not going to work cause I can see the button he's not pressing, but he's being a dick about it every time I try to show him what to do.
So I get fed up and just go to the lounge for coffee and let him try to figure it out, since he obviously isn't going to listen to my advice. And I take my sweet ass time cause he was kinda being a dick and I didn't feel like being overly generous. Then I come back in and everyone's frustrated with him and I finally show him which buttons to push, and then they can begin recording.
From then on I was pretty hands off, never again pointing out his mistakes, or suggesting a more efficient way of working, only doing what he asked, even if I know it won't work.
If only he had been nice, and straight up admitted that he didn't know the gear, I would have gladly helped him. But if you're gonna be an arrogant dick about it and insult me along the way, then fuck your session, good luck on your own!