On small-budget films, what qualities or qualifications might a filmmaker seek in a production sound mixer?

A filmmaker will seek a sound production mixer who has the qualities and qualifications that is responsible for ensuring that dialogue recorded during filming is suitably clear, tries to avoid unwanted noises and works around the camera which might hamper the placement of microphones. A production sound mixer who has his or her own equipment as this choice can save the filmmaker a considerable amount of money in sound equipment rental, and the mixer is likely to be skilled in using his or her own equipment.