Breaking Into the Audio Engineering Bizz...

[charon17]

I am just a young guy with a strong intrest in producing music... I would like to be able to have a career in this, however, it is very difficult to find out much information about how one is to get a job working as an engineer recording bands and such...

Is starting your own studio/label the only way to obtain this job, or will already established studios accept new chickens under their wings?

And is being a sound engineer like being a musician? Underpaid and struggling?

Oy... so as you can see I'm a naive pup when it comes to this industry, but before I start calling major labels asking for jobs, it would be nice to get a grass roots consensus on what the nature of this buisness is like.

Thank you for any help that you can offer!

Charon

 

[joker]

My story...

Maybe it's timing, who knows??? Let me give you a little insight to my story. I've grown up with music all my life and played whatever I can get my hands on. I left Maine at the age of 18 for a recording school in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I finished a two year degree in applied science majoring in audio and video engineering. Worked with Ed Mashal who was one of my teachers (he recorded some of the Eagles albums) Great guy too and he took me under his wing. I was more interested in the commercial side of recording, ie., commercials, jingles, voice-overs, as I am big into MIDI. Anyways, got an internship at a local studio and started working as an assistant engineer (gopher) on the Yngwie Malmstein album Seventh Sign. It was great experience and it seemed that the studio led me on that they were going to hire me because they really didn't have a MIDI and (digital recording just coming into the scene) expert. So after 3 months they told me I didn't need to come in any more. I was devastated. This is a very hard business to get into even with proper schooling. It's mostly who you know and what time of day it is. I was lucky enough to work in the studio, but was pissed off when I didn't even get a credit on the CD. That goes to show you how people can shit on you so easily.

I figure in today's age, especially if you are a musician, your better off buying your own equipment and starting your own home studio, as I think that is where the industry is heading. Of course their will still be those big label studios for those corporate bands trying to capture that magic for their next million. I've never lost the vision of one day again working in the studio. At least my home studio will suffice for now, until I get there.

Another thing...the studio was not hiring any interns at the time...the biggest thing I did was to have persistance and not think I was a big recording engineer or producer with a big head. I went to the door of the studio and handed them my resume, and basically told them I would clean the toilets, vacuum, whatever, just as long as I could work at the studio...my other peers at the time were stunned that I got an actual internship there after so many others had been turned down...

Good like...I hope this gives you some insight...

Steve

 

[Prism]

Joker's probably right...
For years now I thought I wanted to be in the recording business. Just recently I've gathered lots of advice from people who know the business, and frankly, I don't want to deal with it. just want to do something that I enjoy and make good music - I don't care if I'm engineering for the Backstreet Boys or whatever. But it seems that to be a great success in this business, you gotta be working for some big studio, recording big bands. I'd rather record in my livingroom and make a good living elsewhere. :-D

Isaiah