Getting a job that will get me somewhere.

[Hard2Hear]

In this order:

1. get a crap job and save up your money

2. do what everyone in the biz does and move to NYC/LA/Nashvegas

3. work for nothing and kiss alot of asses

4. be REALLY nice and be REALLY good at what you want to do (as in, you put your skills against anyone on the planet)


You then will have a 1% chance of ending up in the music industry.


H2H

 

[tyler657recpro]

ok...starting out. I said I forgot his name because his last name is a pain in the ass to remember. It's Travis Cjorskis or something like that. But I can find it out very easily, as I have it written down somewhere, or I can just give his brother-in-law a call. I almost never forget anybody's name, unless I really don't like the person, and I'm pretending anyway, just to piss them off or something. I know, I'm a bastard. But anyway, that is not the case here, but anyway.

As far as giving up cash for contacts, I'm not really in the position to do that right now. I need to get a car and start saving for college. So I basically ruled out the studios that are located here right off the bat, as I figured that would be the case.

Have you ever sold anything before? Since you're going for your first job i'd assume not. Get that ego in check or you may have problems. I don't mean to come down on you either, it's just something that generally causes people problems.

<ego>Hell yeah, I sell things all the time. I've rebuilt POS computers which I got for free, and sold 'em to people for like 200 bucks a piece, basically all profit, and made a bundle. I've done all sorts of things like that before. I can sell stuff. </ego>

As far as GC goes once again, I understand the possibilities, but the likelihood is very small. And even then, if a somebody was shopping at GC, I don't think they'd really care that much about the person standing behind the counter. So I'm not really expecting to get much out of it.

In this order:

1. get a crap job and save up your money

2. do what everyone in the biz does and move to NYC/LA/Nashvegas

3. work for nothing and kiss alot of asses

4. be REALLY nice and be REALLY good at what you want to do (as in, you put your skills against anyone on the planet)


You then will have a 1% chance of ending up in the music industry.

Yeah that's basically how I figured it. Just trying to see if I can sorta warp those around a little bit. I don't think it'll work though. But hey, at least I tried. The thing is I'm really not willing to work for free, at least not at this point. Well, it really depends on the circumstances. If I had another source of income, and knew somehow that my hard work wouldn't be in vein, then I'd work for free. Otherwise, it'd be too much of a risk. I'll tell you right now, I have NO intention of majoring in recording in college. I'll probably major in business or something like that, and then minor in recording, so I have something to fall back on.

Well, that's all for now. Thanks guys.

 

[Cave Dweller]

do you see the pattern here??? if you want to get "IN" you have to do your time first. that might mean working for free, or cleaning a studio or radio station at night, or working at GC. maybe if you strive to be the best at GC, you will get some respect cause you will know what you are takling about. LISTEN to the people who are posting here. lots of them know what the hell they are talking about. i started working in a little crappy music store when i was 16. what did i do? not much. i tuned all of the guitars in the store. i polished all the guitars in the store. actually the first 5 months i worked there i didnt get paid at all cause it was a Co-op position. when i was 17 i started doing sound for a jam night at a bar. it was pretty crappy. i did it for free for the first little while. they started paying me a little, and asking me to do sound on other nights of the week. at this point i was going to high school all day, going to my job at the music store till 7 or 8 pm, then going to a bar to mix till 2am, getting home around 3 and going to school again in the morning. i met lots of people doing those jobs. i met one sound tech who let me come along to his gigs. i'd basicly just push cases around and load trucks and stuff. after a while he'd let me do more advanced stuff. this was all for free. this past summer he landed me a job on a tour. 6 months of solid work. pay was pretty crappy, but i got lots of experience.

any ways do you see where this is going? you cant just jump to the top of the pile. you need to put in your time and get some experience. pretty much everyone i know working in the industry came about it by working for free doing some crappy job that no-one else wanted to do. if you are really dedicated you will see that and you will want to work for free. if you dont understand, im afraid you will turn out to be just another asshole who works in this industry. and i mean that in the nicest possible way

 

[tyler657recpro]

Yes, I see the pattern here. I just said that I did in my previous post. I said that Hard2Hear's post was right on the money. Well not exactly that way, but that's what I was implying.

When I think about it, I sorta already did that already. I've been doing gigs for about 3 or 4 years now. For the first 6 months or so I was really just watching. And I didn't get paid. Then after awhile I got to take the wheel, and all that crap. But anyway, I guess I'm not wanting to have to start all over again. Even though I know I have to.

Oh yeah, cavedweller, I don't understand that last comment, by the way. What you're saying is that if I don't understand that I'm gonna hafta pay my dues, then I will somehow, miraculously make it into the industry, AND be an asshole. It doesn't make sense to me.

 

[chessrock]

Hell yeah, I sell things all the time. I've rebuilt POS computers which I got for free, and sold 'em to people for like 200 bucks a piece, basically all profit, and made a bundle.

Is this something you think you could expand ?

When I see you post things like this, it makes me think you're not just some cocky twerp, and maybe there is some latent talent in you somewhere. Honestly, though, if you have some unique skills that set you apart, and you think it can be applied in some way to the music or broadcast-related industry, you should waste no time developing that skill to the max.

My guess is that, in time, you could make a decent living building or modifying customized DAWs out of standard PC's and the like.

If you can eventually get yourself to where you can put together a smokin' PC or Mac that processes audio at twice the speed of a typical DAW, DSP power to the max, etc. then I think you've got the basis for your career. One that can potentially make you money and contacts. Think about who some of your clients might wind up being. You might get called in to a major studio to set up their Pro Tools rig . . . or whatever it is that is going to be popular 10-20 years from now, that is.

 

[Cave Dweller]

my point is you should make a respected name for yourself. the people who come pushing in and trying to make a space for themselves are the ones who usually get little respect. basicly you have been saying "i wont waste my time at GC, i'm way too good for that". it's the people that say "i'm too good for that" that are the most annoying to work with. and most of the time they are pretty crappy at what they do.

ive worked with so many people who just bring down the integrity of all the professionals in the business. and its the "i'm too good" attitude that seems to perpetuate this. sleaze is the only way to describe it. i dont want that for you. i want to work with nice, efficient, professionals when i am on a gig. not someone who has make themselves known by how loud they can yell when things go wrong.

 

[tyler657recpro]

Ok, I told you I wasn't saying i was too good for guitar center. In fact, I'm probably gonna get a job there in february. I was just wondering if I could make better use of my time, given my experience.

This was actually one of the rare instances where I wasn't acting like a self-absorbed, snotty little brat. I realize I have an ego a lot of times, and I'm tryin to work on that. Its my new years resolution! But seriously, I realize I have a big head, and its a problem. I'm really trying hard to deflate it.

So thanks for everyones advice! Off to GC I go!!

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

But seriously, I realize I have a big head, and its a problem. I'm really trying hard to deflate it.

Don't worry... WE"LL take you down a notch or two!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tyler657recpro]

lol, yeah, I'm sure you will.... 8)

 

[subtractor]

In tyler's defense, he's come along way. Either that or he just quit posting... Or maybe DJfingaz totally eclipsed you. Either way, you at least have a bit more composure than before! Keep it up and someday you'll be a fine human being.

 

[A Reel Person]

Dude, you got the pipes,...

I say you should get into voiceover production work, right away.

You don't need a college degree to be big in radio, you just need a good voice. Dude, you got it. Do it. Do it now. Get into radio or television voiceover work or commercial/jingle production. No one will care if you're only 17, if you have the voice [and/or musical ability]. You might gain more favor if you're willing to work as an unpaid intern for a while, at first, while you learn the ropes.

Anyone here ever heard this kid sing?

Dude,... voiceover work. It's you. I say go for it.

The Modesto market may seem dead and tight as compared to many places, but they still have local radio & tv in your area. In my area there's plenty of young people working for the tv station, both in front of and behind the cameras. If you really bring as much to the table as you think you do, they'll have to let you in. Just sing'em a song or play them a tape. Better yet, use your state of the art DAW to create a demo/audition tape for your proposed field, and then have copies with you when you make your contacts.

 

[tyler657recpro]

Actually, the thought did occur to me to become a dj, but I sorta decided it prolly wouldn't work out. Maybe I should pursue it. I have a pretty good voice. I need to work on it a little bit though. My dad was in radio for a while, but then stopped because he didn't want to be moving around all the time. So I have the genes at least. I have kind of a sting/coldplay/beatles kinda voice goin on. I'll have to post something, but not right away cuz i got a cold right now. I can sing like one octave. It's pretty sad. But anyway. That's a really good idea, if I can get into it. It probably pays more than minimum wage too.

I've actually looked into the modesto market, as you kawl it, a little bit, and there actually is one. They use REAL djs most of the time at the three stations in town. So there's some opportunity there. As far as voice overs in commercials, there's like one guy who does most of them, but there are some opportunities there as well.

But if none of that works out, there's always the Guitar Center!

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Actually, the thought did occur to me to become a dj, but I sorta decided it prolly wouldn't work out. Maybe I should pursue it.

Just a tip..........

If you do pursue it, Broadcast Standard will not let you get away with using words like "prolly".............. While you may not need a diploma or degree for voice-over work, you WILL need to excel at basic English...........!

 

[Uladine]

As far as voice overs in commercials, there's like one guy who does most of them

AAAAARRGHHHH!!


Are you reffering to that guy that did the Al's Furniture commercials and says "Way out Mchenry Avenue"?

I HATE that guys voice!

 

[littledog]

you know, i've been checking you out for a while, and here's my take:

you're young, clever, self-motivated, high achiever, creative, and you think outside the box.

so screw what everybody says. chances are, you'll make lots of mistakes, but i'm betting you land on your feet. it's pretty easy for a bunch of old farts like me to pick apart your dreams, and for others who in twice the time haven't had half your success to try and drag you down. screw 'em all.

go for it. try it your way. make your own mistakes and enjoy your own successes. don't be bound by the "accepted" or "proven" ways. when you're young you can afford to experiment and make mistakes. plenty of time to play it safe when you get to be my age.

meanwhile, every town has bands or people who need to record music. do what you have to to get their business. do it better than the guy down the street, and they'll tell all their friends and then you're on your way...

whoever thought minnesota was a hotbed of recording before Prince, Terry, and Jimmy...

in ten years maybe everyone will be coming to modesto because of you. might as well dream big - that's what youth is for.

now we can sit back and let everyone scoff at both of us... go ahead and prove 'em wrong!

 

[tyler657recpro]

AAAAARRGHHHH!!


Are you reffering to that guy that did the Al's Furniture commercials and says "Way out Mchenry Avenue"?

I HATE that guys voice!

Thats EXACTLY the guy I was talking about!!! He pisses me off soooo much!

Just a tip..........

If you do pursue it, Broadcast Standard will not let you get away with using words like "prolly".............. While you may not need a diploma or degree for voice-over work, you WILL need to excel at basic English...........!

I only type bad english. Its faster that way. I'm takin AP English in my sophomore year, so it aint too shabby. I mean isn't excessively atrocious. Or something like that. Anyway... Besides, I would never say prolly in real life. I'd sound like a freak.

Now littledog, it's people like you that give me a big head. Not that you don't have some good points, hehe. And I don't mind it, at all. It's just hard not to get a big head when that's all everyone tells you. Wow that sounded really stuck up. But thats not how I meant it. I do appreciate the complements by the way. On to further down your post... I guess you're right. I have very little to lose, at this point anyway. I don't think getting people to come to modesto specifically for me would really matter much right now, unless it started happening really quickly, because I don't plan on living in modesto for much longer. But I doubt that will occur. As far as recording people locally, I could probably make good money at that. I have friends who are in bands, which also have friends in other bands. I could get somethin goin there. But I don't have money to buy shit right now. And you need money to make money. If anyone would care to make a donation, I would be greatly pleased! lol
I think for the most part, you "old farts" are right. I'm gonna have to prove myself some way. I was just hoping that the four years I've been doing crap would be enough. But its at church mostly, so a lot of my initial credibility doesn't really matter.

I'm just rambling now. Whatever. I want a job!

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I only type bad english. Its faster that way. I'm takin AP English in my sophomore year, so it aint too shabby. I mean isn't excessively atrocious. Or something like that. Anyway... Besides, I would never say prolly in real life. I'd sound like a freak.

I always thought it sounded really silly when typed too... but anyways..........!

 

[tyler657recpro]

I always thought it sounded really silly when typed too... but anyways..........!

probably...

 

[jef knight]

Want a job that gets you somewhere?
Try the transportation industry.

lol, sorry I could'n resest.


jef