Need some advice from people with some experience.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Atari
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Atari

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I just finished my studies as a recording engineer here in Belgium. Now I really want to do something in the recording industry. But it's not that easy for a young person like me with little experience to find something. What would be the best way to get started? How did you professionals rolled into it? Did you get the chance to start working somewhere or did you just do it on your own. Bought your own stuff? And actually is there a future in the bussiness with all the cd-r's and mp3's nowadays. What is you guys' view on this all?
Greetz,

Atari
 
cant tell you aboout the best way to get in the game as a recording engineer. u got a good start finishin school. i don't know about belgium so its hard for me 2 give advice on that. but there will always be a future in this business if your talented persintent , and motivated. even with cd-rs and mp-3s to many people are eatin off this for the machines (record lables)to just let it be taken away. technology grows always and for a while it sort of gets a head of itself. then we catch up and it runs ahead again. we just hav to grow wit it.
 
Just get out there and pimp yourself like a $2 whore. Offer your services to anyone who might need them and develop your contacts.

There are 2 ways to work. Somebody pays you to use their equipment or you buy the equipment and take all the money (and risk). If you can raise the cash to buy your own rig without going into more debt than you can handle than that is the quickest way. Print some business cards and voila! Your in the business.
 
Thanx guys! I think I'm going to have an "as well as possible paid job" and buy my own stuff. I've wrote so much letters to studios and tv-stations to offer my services for free! And no one gave me a positive reply. People here in belgium don't seem to have very much faith in younger (extremely motivated) guys like me.
 
You have already failed the first step young jedi.

When the student goes to the master and expresses a desire to learn the master tells them they are too young, too fat, too old, too skinny... Those that go away never become an apprentice.

If you show up everday they will be forced to let you in or get a restraining order. Most people are too lazy to file court orders and who can resist free donuts? mmmm donuts.
 
Atari said:
.... I've wrote so much letters to studios and tv-stations to offer my services for free! And no one gave me a positive reply. ....
Click to expand...

Like TexRoadkill said...... you have to HOUND these studios to get on the inside. Plus, you should try to see if you know anybody that might have a friend at one of the studios.

If you go the big studio route you will probably start out as a gopher (go for this, go for that). :(

It's called due diligence, ya' gotta' pay ya' dues. ;)


Peace.....
 
I don't think you guys understand me when I'm saying that I'm extremely motivated. It's not that I have send one mail to a studio and got a negative reply. I write about 20 mails every week, to all the studios in belgium. So this way, once they need someone they will remember ME( oh yeah, we could get that guy who's been stalking us around the past half year). The problem is that I was not shure about this being the right way. I hope one day someone wíll call me to be a gopher. That would be great.
And in the mean time I'll get myself a job.And if I wouldn't be motivated I would be on this forum either I think. Thanx for the replies guys.
 
Just get out there and pimp yourself like a $2 whore:D :D :D :D

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Instead of writing to these studios, go to them!
Call them too. Ask the receptionist who assists in audio engineering. Talk with him. If you ask to speak with the engineer, you run a chance of bugging him, and pissing him off.

If they have an assistant (the job you're really after) there's a good chance that he might be moved up, and open a position for you. Then when they ask the assistant, Who can we get to fill your old position, he might remember you.

But try to call them, and go there if you can. Writing to them is going to be inneffective.
 
I have another option or a way to get better response...

If you finished school then you probably had to record stuff while you were there. I'd make a CD-R with decent packaging and send it along with a resume just like a band would looking for a label.

I'd also in the mean time work in local basement studios building up your own client base and portfolio. Big studios know everyone wants to work at their studio but if you're willing to do a little on your own in the mean time it looks a lot better for you.

I have a pretty busy studio in Minneapolis that gets in the bigger local acts and some national, people ask me about internships all the time. The only people I've brought on are people that have already done a little work outside my studio. I've had a few straight out of a recording school and found it to be more cumbersome than productive. Not that I am unwilling to show someone the ropes but if I have to babysit the person, holding their hand throughout a session, it's distracting.

I don't know any studio that'll hire someone right out of the gate and leave you to work the board even as a second engineer. Like the rest have said, you'll be a gopher with very little time actually sitting in the studio.

Another thing I thought was helpful is to find a local band with some money, rent out one of the big studios, and work it yourself. I built a good relationship in my early years doing that. You'll have a studio manager or second house engineer that'll be 'testing' you and maybe hire you based on what you do.

So from my perspective here's what I'm saying:
1. Work anywhere and with anyone to build a portfolio.
2. Keep in touch with the bigger studios letting them know you're working as an engineer but would love the chance to check out their studio.
3. Once you have a variety of music examples, send the studios a CD-R/resume package.

--AdamLazlo
 
Michael Jones said:
Instead of writing to these studios, go to them!
Call them too. Ask the receptionist who assists in audio engineering. Talk with him. If you ask to speak with the engineer, you run a chance of bugging him, and pissing him off.

If they have an assistant (the job you're really after) there's a good chance that he might be moved up, and open a position for you. Then when they ask the assistant, Who can we get to fill your old position, he might remember you.

But try to call them, and go there if you can. Writing to them is going to be inneffective.
Click to expand...

Yes, yes, yes! Even call just for a tour then kinda ease your way into asking about internships. Also ask how busy the studio normally is. If it seems like they're busy all the time you'd have a better chance of getting a job there. A busier place probably has odd hours and a high turn-around but if they find you flexible and willing to do whatever you're more the better.

--AdamLazlo
 
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