Dracon said:
Hello Folks:
Okay, first of all this has nothing to do with microphones, and the following questions is totally out of the scope of this forum and every other forum. I'm posting it here, 'cause the big wigs (All those Pro Guys) will see it.
If this question will need to be moved, deleted or if I'm just a plain old dumass please, feel free to say so.
I'm interested in volunteering at a Professional Sound Studio, and I've contacted a few. However, it seems that the ones I've contacted at least do not accept volunteers just interns. I'm not above being an intern, but at 35 with no music education or background I'm not sure I'll get accepted as an intern.
1. My question is what if anything are Professional Recording Studios looking for in an intern? [I've asked the one's I've been able to contact, and they don't seem willing to give me that information.]
2. Which is the best way to contact a Professional Studio (e-mail, phone, snail mail, or in person)?
Again, I apologize that this post has nothing to do with microphones and if need be I'll take any flaming comments.
I would think you'd be more of an Intern than a Volunteer. If my own head dictionary is up to date, a Volunteer denotes his or her own experience/tools/skills to an unprofitable cause. An Intern is a student taking on an expansive experience beyond his or her own studies (willing to learn based on a practical trade professional's experience).
I've been recording professionally for over 10 years now and I've never heard someone ask to be a volunteer before. Most of the time I get e-mails with attached resumes asking if there's any open opportunities to sit in on a few sessions. I take on pretty much anyone interested in "sitting in" with the disclaimer that it's a boring job that demands a lot of patience and time (most of the time without pay).
I think of the "volunteer" approach if I were to put myself in any other job situation; me as boss and you approaching me as a volunteer:
Let's say I was a Law Firm Partner and you came in asking to volunteer... I'd probably laugh. My first thought would be, "You want to come in and completely take on a case for free while using our client list for something you couldn't handle on your own?"
Okay, in the studio environment I look at it like a volunteer being someone that takes over a session for me for free (you don't get paid but you do all the work). So, don't use the word "volunteer", please.
You can consider yourself as a possible Intern for sure. Considering you have a hefty artistic background (much like myself) you have some idea about the cruddy nature of the business. Recording studios like The Record Plant, Abbey Road, Ocean Way, Ladyland, etc... they get Interns from recording schools more than they do taking a chance from random e-mails. It's a tough profession to crack. I did very little Interning before I decided to get my own gear, build a client base, and do a little quick shot courses before I got to where I am now. I never thought I'd own my own studio for as long as I have and there have been good times and bad times but if I focused on the bad more than the positive I don't think I'd be where I am right now.
I try to encourage people as much as possible at the same time challenging them (throw a new intern at the console within the first hour I meet them just to see if they can handle themselves when put on the spot with very little coaching). I have been hired many times in the past and even today where I record in multi-million dollar studios where I need to get my sh!t down the instant I walk in. Every environment is different but the same in certain ways.
Let me say this too: don't expect a high-budget studio to jump on you right away. Considering, here in Minnesota, we have two recording colleges where they're turning out 20 to 30 students a month that means a lot of people are looking for the "ins" all at once. Best thing is to contact everyone from a home studio to pro-commercial studio. If you have the unlimited drive to do it then it will come through with whomever you work with/at. Internships come and go. I've had plenty of people that have come from various other studios over many years still getting internships. Every environment you can get in to the better. Every studio is different as well as every engineer is different. Pick as many brains as possible. Take on a basement studio internship if it's available while keeping your resume circulating around town.
This business (especially as a starting breakout engineer/producer) is very hard no matter what city you're in. Personally I don't care about an e-mail query for a possible internship if they don't have school training but I'm looking more for desire and longevity. I'd like to have a partner at some point but it all depends on compatibility. Multi-million dollar studios might take on a few interns here and there outside of a schools recommendation but it's rare to see the studio throw that intern at the console within the first two hours. If you find someone with okay gear, in their basement, and willing to take you on then go for it; you'll build your resume a lot faster therefore using that to your advantage down the line.
I really can't think of anyone that became an instant engineer/producer god without paying some dues (and not in the reality TV/Puffy/Missy Elliot way). You really need to build a reputation by watching others, taking on a few sessions, and building a client list. The nice thing about interning anywhere is once you feel confident about any given studio you're at you can start presenting yourself as a freelance engineer/producer to other bands. Then you can record the bands therefore making a track record (literally). From that, if you're good enough, bands will want to work with you, and you'll get things off the ground and running.
Have I stated that this is a tough business to crack? Yup. At least you can intern to see if it's something you'd like to invest ALL your TIME and MONEY in to. There are many times that this is a thankless job so make sure you can brush off disappointments.
Good luck,
-- Adam Lazlo
P.S. - I didn't read much of the replied on this thread because I wanted my comments to be unfettered so, sorry if it reiterates anything others have said.
