Time to go?

[tenor39]

Well, fellow Remotesters, the clock has almost run out. As most of you know I lost my job with DPA North America last year (after spending $10K to re-locate) and have been unemployed for almost 6 months. My previous employers managed to get unemployment denied to me, so I have no income.

I have applied for many positions, including some that you guys sent to me (which I am greatly appreciative of), but to no avail. In 2 months time I will be forced to sell off my gear in order to pay the bills, though I won't get what it's really worth in this economy. When that day comes you'll be the first to have a crack at the stuff. As it gets closer I'll post a list of what I have.

I wish I had better news.

[7rojo7]

I'm already there mate, and I'm in a foreign country to boot, the home of nepotism besides. I have kids here, so leaving for greener pastures becomes a very sad thought for me and for them, the ex is just snickering as my life is going down the chute. I'm selling a piece at a time to get by but by now I'm looking to off all of it in one bang and reinvest in something much smaller. The day job theory is just not happening, although in the past 2 years since I've closed I've done some live sound for theater, straight up roadie (I'm 48) waiter, painter and laborer but nothing stable. I've sold a vintage piano, a vintage gtr, a matched pair of VM-1 for peanuts, a control 24, 4 STT-1, 2 TD-1, 2 HDV3 8, 2 V72, 2 Prism ADA8, etc..., I'm now broke and looking at homelessness and I still have a bunch of stuff to sell but no one's buying. Besides I have a bunch of really nicely designed flight cases, a power distribution system and a signal distribution system that seem wonderful only to me, I'm sure someone could really use them but I don't even know where to look anymore. Luckily a friend will let me use his extra garage to store some stuff and I may be able to move in with him for a while while I straighten my ass out.
Positive note is... I'm playing a lot more and teaching percussion and music theory... but this is not paying a lot at the moment... there's hope. After all the hassles I've gone through recording the meager provincial talent here (Apart from some really special projects); non payment of services while product has left the house ("friend" deals) a producer who committed suicide and sunk a whole audio video biography project worth 20 grand in production and just some general basic sleezy behaviour, I don't even want to think about having a studio anymore. big fish small pond no happy, that could be my american indian name by now.
If any one's interested, I have a pair of valvets, a furman 16 channel personal monitoring system, 2 RCA JV74b in the classifieds at the moment, I will have a trio of CCM5 and CCM21 and 4 Brauner Phantom V up soon not to mention a turnkey HD3 system and other assorted goodies (4 bay fibre channel 1 RU redundant PSU SNS AV/SAN)
I've heard of rough times and seen some myself but never like this, the industry has shrunk anf those who've unfortunately at the same time had their immune sytems weakened have fallen. I feel where you're coming from.

[Roland]

Hi Mike, Sorry to hear that. The industry is in a real mess at the moment and I feel that there will be a whole load more casualties before it settles again. All I can do is wish you the very best of luck in whatever you choose to do in the future, long term you will probably be better off financially, almost anything else is paying better money these days. Even the top of the tree rates are looking low, with the increase of labour, transport and ancillary costs there isn't really any element of profit left in this game. Finding something that you don't mind doing and you will probably find that just not having the worry about finances will make up the shortfall of not doing absolutely exactly what you wanted to do.

Kind regards


Roland

[d_fu]

Mike,

sorry to hear all that... While I don't really need any gear, I would be willing to buy something if it helps you (with an option to return it, if things improve), but I'm in Germany and that is a bit expensive for shipping maybe...

I have tried to tap one more source for you, will tell you what the reaction is.

How can they prevent you from geting unemployment money (technically and morally)? Have you talked to the headquarters about this?


Best wishes,
Daniel

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by d_fu

Mike,

sorry to hear all that... While I don't really need any gear, I would be willing to buy something if it helps you (with an option to return it, if things improve), but I'm in Germany and that is a bit expensive for shipping maybe...

I have tried to tap one more source for you, will tell you what the reaction is.

How can they prevent you from geting unemployment money (technically and morally)? Have you talked to the headquarters about this?


Best wishes,
Daniel

Thanks, Daniel. They lied to the Dept. of Labor here in Colorado about the situation surrounding my termination and didn't listen to my appeal.

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by Roland

Hi Mike, Sorry to hear that. The industry is in a real mess at the moment and I feel that there will be a whole load more casualties before it settles again. All I can do is wish you the very best of luck in whatever you choose to do in the future, long term you will probably be better off financially, almost anything else is paying better money these days. Even the top of the tree rates are looking low, with the increase of labour, transport and ancillary costs there isn't really any element of profit left in this game. Finding something that you don't mind doing and you will probably find that just not having the worry about finances will make up the shortfall of not doing absolutely exactly what you wanted to do.

Kind regards


Roland

You may be right, Roland. The trick is how to turn all of the years of experience I have in audio into something applicable in another field. Combine that with the bad economy and you have the perfect storm.

[Gerax]

I'm really sorry to hear about that guys. We're all in the same boat, as I'm seeing some very rough times right now: I've been running a fairly satisfying business, but I've started to see these bad times coming at the horizon...I too had to reduce the size of my business, relocate to a smaller house to cut expenses, and I particulary hear 7rojo7 as I've been living for 2 years in Rome which is one of the most expensive cities in Italy, let alone the fact that it's the home of nepotism and corruption (I'm Italian, and these thing really don't make me proud of being one...). I've been at the mercy of production houses that don't feel obliged to pay you, or don't care to postpone a gig by 3 months letting you with quite a few "spare time"...right now I'm surviving with some smaller gigs, and I hope things will get better in the 2nd quarter of the year...the prospect of selling some of my hard earned gear is really not appealing, so I really hear from you Mark. Hope you will be able to get better, I'm too considering the fact to get a "side job" untill the situation will be stable...

[Remoteness]

This is indeed a serious drag and I'm deeply sorry to hear about all this drama, especially during the economic climate of this era.

That being said, you said some things that I would have never anticipated you to say.
After reading the "The fat lady has sung..." thread a second time I envisioned a different mindset from you.

I mean, in that thread you were angry, but you stated that "cooler heads must prevail."
I felt that statement was so strong!

You even mentioned that you were "a rookie in the corporate world..."
Things can happen and it can be a crying shame, but you (IMO) must take the higher ground my Remotester friend, especially when you said that you had no desire to burn DPA whatsoever, since they were not the problem and such.

IMO, whether its about the company at large or just two individuals, the name calling should have been curbed...

You know that this sort of thing is not tolerated around here.
I know you have the ability to say what you want without offending anyone.
You are better than that -- take that higher ground because cooler heads do prevail!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/searc...rchid=24265105

I don't want to diminish your situation, but I'm a bit concern with some of the words you used
in our (public) forum to describe the company.

[Roland]

Originally Posted by tenor39

You may be right, Roland. The trick is how to turn all of the years of experience I have in audio into something applicable in another field. Combine that with the bad economy and you have the perfect storm.

Probably more than you think. Most sound engineers I know, have quite highly developed interpersonal skills from dealing with "artistic" people who have vunerable sensabilities. Time management, organisational skills, problem solving skills. Usually the nature of the job means that most of us tend to go the extra mile, something that most people don't bother with in more mundane careers. An ability to work on your own initiative. When I see people in other walks of life, complaining about their work, I often find myself thinking they don't know when they have got it good!

Having had to put up with some of the issues you get working in this field, I sometimes hanker for good money without the hassle.

Regards


Roland

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

This is indeed a serious drag and I'm deeply sorry to hear about all this drama, especially during the economic climate of this era.

That being said, you said some things that I would have never anticipated you to say.
After reading the "The fat lady has sung..." thread a second time I envisioned a different mindset from you.

I mean, in that thread you were angry, but you stated that "cooler heads must prevail."
I felt that statement was so strong!

You even mentioned that you were "a rookie in the corporate world..."
Things can happen and it can be a crying shame, but you (IMO) must take the higher ground my Remotester friend, especially when you said that you had no desire to burn DPA whatsoever, since they were not the problem and such.

IMO, whether its about the company at large or just two individuals, the name calling should have been curbed...

You know that this sort of thing is not tolerated around here.
I know you have the ability to say what you want without offending anyone.
You are better than that -- take that higher ground because cooler heads do prevail!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/searc...rchid=24265105

I don't want to diminish your situation, but I'm a bit concern with some of the words you used
in our (public) forum to describe the company.

Well, Steve, I guess I've lost my patience with it all, but have removed what I think you objected to. I made clear in my original thread that I was not blaming the parent company, only the U.S. affiliate. Please delete the thread if you think it needs it.

[Remoteness]

Thank you so much; I appreciate the fact that you took the time to edit those two posts.

Cooler heads do prevail!!!

I completely empathize with your situation.
The corporate world can be a jungle at times.
Keep it positive and everything will workout for the best!

Originally Posted by tenor39

Well, Steve, I guess I've lost my patience with it all, but have removed what I think you objected to. I made clear in my original thread that I was not blaming the parent company, only the U.S. affiliate. Edit my thread as you like if you think it needs it. It's just my opinion and nothing more.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

There are a lot of shady people who are convincing performers, groups and non profits that they can do the work for a lot less or in some cases for free. They talk the talk but they can't walk the walk and then when everything falls apart they vanish into the night.

Two examples:

#1 We recently lost a contract with one of our non profits because another company underbid us by $25.00. They showed up to do the recording with a DAT machine, a Shure microphone mixer, two Shure SM-57s and two microphone stands. Total investment probably about $1,000.00. They placed their equipment in the middle of the house and did the recording from there as they only had two 25 foot microphone cords. They spent weeks working on the "editing" but it never got finished. The company was also trying to get the non profit's website design business, their brochure business and provide them with graphic's design help as well as hosting their website. After waiting about 2 months the non profit asked them when they were going to have product that they could sell to their members. The company told them that something had happened to the DAT tape that was unrecoverable and they had decided to go out of business. So the non profit did not get a recording of the concert and had paid them upfront. Needless to say we now are doing the non profit again.

#2 A grand parent of one of the performers decides that he wants to do the recording of one of our non profits for free. He says he can provide them with as good a quality as we can and it will be for free. He shows up with a $900 HD camera which he hand holds and a Zoom recorder which he attaches to our microphone stand as a trial to show what he can do. I take the Zoom recorder off our microphone stand and hand it back to him saying "I don't want to be responsible for your recorder if it falls off" He does not have a microphone stand with him and asks the non profit if they can provide him with one which they cannot. So he takes a music stand and lays the Zoom recorder on the music stand behind our microphone. We are doing these concerts with two HD cameras and about $10,000 worth of AV equipment. After the concert is over he asks if he can have a copy of our work on a DVD but he wants the original files as an MOV. I tell him no but he can purchase a DVD of the concert if he wants. His daughter is on the board and he comes and proposes that he be allowed to do the recording for free they ask for a copy of his work and after viewing it say "no thanks" He keeps up his pushing and when we are recording the concerts he comes up to my associates and asks them all sorts of questions. We have an agreement that when he comes up they are to tell him to see me which of course he never does.

I am sorry but this type of behavior is being used every day by unscrupulous people trying to get into places they really don't belong.

It is the same problem for people who do mastering, who own recording studios and video production companies and it is getting worse not better. There are more and more people trying to break into these areas and they don't have the equipment or the experience but they do have a lot of BS which they apply liberally. Sometimes people see through it but most times it takes a real mess to make the people who are hiring them sit up and take notice.

Mike,

I am sorry you are going through a rough patch. I know you are strong enough to make it and my prayers are with you. Sometime in the future you will look back on this and say it was a turning point and the best thing that could have happened to you. Best of luck!

[NorseHorse]

Since we're telling sad stories:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-mu...equipment.html

Mike, I've PMed you.

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Since we're telling sad stories:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-mu...equipment.html

Mike, I've PMed you.

Got it, Christian. I guess I never finished the online application, so I will do that today. What's it like out there?

[NorseHorse]

Virginia is awesome, naturlich.

Just ask Don S. He moved out here specifically for the awesomeness. DC/NOVA is an expensive area, but the other side of the state is pretty reasonable.

[tenor39]

Just called JMU. The position was filled on the 3rd. Thanks, anyway, Christian.

[NorseHorse]

That's weird. I got an electronic Reference Request ON the 3rd. I'll keep an eye out for other opportunities. I've posted other listings in the Jobs Offered section, but not in a while.

[mosrite]

Sorry to hear some peoples current situation. There has been a major shift recently with 'acceptable' quality hand-held recorders being used for documenting performances by musicians within the semi-pro and amateur sector and this coupled with the current financial climate has taken away a lot of the "bread and butter" work.

I am suprised by your experiences trying to sell your gear though. I recently had to sell a bunch of stuff on order to re-invest in another area and got very good returns. Perhaps different in the UK.

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

That's weird. I got an electronic Reference Request ON the 3rd. I'll keep an eye out for other opportunities. I've posted other listings in the Jobs Offered section, but not in a while.

I asked the HR person twice to check it. I guess you could inquire about it with them. I wish it wasn't the case, but part of that is my own fault for not following through.

[BrianHanke]

Wow ~ remind me never to buy anything from DPA in the future! Good luck with all your future endeavors. You never know when opportunity will come knocking.

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by BrianHanke

Wow ~ remind me never to buy anything from DPA in the future! Good luck with all your future endeavors. You never know when opportunity will come knocking.

I would not reject DPA's products because of the actions of a couple of people in the States. I still support them and their President in Denmark, Morten Stove. They have been very supportive. It's complicated.

[BrianHanke]

Originally Posted by tenor39

I would not reject DPA's products because of the actions of a couple of people in the States. I still support them and their President in Denmark, Morten Stove. They have been very supportive. It's complicated.

Good to know ~ thanks for clarifying.

[Don S]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Virginia is awesome, naturlich.

Just ask Don S. He moved out here specifically for the awesomeness. DC/NOVA is an expensive area, but the other side of the state is pretty reasonable.

Yes! Virginia is a very family oriented, friendly, inexpensive, with clean air and water. We're settling here for a while! There's also a need here for "good" engineers.

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by Don S

Yes! Virginia is a very family oriented, friendly, inexpensive, with clean air and water. We're settling here for a while! There's also a need here for "good" engineers.

We should talk, Don. Can I call you today sometime?

[mosrite]

Of course you could always move to The Isle Of Skye (certainly a beautiful place if lacking in recording opportunities)

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by mosrite

Of course you could always move to The Isle Of Skye (certainly a beautiful place if lacking in recording opportunities)

Indeed!

[Teddy Ray]

The key to being happy in Audio/Music==doing it on the side.

It is not economically viable..at least not for a family guy, especially when kids are involved. My music degree is worthless(which it always was).

For that reason I am back in School getting a degree in Arabic Studies/Lingustics..something I ***know*** is in demand. I can still record (and sing/play) on the side. Relying on it for money either caused me to hate it because I was gone so much(when I was on the road singing with The Stamps) or because The work was so scattershot(recording).

You are a super smart, talented guy, Mike, something will come along. Busting one's behind in this business doesnt make sense anymore. The signs are all around.

[bishopthomas]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

The key to being happy in Audio/Music==doing it on the side.

Busting one's behind in this business doesnt make sense anymore. The signs are all around.

Very well said, Teddy. I have come to terms with that myself and am looking at other ways to pay the bills while doing concert production on the side. Mike, please know that you are not alone in your position and sentiments. This is a VERY small community and you have already seen other stories of the same despair. There are literally thousands of people, in our industry alone, who feel the same way as you (and me).

[hughesmr]

Mike, I PM'ed you. Sorry for your troubles ... hopefully something will come up.

[Tommy-boy]

Originally Posted by tenor39

Well, fellow Remotesters, the clock has almost run out. As most of you know I lost my job with DPA North America last year (after spending $10K to re-locate) and have been unemployed for almost 6 months. My previous employers managed to get unemployment denied to me, so I have no income.

I'm really sorry to hear of your situation. It's surprising that you lost your unemployment claim. In Pennsylvania, it seems like employees almost always win any unemployment claim.

This thread makes me think back to my senior year in high school when I was trying to decide what to do in life and where to go to college. My piano teacher talked me out of going for a music degree. He suggested I keep music as a passionate hobby, but do something else to earn dollars. So I got a degree in accounting / finance. Fortunatley, I love accounting. But there are days I wish I were jamming or recording instead of being tangled up in some ******** accounting pronouncement.

-Tom