Getting an Assistant/Intern Gig??

Axle_australia · 22nd October 2005

Hi There,

being my very first post in this great and very informative forum you guys have going, I wasn't sure which heading to post this thread under (apologies if I've posted this in the wrong area) . I was just looking for some advice on how someone such as myself would get a position as an Assistant/ or Intern at a good Studio over in the US.
I'm currently Living in Australia where i have spent the past 5 years building up my skill, and working my a** off (from the recording side of things), during those five years I've done a degree program in Audio Engineering (which was pretty much an excuse to learn/use a 9000 k and g, and an old neve more than anything else)

but more importantly I have been working on sessions as an Assistant engineer at some of the Top commercial Studios in Australia, with jobs ranging from runner, to Pro tools /tape op /editing, microphone placement/ general assistant, coffee making etc. etc. Previous to all of this s started playing music at the age of 6 and music has been my passion since i can remeber? just wondering if anyone can suggest and angle from which to contact studios? or can suggst anything that may help me out (as I'm sure many of you have been in my situation before) it would be greatly appreciated as my past attemts seemed to have fallen on deaf ears? Cheers

Axle_australia · 23rd October 2005

Anyone? i would be forever grateful for any advice.

Fletcher · 23rd October 2005

Why on earth would you want an "assisting" gig at this point? It sounds like you're probably quite ready to 'sit in the chair'... which I would advise you work towards in Oz rather than shlep your ass across the ocean to a sea of studios in decline.

It seems to me that really good talent gets recognized faster in Oz than it will here in the US... the music community in general there is smaller and word travels faster about someone with talent than it does around here. Granted there are fewer studios, but I dare say a higher ratio of artists worth recording than you'll find in the US.

If you come into a gig in the US you'll come in at the very bottom... you'll be a runner/general assistant. It will take quite a while before you're trusted to be in a contol room while it sounds to me like you're probably a good 3-4 steps past that in your current locale... which kinda puts you in the 'bigger fish in a smaller pond' kind of situation, but that pond has created some institutions within our industry... institutions that were recognized in Oz and transported around the world on their own terms.

Don't forget that in addition to getting a gig, you'll need to have someone work with you on immigration status. In other words, in addition to the high price of rent, clothes, transportation you'll have the "immigration attorney" to pay off in order to stay here. For some reason our government only likes illegal immigrants from Spanish speaking countries that have unstable governments... and while the Govt. in Oz definitely has it's moments, the fact is it's stable, and y'all speak something closer to English than we do here in America... so you're going to have a real pain in the arse getting 'working papers' [never mind the coveted "Green Card"]. With the quantity of kids all looking for gigs, there is pretty much no way in hell you're going to get a studio gig without proper immigration status. The penalty for the employer is too high to bother taking the risk... especially with 40 or so kids for every available gig nobody knows you're the next Bob Clearmountain at this point in your career so chances are really good they're going to pass on hiring you.

I sincerely wish you the absolute best of luck with your search and career... and would be happy to offer you an assisting gig at M-A's studio... but we'd need you to have proper immigration status as well... and we only pay $6.75 USD/hr. [for 40 hours/wk] which is honestly not a living wage [no matter how much you think you like "Raman Noodles"].

Peace.

Axle_australia · 27th October 2005

Hi Fletcher, I'd just like to say one hundred thanks to you for answering my post. your insight into all of this has actually shed alight on something that i must have overlooked, or not even recognised as much of an option, I'd say it's time to give it a shot "in the chair" and hope things will go well i say. Also The insight you were able to provide on what the states is like in terms of a recording career, and also what direction you would suggest taking was also gold (excellent) .the whole post provided great food for though. many thanks again, If i ever win the green card lottery, or find another way into the states i may just take you up on your offer,

till next time, take it easy.

Axle.

22nd October 2005	#1
Axle_australia Gear Head Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 37 Thread Starter	Getting an Assistant/Intern Gig?? Hi There, being my very first post in this great and very informative forum you guys have going, I wasn't sure which heading to post this thread under (apologies if I've posted this in the wrong area) . I was just looking for some advice on how someone such as myself would get a position as an Assistant/ or Intern at a good Studio over in the US. I'm currently Living in Australia where i have spent the past 5 years building up my skill, and working my a** off (from the recording side of things), during those five years I've done a degree program in Audio Engineering (which was pretty much an excuse to learn/use a 9000 k and g, and an old neve more than anything else) but more importantly I have been working on sessions as an Assistant engineer at some of the Top commercial Studios in Australia, with jobs ranging from runner, to Pro tools /tape op /editing, microphone placement/ general assistant, coffee making etc. etc. Previous to all of this s started playing music at the age of 6 and music has been my passion since i can remeber? just wondering if anyone can suggest and angle from which to contact studios? or can suggst anything that may help me out (as I'm sure many of you have been in my situation before) it would be greatly appreciated as my past attemts seemed to have fallen on deaf ears? Cheers

23rd October 2005	#3
Fletcher member no 666 Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 10,110	Why on earth would you want an "assisting" gig at this point? It sounds like you're probably quite ready to 'sit in the chair'... which I would advise you work towards in Oz rather than shlep your ass across the ocean to a sea of studios in decline. It seems to me that really good talent gets recognized faster in Oz than it will here in the US... the music community in general there is smaller and word travels faster about someone with talent than it does around here. Granted there are fewer studios, but I dare say a higher ratio of artists worth recording than you'll find in the US. If you come into a gig in the US you'll come in at the very bottom... you'll be a runner/general assistant. It will take quite a while before you're trusted to be in a contol room while it sounds to me like you're probably a good 3-4 steps past that in your current locale... which kinda puts you in the 'bigger fish in a smaller pond' kind of situation, but that pond has created some institutions within our industry... institutions that were recognized in Oz and transported around the world on their own terms. Don't forget that in addition to getting a gig, you'll need to have someone work with you on immigration status. In other words, in addition to the high price of rent, clothes, transportation you'll have the "immigration attorney" to pay off in order to stay here. For some reason our government only likes illegal immigrants from Spanish speaking countries that have unstable governments... and while the Govt. in Oz definitely has it's moments, the fact is it's stable, and y'all speak something closer to English than we do here in America... so you're going to have a real pain in the arse getting 'working papers' [never mind the coveted "Green Card"]. With the quantity of kids all looking for gigs, there is pretty much no way in hell you're going to get a studio gig without proper immigration status. The penalty for the employer is too high to bother taking the risk... especially with 40 or so kids for every available gig nobody knows you're the next Bob Clearmountain at this point in your career so chances are really good they're going to pass on hiring you. I sincerely wish you the absolute best of luck with your search and career... and would be happy to offer you an assisting gig at M-A's studio... but we'd need you to have proper immigration status as well... and we only pay $6.75 USD/hr. [for 40 hours/wk] which is honestly not a living wage [no matter how much you think you like "Raman Noodles"]. Peace. __________________ CN Fletcher Professional Affiliations: R/E/P Professional Recording Engineer and Producer forums - serious hobbyists welcome SoundPure.com mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33 We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid Roscoe Ambel once said: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light

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27th October 2005	#4
Axle_australia Gear Head Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 37 Thread Starter	Hi Fletcher, I'd just like to say one hundred thanks to you for answering my post. your insight into all of this has actually shed alight on something that i must have overlooked, or not even recognised as much of an option, I'd say it's time to give it a shot "in the chair" and hope things will go well i say. Also The insight you were able to provide on what the states is like in terms of a recording career, and also what direction you would suggest taking was also gold (excellent) .the whole post provided great food for though. many thanks again, If i ever win the green card lottery, or find another way into the states i may just take you up on your offer, till next time, take it easy. Axle.