Pulling Hair Out! Can't find an Audio Job in SATX!

[bgomez15]

As soon as I graduated from Mediatech (Arlyn Studios) in Austin I thought, "cool now i'll just look for some work at studios in San Antonio (it's where I have to live for now). There's got a be someone who is at least looking for an intern."

After many many calls, emails, scavenging distant connections from friends and family, and even a tour of a small studio I still find my self out of work. So I started looking for jobs in music retail, Guitarcenter, Samash, even BestBuy Musical Instruments.... Nothing. I don't think they even look at my resumes or applications. No one in music retail or audio has been hiring for months, they are all downsizing. The worst part is that I know I'm more qualified for the jobs other ppl have than they do. At least in the local music retail... I was astonished to see how shallow of knowledge some of these Pro Audio cats had.

I'm so angry that I can't even get an interview just to express my enthusiasm of audio and music and of course my knowledge and skill. There's only a handful of studios in SA to start so I guess it's comprehendible but come on, no interviews? no one wants to take a look at what I have to offer?

i heard i can try some radio stations and community theaters to see if they are looking for anyone. but other than that I'm not sure what else to do:/

[AstralPStudios]

Originally Posted by bgomez15

As soon as I graduated from Mediatech (Arlyn Studios) in Austin I thought, "cool now i'll just look for some work at studios in San Antonio (it's where I have to live for now). There's got a be someone who is at least looking for an intern."

After many many calls, emails, scavenging distant connections from friends and family, and even a tour of a small studio I still find my self out of work. So I started looking for jobs in music retail, Guitarcenter, Samash, even BestBuy Musical Instruments.... Nothing. I don't think they even look at my resumes or applications. No one in music retail or audio has been hiring for months, they are all downsizing. The worst part is that I know I'm more qualified for the jobs other ppl have than they do. At least in the local music retail... I was astonished to see how shallow of knowledge some of these Pro Audio cats had.

I'm so angry that I can't even get an interview just to express my enthusiasm of audio and music and of course my knowledge and skill. There's only a handful of studios in SA to start so I guess it's comprehendible but come on, no interviews? no one wants to take a look at what I have to offer?

i heard i can try some radio stations and community theaters to see if they are looking for anyone. but other than that I'm not sure what else to do:/

lol, when did you graduate? I graduated back in december... I mean lol in the sense of I am having the same issues...The teachers won't be
much help to you either unfortunately. I'm doing everything on my own now. I suggest taking a wee little break and wind down.

[bgomez15]

Originally Posted by ImmortalGropher

lol, when did you graduate? I graduated back in december... I mean lol in the sense of I am having the same issues...The teachers won't be
much help to you either unfortunately. I'm doing everything on my own now. I suggest taking a wee little break and wind down.

I graduated in september of 09. After I saw I couldn't get a studio gig. I did take a break. Then started looking again for several months and I still have not found anything

[AstralPStudios]

Originally Posted by bgomez15

I graduated in september of 09. After I saw I couldn't get a studio gig. I did take a break. Then started looking again for several months and I still have not found anything

I'm sure we had to have run across each other lol.

My advice, whether you follow it or not is to start doing everything
on your own or move...both of which are tough. If you use the knowledge
Daysha gave you about syndication and things life will be eaiser.

As Mordecai told me: "You just have to put yourself out there". Pretty much
everyone else has it a ton easier than I do. I can't ever drive, so I have
to work around that harsh and craptastic reality, if you have the luxury
of driving, go out to shows and don't BS people...I dislike the word "hustle"
which a couple teachers and lab techs liked to use because I am an honest
person and don't like bigging myself up if I know I'm not up to par.

You know what skills you have, practice them if you have an LE system
or whatever DAW you use. Refine your skills and tinker with things. It's
what I've been doing and it has been paying off a ton.

Interdependence, not co-dependence is what you're after...Sometimes
you can't get what you really want which in both of our cases is an
internship, so what else can you do except depend on yourself to continue
moving forward? Sure an internship would be great to have, but there's
no guarantee you'll get one.

It's rough...very rough right now. For studios and normal job-goers. I can
relate to your frustration and understand where you may be coming from,
however I don't know your specifics, but either you tuck your tail between
your legs and go do something else or you think positive and do YOUR best
not everyone else' best.

Don't give up, if there is a passionate will, there IS a way, but nobody said
it would be quick and easy. I had to learn that the hard way. The little
steps mean so much more than you realize!

[RCM - Ronan]

I am curious if the folks at your school told you a career in audio was a sane choice?

when ever people ask me for advice about a career in recording I usually try to talk them out of it. Not that a new guy is any particular threat to me personally but the business is collapsing and there are thousands of people in your exact situation, and you are all competing with guys with 5-10 years of studio experience that can not get work either.

My guess is that if you really want to have a go at this, you will probably have to move. Look for opportunity around the world and if you get an opportunity, go for it.

[krucifyx]

Originally Posted by rcm

I am curious if the folks at your school told you a career in audio was a sane choice?

when ever people ask me for advice about a career in recording I usually try to talk them out of it. Not that a new guy is any particular threat to me personally but the business is collapsing and there are thousands of people in your exact situation, and you are all competing with guys with 5-10 years of studio experience that can not get work either.

My guess is that if you really want to have a go at this, you will probably have to move. Look for opportunity around the world and if you get an opportunity, go for it.

rcm: sad thing is that for the moment, it seems to be the same in sooo many sectors of activity... I don't have any direct strings with the recording business anymore, have more than 5 years of solid experience in my field, and I have to work twice as hard than the others (doing lots of pro bono and networking, accepting whatever opportunity, waiting and hoping that a nice opportunity will kick in soon enough) without being sure that I'll have a job tomorrow...

So, even though it's not exactly the same thing, I can really realte to the OP.

bgomez15: Hang in there, and work twice as hard as the others. If you're freshly out of school and have a minimal live/rec rig (a couple of mics, a DAW, a decent room and an interface will probably suffice), start networking. Go to local concerts, gigs, bars and try and find a couple of bands that are good enough that you'd like to press it on CD. Offer to help with the PA. Offer to record 4/5 tracks for them for free. Repeat. Even if you feel that it doesn't pay-off, you'll learn in the process, and if you do your part correctly (assuming they don't suck), well: (i) it's good publicity, and (ii) you can make a link on your resume (or cover letter) to these tracks to show potential employers what you're capable of doing.

Good luck! Let's all hope that this freaking crisis ends soon.

[Steffmo]

I taught at the local university as an adjunct for three years. I told the kids day one. School wasn't happy with me, but the kids were appreciative of the honesty.

IMOP there are NO jobs anymore unless you are a great tech guy. Big studios will hire someone that can fix stuff on site.

Aside from that there are no jobs, only relationships. Create a company...which means get a business card. Get a website going.
Get some CDs of your work.

Spend your time out befriending bands. Record at their rehearsal spots. make them sound good for cheap. Maybe find a club that will let you offer a service to record bands sets for 25 bucks. Basically....dowhatever toget where the bands are. They are the clients that you can reach.

When you have a few clients that MIGHT want to go to a studio...you go to the studios as a client not as a guy looking for a job. when you find a place you are comfortable in, ask if they will let you spend some down time learning their room in return for bringing some clients Make good on that and you will be rolling. Once you are in the door they might give you some house work.........ect.

Yes its miserably hard. But not impossible. But trust me, learning to sell yourself to client is more valuable than any recording skill you have. You have time to learn that skill now and you should do it.

[Crash]

Originally Posted by rcm

I am curious if the folks at your school told you a career in audio was a sane choice?

when ever people ask me for advice about a career in recording I usually try to talk them out of it. Not that a new guy is any particular threat to me personally but the business is collapsing and there are thousands of people in your exact situation, and you are all competing with guys with 5-10 years of studio experience that can not get work either.

My guess is that if you really want to have a go at this, you will probably have to move. Look for opportunity around the world and if you get an opportunity, go for it.

This nails it.... Expand your horizons beyond studio. Call some of the local live sound companies or A/V houses ands see what you might be able to work with them. Even the local stagehand union does sound work besides just shoving equipment off the back of trucks. Versify your skill set, lighting and video will just make you a stronger candidate to get gigs.

When I was in your shoes 20+ years back, I harassed people until I finally got a non-paying intern ship just to get my foot in the door. I swept floors, fixed cables, cleaned toilets did beer runs, you name it and I did it. I kept my eyes open and learned all I could from my mentor then one day he couldn't make a session, from there on I was off and running. Get in the door and prove yourself, somewhere...anywhere, then the opportunities will be come easier.

It is a different world in this industry than it was when I started. Best of luck to you.

[Darm]

Try getting an internship and then transforming it into a job, I guess.
Also go see if any live sound guys are hiring- if you are good at studio engineering- you will get into the FOH and monitoring worlds quick- everything is pretty much the same, except for the undo button and time that you are given to do stuff)

[iLovelamp]

start a record label

search for artists

practice on these artists

look for a job, maybe a 9-5, at nordstroms? selling shoes?

search for more artists

make music, and put it out there

practice some more.

no handouts in this industry, "okay, you got the job, here your check, now go out and make some hits"

study and make yourself unique, why does a dr.dre mix standout

go look for more artists

put up a flyer at community college

start a business and shop for investors. you'd be surprised at the amount of people with too much money on their hands (struck gold, inheritance, got lucky, found a credit card, found briefcase full of cash) and don't really know what to do with it. a good 50 g's can hold you down for a couple of months to get things poppin off. to someone with a 150 mil to blow, its nothing to them

and yes, get out of your city, the whole problem is people are too scared to go out and move around. (go to atlanta LA or new york the cores of the music industry)

on the planet earth, there are thousands upon thousands of open positions (in audio engineering) opening and closing every day, you just don't want to go outside of san antonio, so of course your not going to find much.

somewhere on this planet, someone with a fortune wants to give it away to the next person he lays his eyes on, what are the chances it is you if you don't want to travel outside of your city.

it is a slow climb to the top, kinda like real estate, but a lot harder and slower.

some people get a connection (like drake) but still have the skills to back it up when it is crunch time. to hit that game winner at the buzzer.

these are all abstract ideas that everyone knows but its about how you think outside the box and put them into action.

yes, pretty much, you gotta hustle. that is what it boils down to.

don't think, "how am i gonna get a job at a studio", think more like, how is my name going to be everywhere in the A-list of this industry, and everyone wanting to call my number and have me engineer their song.

my uncle started off in the shoe industry selling shoes to mexicans at swap meets, and now, he is nearly at the top, manufacturing shoes for BCBG and steve madden and with his own brand that does 200 mil a year in sales.

if you want to be big, you wikipedia page will read "(your name here) played a large role in putting san antonio back near the spotlight as he pioneered (SA genre of music) and helped many artist rise to fame." blah blah blah

all concepts and ideas here, but simply put you gotta hustle your ass off, 23 hours a day. if you wanna be big that is

if you just want 75k, health insurance, and a 401k, just move somewhere else

[drBill]

Originally Posted by analoganddigital

if you just want 75k, health insurance, and a 401k, just move somewhere else

No, if you want 60k, health insurance, and a 401k, just move somewhere else.


Wait, scratch that.


If you want 50k, health insurance, and a 401k, just move somewhere else.


Hold on, I just checked.


If you want 38k (US average), NO health insurance, and NO 401k, COME ON IN. The water's fine. I mean, shark infested, but fine.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by analoganddigital

look for a job, maybe a 9-5, at nordstroms? selling shoes?

my uncle started off in the shoe industry selling shoes to mexicans at swap meets, and now, he is nearly at the top

[Vum]

Those "schools" have a real tendency to not teach how to get a job after graduating - they famously "teach you the skills" to compete in the world of audio engineering. The fact is unless you create an opportunity for yourself (SATX is the second largest city in TX, there is plenty of work - start with vanity records and go from there) you are pretty much doomed.

Living at home with family is great because you'll be able to focus whatever $$ you have on investing in your skills + gear so you can be agile when something comes up. The best investment in TX (and this may not apply to you) is to become fluent in Spanish. You will quadruple your client base (especially in SA) and it will also be easier to find part time work elsewhere.

I suggest getting a modest (small) rig (high enough end that there is some re-sell value in at least one piece) and delving into the Mexican-American culture. You will find work.

con suerte!

[cirrusboy]

yeah i would forget about a that " Big Studio " stuff.. its done bro.
It all about you and your set up, whether it be a small bedroom or
a converted massive home studio w/ hardwood floors racks of gear.. whatever the case, you can do the same in both.

there's a couple a things I would recommend

Get out and meet local bands, artist.. bars/clubs/coffeshops. find out whos wants to produce, record, mix or master there stuff. Tell them what you do, be confident and do the first song for very little money or even free just to get the ball rolling. also look in Criagslist and also put add on craigslist. eventually you will find yourself getting $100 $ 200 $ 300 sessions at a time. take on jobs, do co- productions. dont think you have to do everything by yourself, if you good at one thing sell that as your strong point while working with other producer/engineers

live sound, there's always live sound gigs around. that will help compliment
studio work.

Anyway yeah its back to the basics. you and your skills

[Jimbo]

A person I know works at a manufacturing facility among LOUD machines. He is half deaf. The other half doesn't hear right.

He decided to go to a recording school. When I asked him about his goals he said, "Well, I figure I'll graduate then go to work for (insert major label) after."

He had already paid the school, and I didn't have the heart to tell him what his chances were.

Based on other conversations with him, before things went south, I have no doubt the "teachers" at the school stuffed his head with all kinds of dreamy BS.

[ddageek]

Originally Posted by rcm

I am curious if the folks at your school told you a career in audio was a sane choice?

when ever people ask me for advice about a career in recording I usually try to talk them out of it. Not that a new guy is any particular threat to me personally but the business is collapsing and there are thousands of people in your exact situation, and you are all competing with guys with 5-10 years of studio experience that can not get work either.

My guess is that if you really want to have a go at this, you will probably have to move. Look for opportunity around the world and if you get an opportunity, go for it.

Nailed it chris!
Gus heres the deal with most recording school degrees you are now qualified for a Job at GC! I'll be blunt the fact that before you spent all this money of yours; your parents; or mine (ie federal loans and grants ect) on one of these schools without questioning there job placement record in this economy is a hard lesson and expensive lesson.
Now see these guys in there job placement figures are thinking like this (one of my good freinds worked in the office of the President of a small regional school that considers me an alum even though I never graduated because I had a job and made better money than 70% of those that did) Walmart (they sell recordings , instruments and "audio equipment") GC, the restaurant that has live music (waiter) McDonnald's (you get to play with a mic) OK slight exaggeration but not by much!
Your in san Antonio? How many "big studios" did you see? where were these jobs they were talking about? Austin is what an hour away ? Even there? Did you hear the Joke about Austin? Know what the live Music capital means? Its the only city in Texas where you can walk into a restaurant and he Kitchen staff speaks english and nobody is worried about ICE!

anyway Bgomez15 check your PM!

[Studio Addict]

Originally Posted by rcm

I am curious if the folks at your school told you a career in audio was a sane choice?

Right!

The job of a recording school (which is a business, after all) is to get you to attend and pay them so they can make money. End of story.

The job of the recording school student is to recognize that they are "graduating" you in something for which there are no jobs.

You just have to be smarter than the school.

[bgomez15]

Thanks guys. This definitely gets me thinking about other options.

I'll make something happen. I'm going to a show tonight. Perhaps I can wrangle up a client there

[krucifyx]

Originally Posted by bgomez15

Thanks guys. This definitely gets me thinking about other options.

I'll make something happen. I'm going to a show tonight. Perhaps I can wrangle up a client there

Now that's the spirit

[AstralPStudios]

At mediatech we actually do have a business communications class which
is honestly excellent. One of the bests classes there and it's an hour long.

Even with that, it's still really tough. Especially in my case. I have to focus
on what I CAN do for a business though and if they let the fact that I
can't drive determine whether I get the job or not is their loss because
they're losing a valuable employee. (this happens a LOT)

It's not to say that the BCM teacher doesn't send us all e-mails with
job listings to apply for though. He's about the only one who cares
whether we succeed or not besides our business of music teacher.

Mediatech in Austin is a little wonky.

OP, I will say if you're an absolutely awesome editor when it comes to drums,
when I get fully up and going I may have to recruit you because me + BD + drums = fail. lol

[FreshSkweez]

I was in the same situation in NYC in 2001 (right after Sept.11). It was insane. People were getting layed off by thousands and finding a job was an impossible task. I lost a marriage of that shit but you know what I pulled through and so will you. Opportunities have a funny way of coming up when you least expect them. It's waiting for them that's tough. Just gotta be persistant and patient. Try temp agencies. While you're not likely to land a dream job through them you'd still be moving in the right direction and networking with people in related fields.

[Crash]

Oh the irony. I interned at Dallas Sound Lab back in the mid '80's which appears to be a Mediatech school now. They only had studios A-C back then. Studio A had the SSL and B and C had MCI's as I recall.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

[Quickpunch]

Maybe you should think about opening a recording school like mediatech did to reel in suckers and take all of daddy's money.

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by Studio Addict

The job of a recording school (which is a business, after all) is to get you to attend and pay them so they can make money. End of story.

The job of the recording school student is to recognize that they are "graduating" you in something for which there are no jobs.

When I decided to set up a business to do recording workshops and recording training, I very specifically launched with the name "Home Recording Boot Camp" instead of just "Recording Boot Camp" (I own the trademarks on both), because I did not want to be in the business of career development or encouraging people into a career in music recording. I wanted to teach people how to make better recordings, what they choose to do with it is their own business.

[audiostout]

That sucks man. Try and drum up your own business in that case. Learn and then go calibrate people's studios around town. Spread the word that their mixing room needs attention and git-r-done.

[dano69]

Hello all. I think this is only the third time I've posted here, but I've been lurking for four or five years. Thanks for all of the great advice!

Anyway, I teach an introductory recording course at a community college here in NJ. It's a nice little program and it doesn't cost $43,000 per year. The first thing I tell my students is to forget about getting a gig making albums in big studios. As everyone has noted, there are great engineers with years of experience who are having trouble doing that.

However, the tech who comes in to repair our gear gets $700 per day. There are tons of live events (not only music) happening all over the place and most of them require sound companies. One of my students, who has great PEOPLE SKILLS and is talented, just scored a paid gig as a cameraman with the local cable company. One of the reasons they hired him was he was also familiar with audio. Gigs are out there - you just need to widen your target a little. I agree that the best things seem to land in your lap when you least expect it. That can happen if you're answering phones or interning at a studio.

I don't think there's anything wrong with going to school for audio, if you're not going into debt for it. But all students need to realize that it's just like getting a music degree. No one is going to hire you because you have a piece of paper. You still need to go out and make your own way. Only the most dedicated will succeed and you all have my respect.

Best of luck with your search. You need to be crafty, but you'll get something going.

Dan P.

[bgomez15]

Originally Posted by ddageek

anyway Bgomez15 check your PM!

there's nothing in my PM...

[Michael_Joly]

No "pull yourself up by your bootstraps and work harder than the next guy" advice is going to overcome the systemic changes and challenges facing young audio recordists these day. Look at these numbers from the US DOC Bureau of Labor Statistics to see why I say this. Don't skip this link.

Then...

...either move to Hollywood and get involved with low level, film-sound gofer work there, or try to get into Lucas Arts in San Francisco, or the location-based entertainment venues in Florida (Disney "Imagineering") or video game producers wherever they are found. Even though these destinations are thriving it will still be a long shot to get your foot in door. But please, do yourself a favor before its too late...

...forget about making a living making "records". Just look at your own audio media consumption - what percentage of it is paid-for, music-only product? When I was a kid 90% of my paid-for media consumption was 33 rpm albums. (I went to a few movies and bought a few singles too).

I'm amused that members of the generation that made "free" MP3 music de rigueur now complain about trouble finding gigs to record music.

Oh, and don't take potential employer disinterest or rejection personally - it not about what you have to offer - your "enthusiasm of audio and music and of course my knowledge and skill". Its all about what employers need. And you need to have a track record that speaks to that immediate need.

[ARIEL]

It is a tough biz that is for sure , the only advice is to take out a loan buy a bunch of good gear and start recording bands for real cheap at first , develop your skill and reputation and it will take around 4-5 yrs for that to happen , meanwhile you have to still work a day job to pay the bills . But in 5 yrs who knows how it will be . Again you then have to compete with guys that are already good at it and established . I focused on metal here in vancouver , that is how i devloped my resume and rep .Same as what Ronan says , It is a very weird biz to be in these days . One suggestion is to be a one man stop- do it all , mix, master , produce and have writing skills , the ability to play an Instrument and sing - It pays off massively !! That is the way to be competetive.

[BrandRecordingCo]

I feel your pain buddy. I graduated with my Bachelor in Audio just a little over a year ago. My internship could not offer me a job, which they told me on day 1. I have searched and applied for jobs all over the US, and have gotten nothing. Right now, I work 7am-3pm M-F as a supervisor at an IT help desk. Not bad, but not audio.

Anyways, I have decided to make a name for myself while looking. I finally invested the time and money to get things up and going. In my home, I have a big 22'x24' room with 10' ceilings in which I have built six 8'x4' movable walls/gobos that I can use for tracking and to form a nice mixing space around me. I purchased a nice analog mixing desk, some nice mics, etc. etc....got business cards, working on finishing up my website, and am sending a newsletter out to all my local area businesses. I'm going to push and push and do as much work out of my great little studio as I can to make a name for myself, and see where it goes.

I've already landed a gig recorded a 6 song EP for a heavy rock band signed to a small label. That starts next weekend actually, I'll be doing it in my new studio, and can't wait! From there, I just hope to do as much as I can, go to local shows and pass out cards, scout and recruit artists, whatever I have to in order to get work. This is a passion for me, and I want to do it full time one day...so I'm doing what I can on my own until a job comes along.

Good luck bud.