Questions regarding the recording industry

[melodymaster85]

i just have a few questions regarding the Audio Recording industry and was hoping they could be answered. 1)What is a typical day on the job really like? 2)How do you stay current in your knowledge of the ever evolving gear/programs? 3)What is the best way to find out about jobs in this field? 4)How important is a resume and what makes one impressive? 5)What are the most important parts of your job? 6)How do you normally hire for this job? 7)What is the average turnover in this type of job? 8)What do you look for in a employee? 9)What is the career ladder for this position? 10)What would you recommend i do at this point to get into this field?

[equallyscrewed]

Originally Posted by melodymaster85

i just have a few questions regarding the Audio Recording industry and was hoping they could be answered. 1)What is a typical day on the job really like? 2)How do you stay current in your knowledge of the ever evolving gear/programs? 3)What is the best way to find out about jobs in this field? 4)How important is a resume and what makes one impressive? 5)What are the most important parts of your job? 6)How do you normally hire for this job? 7)What is the average turnover in this type of job? 8)What do you look for in a employee? 9)What is the career ladder for this position? 10)What would you recommend i do at this point to get into this field?

hey, the first thing i'd point out is that you seem to think engineers get "hired" and are on a wage. This is how it works for about 0.001% of engineers in the world. most engineers and producers work on whats called "freelance" basis. That is they work for themselves. The most general way it works is like this....

Artist/label approach producer they want to make album. Producer quotes price and terms. artist/label agree and give producer an advance (if its needed) the producer will then source studio and staff, including engineers (sound, mixing, mastering) who will all have thier own rates and fees. Its the producers job to make sure everything runs on time and on budget or it could come out of his/her share. The advance is recouped by the label before producers points come in (if your working for points anyway your either really good or really lucky)

thats a simplified way of putting the pay situation. getting work is another kettle of fish. Its all about networking. Its not what you know, its not who you know, its what you do with who you know. I've yet to see anyone get work with a CV alone unless its a teaching job. You need a portfolio of work you can play to people so they know what kind of sounds you can get and you have to explain how this can help thier sound. I call it "fishing" when im out on the scene at gigs looking for talent i can get into the studio. Its just a case of going out and finding something you can work on with passion and commitment. Once you find an act you love and can make sound amazing on disk then you chase them for the studio time.

The "ladder" is a lot less distinguishable that it was yesteryear where it was something like this...

Toilet Scrubber -> Tea Boy -> tape op -> assistant to the assistant engineer -> assistant engineer -> engineer -> producer

now its perhaps all of the above at the same time.

The main thing you need to make it into the industry is determination, commitment, a bit of flare and talent, a lot of experience and a dose of luck. You've also got to be prepared to intern (work without pay) for at least a year to get any credability.

Portfolios are impressive with big names, no one can deny that. But also if any of your work has gotten artists signed or air play, even on TV. Are you flexable? if a band likes your sound in the studio can you go on tour with them as their FOH sound guy?

My recommendation on what you can do will depend where you are. if your in the US i know schools are expensive so i would just say try and intern for free for a couple years. i know its a pain in the ass but no one wakes up with all the knowledge they need and no one starts above the bottom step of the ladder. If your in the UK, free educations a total gift and i recommend you get on a good course. you'll still be on the bottom step with everyone else when you start in the industry afterwards. But education helps you climb the ladder a bit quicker.

Oh and to keep up with current methods etc... the good engineers pay attention and read. alot! why you think we're online

hope that helps

xcx

[melodymaster85]

Hey thanks alot the info was very helpful.

[equallyscrewed]

no problem dude, anything else just ask...



xcx