#989794 - 11/05/04 06:13 PM
Advice on the most professional (unintrusive) way to get one of you guys to hire me
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blackfish
Senior Member
Registered: 04/28/04
Posts: 443
Loc: philadelphia
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Hello. I haven't posted here before, but I have posted on the SSS and Project Studio forums. I would like some friendly advice, or some not so friendly discouragement (as that will make me even more determined). I have recently graduated witha BS in Audio Technology from the American University. I realize this is kinda generic these days, everybody and their cousin has one of these degrees. But I would still like advice on how to approach and market myself to the audio community. I will be moving to San Diego in June 2005, and am beginning to put together a studio portfolio and make lists of potential studios to work in. I have approached enough studios in the Philadelphia area to know that finding EMployment in this industry is damn near impossible without your own studio.  Any way, all tips and advice are welcome. And I would even like to hear your resons why not to get into this business. I have read the thread in the project studio forum on "how much does an engineer make". I'm not in this for money, fame maybe, but any time I get any money I spend it on gear  I have been doing ok recording the occasional rock/jazz group, or hip hop heads. But my dream is to work with real pros, and would like to know how to approcah them on making my dream a reality.
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#989795 - 11/07/04 02:01 AM
Re: Advice on the most professional (unintrusive) way to get one of you guys to hire me
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bdbklyn
Platinum Member
Registered: 04/04/01
Posts: 1035
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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Well it's not impossible. It takes a little bit of luck and a lot of salesmanship on your part.
First, there has to be a position that needs to be filled. I don't have any statistics as evidence, but I wouldn't consider San Diego (which is a very nice place to live, I am told) as an area thriving with recording activity.
Secondly, I hear people constantly bitching that it's not what you know, but who you know. I'd like to reiterate what I've said before.
Get to know someone who can help you!
Pick your target studios and make a friend there... the owner or manager would be a great contact, but it wouldn't hurt you to befriend a runner or receptionist.
Get them to talk about themselves. How did they get their start. hell, buy me a couple of beers and I could go on for hours about me!
You need to sell yourself at every level of this business. I sell people on compression, equalization, spacing between songs, what time we should order lunch and what level the lights should be at all day long.
Landing your first studio job won't be the last time you sell yourself. Get used to it.
Bill Dooley
_________________________
Studio Guru
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#989796 - 11/12/04 04:56 PM
Re: Advice on the most professional (unintrusive) way to get one of you guys to hire me
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blackfish
Senior Member
Registered: 04/28/04
Posts: 443
Loc: philadelphia
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Thanks for the reply Bill. I understand the part of selling one's self. I guess what I really want to know is do studio owners/managers really want some punk walking in and "selling" himself? Should I be approaching this from a much more rigid aspect. Should I write letters and send out studio portfolio cd's to let people know what I can do? Or is that a horrible waste of time? By the way, every person I let know that I am moving to SD says the same thing, "Oh, its a really nice place to live", and then goes on to say "but I don't live there". Is this a private joke I will discover later? IS it truly nice, or some kinda Jonestown nightmare?
Thanks again...Oh, where can I buy you that beer:D
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#989797 - 11/16/04 02:45 PM
Re: Advice on the most professional (unintrusive) way to get one of you guys to hire me
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bdbklyn
Platinum Member
Registered: 04/04/01
Posts: 1035
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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Sorry this repy took so long.
1. You are correct in assuming that most owner/managers will view you as a nuisance. It comes down to timing.
Any books that you read on salesmanship will tell you the same thing. If someone is going to be sold they are looking to buy. If someone is busy and you can tell that they are, simply ask "is there a better time to call and speak to you about this?"
2. Yes, you should write letters of introduction and send out resume's to the studios you are interested in working at. You follow that up with a phone call to see if it was received.
You are creating name recognition.
I never ever listened to a CD sent by a job applicant and I've probably hired over 100 people at entry level positions in recording studios. That's probably "old school" thinking on my part, but I wouldn't include a CD.
Every studio is faced with the same problems. How to keep your current clients and how to acquire more clients. Knowing that your current client is your next competitor, the one thing that someone cannot get if they set up their own studio is the level of service that they can get at a professional operation. In your resume' stress your attention to detail, how you thrive in a face paced, high pressure oriented environment and how reliable you are.
The sonic realities of your demo CD will make you wince 10 years from now.
I don't know the San Diego marketat all. It is simply too far a commute to L.A. where the work is (for me at least) to be considered as a residence . I've been doing a lot of mastering work for local San Diego bands that had been brought to me by producer/engineer Alan Sanderson. He loves living there.
The music scene is better than L.A.
The weather is nicer than L.A.
Less traffic than L.A.
Less smog than L.A.
If there is a downside to living in SD, besides the volume of work, I am not aware of it
Good luck,
Bill Dooley
_________________________
Studio Guru
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#989798 - 11/16/04 09:31 PM
Re: Advice on the most professional (unintrusive) way to get one of you guys to hire me
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Curve Dominant
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 10/29/00
Posts: 4223
Loc: Philadelphia USA
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Blackfish,
These days, in this industry, it's not about getting people to hire you for a job. It's about CREATING that job for yourself.
I'm in downtown Philly...feel free to contact me through my website if you need to talk about this more.
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