Comments on: Parents, Should Your Kids Attend Recording School?

By: chris

chris — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:38:35 +0000

your kid probably hates you

By: Sofian

Sofian — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:29:52 +0000

Interesting…
I’m 13, and I’ve always been fascinated by audio engineering. I live in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and there aren’t many people here interested in it.
I’ve never actually wanted to make a living out of it, but it does make for an interesting hobby, wouldn’t you agree?
I suppose I’ll pursue a career in IT. I’m obsessed with Linux and servers, and I’ve actually made an FTP server!
But audio engineering is… cool. I really want to buy a mixer, what do you think? And I know this guy who regularly does live concerts at a cultural centre close to our house, he’s been teaching me a few ‘tricks’ lately…
I would *REALLY* like to talk to real-life audio engineers, so please send me an email at: sof ian krt AT g ma il. com (omit spaces, replace AT with @)
Thanks!

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 06:37:26 +0000

Actually I have to disagree. It depends what you want to do. There may not be many jobs in the recording field as in going into a big time studio. But The gaming industry is a billion dollar industry. and who makes the sound effects and music? Audio engineers. Who does all the audio for films? Audio Engineers. How many places out there have live music? Thousands upon Thousands. and who do they need???? anyone… Audio Engineers. So before you go raving about it. Understand there is a lot out there, you have to look. By the way, I’ve been an Engineer for about 8 years now and find plenty of work.

And all those gas station workers probably are still young and didn’t try to look hard enough. They probably expected a job handed to them instead of busting their butt.

By: brandondrury

brandondrury — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:33:53 +0000

There is an 81% placement rate for those that have done an internship. There is no other way to get your name out there.

That can be debated, but it requires some creativity.

Brandon

By: Ampere student

Ampere student — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:42:30 +0000

It is all about connections and internships. Going to school in Nashville for audio engineering, I have seen many of my friends graduate. The only ones that have studio jobs or live jobs are the ones that know people. There is an 81% placement rate for those that have done an internship. There is no other way to get your name out there. A resume doesn’t matter, it might be good for formalities, but it is all about who knows you and who you know.

Yes, the studio at Blackbird is CRAZY! George Massenburg’s studio is unlike any other in Nashville or otherwise. Also, Blackbird has an unusually large staff, something around 20 people. I don’t know if they are all paid, but the studio manager said something about how big their staff is.

By: Soumitra

Soumitra — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:29:17 +0000

Interesting insight. I have been planning to go to Berklee. This will help me choose my area of specialisation better. I think its important to be able to differentiate between what might be good as a hobby and what might actually make a promising career.

By: Kamistan

Kamistan — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:15:31 +0000

The futility is disgusting…

By: Doug R.

Doug R. — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:42:16 +0000

I definatly agree with this article!!! I am a freelance engineer in New York City and had regular work coming out of my ears until about 4 years ago. My first year out of recording school earned me NO money. I made more money recording before I went. I worked for free and was living with my grandmother on a $3 a day budget literally. As an assistant I made $5.00 an hour as an independant contractor. I didn’t get paid more often than I did. I started drumming up my own clients and eventually was super busy around New York, but then digidesign came out with the Digi 001 and that was the begining of the end. To keep up I have had to sell my services dirt cheap, and do way more things other than record. I still record and make a living at it, but I also have another job to carry me through the slow times. In my best year engineering I made about $50k. I litterally had to live at the studio to make that knd of living and be available for the worst kind of sessions at the drop of a hat. I only went home 3 time one month. I only went to take a shower and come right back. I would buy shirts and socks and cloths from street venders in times square and wash up in the sink at the studio. I used to go home with clients who lived near the studio that were working for days on end to use thier shower. It was fun, but sucked just as hard, and didn’t last. I couldnt afford to to continue to work as an engineer solely. I am still very active inthe music biz, but I exploit other areas of it and only produce projects that I believe in. I donb’t care how super talented that you think your kid is or how much drive they have to make it, Most don’t make it past the internship stage. I have fired interns for not going to pick up my lunch. I have fired them for being late to a session they weren’t getting paid to be at. I worked with an engineer who came to NYC from Boston. While in Boston he engineered and mixed at least 2 New Kids On THe Block albums that as we all know went multi platinum. The studio made him start as an intern just the same as everyone else no matter that he had mix credits on multiplatinum discs. That is how the biz goes. If people don’t like you as a person, you don’t get work either… This biz is such a crap shot, its almost unbelieveable anyone tries to make a go at it.

By: Gregory Moore

Gregory Moore — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:38:33 +0000

Right on the …No money…But still a kick. This seems to be a hobby industry now. Unfortunately, I am in the IT Netwoking end of it, installation and configuration, and even that is drying up in certain regions,(like where I am now).
Keep pushing the truth …