i wish you goodluck, mate
keep your head up 8-)

Thanks, Thomaster!

I can see their logic behind it....makes sense that when you run a large studio that you don't a person working there that will undercut you....even though I wouldn't do that!

The education thing is a little bit of a double edged sword. A degree doesn't mean crap IMO. I personally know people with Masters Degrees (not in audio) that are complete schmucks and I know high school dropouts that are some of the most successful people that I've ever seen. One of them has a net worth of 17 million dollars and now moved to La Paz, Mexico to do absolutely nothing with the rest of his life....he is only 32 years old with a 9th grade education, but a wizard with writing computer software and real estate!

I would say his second reason is bull and he knows it. We all know a degree is just a nice little piece paper we earn to have to pat ourselves on the back with. You most likely have better skills and knowledge then most do coming out of an audio school with a degree. You have experience and that is more important than a peice of paper. The first reason has some validity but its only because he's afraid that you'll take business away from the studio in one form or another.

have you tried pressure point studios i worked out there a few nonths ago and it seemed like they needed osme help

Well, at least they didn't give you this reason:
3. Because you suck. :lol:

About the degree thing, in a way it is just a piece of paper; but a lot of companies use it as a kind of litmus test or something. If you have the "piece of paper," then they know you have a little more desire to learn, stick-to-it-iveness, and perhaps smarts then the average bear. It doesn't really give you THAT much real world knowledge, but it does mean that you have accomplished something that not just any schmuck can do. It helps companies weed out their choices a little.
Sorry that it works against you.

Johnson Cabasa wrote: have you tried pressure point studios i worked out there a few nonths ago and it seemed like they needed osme help

I'll give them a shot....thank you!

I'll bet you the REAL reason they're not hiring is because they're not BUSY enough.

Don't believe the crap about the home studio thing, either. What kind of NONSENSE is that?!?!? IF you're working THERE for them, you can't be at home taking biz away from them. And if it IS a serious enough issue, they can ask you to sign a non-compete form - which is pretty standard practice anyway, for any clients that might book time there; you obviously CAN'T take them away to your own place. (It's unethical at least, and grounds for termination, certainly. ) Where did they THINK you made your demo, anyway? At ANOTHER commerical studio somewhere?

Plus, if they don't want you working at home, then they should offer you a basic guaranteed amount of hours per week to keep you happy (and out of your studio!)

They probably did you a favor, and in the long run, you'll be all the better for it. Keep your chin up, and keep doing what you're doing, learning along the way, and making recordings where you learn something each time out.

Most commercial studios open to the public for walk-ins are a tough gig; it's a no-win situation many times. IMHO it's far better to be an indie and write your own ticket, if you can hang in there and make that a reality someday. (Check back on them in a year and see how they're doing.) It's a tough time to be in the commercial studio business, and anyone with half a brain is doing it for themselves anyway.

Learn from this.

Thanks, Joe. I'm looking at it as a good thing.

Well this is sort of why I was uneasy about you're sending a demo reel.

The home studio thing seems a bit spurious but I can ALMOST see how they might see you as a potential competitor.

The second reason is nonsense.

A place that doesn't intend to TRAIN you is not a place you want to be anyway.

good luck in the continuing search.

Thank you very much....I really appreciate all of the help and responses I've been getting!

Good luck to you, therecordingart.

But I don't think you realize how good you have it, right now!! While you might not be working on a large-format console, have a senior Engineer to mentor you, etc. I think you can make great strides in a home studio and really hone your chops.

These days a great 'reel' and real credits can get you noticed! Perhaps by a freelance eng who is Chicago-based. You'd win out by your experience and your bold determination to reach out to those guys / gals.

What about music for film/TV work? Or video games, voiceovers or the like?

I don't know the first thing on how to get into sound for film/tv, games, and such....otherwise I'd be all over it.

Conflict of interest?
That's BS.

Almost every intern that I've taught (dozens and dozens) had a home studio (and I would expect them to). And, almost every intern brought me way more work than took from me.

When an intern is thriving and learning in my studio, I usually offer them a super-low/late-night rate, so that they can bring in thier own bands and use the sessions as a learning experiance.

If this studio feels threatened by an intern with a home-studio, they have a whole other set of issues to be addressed, like why can an intern with a home studio take business from us.

You've got's to give to receive!

Chris

intern

both reasons are BS.i experienced a similar situation about 12 years ago when i got started. forget them. as all know with the recording business, hands on is the best education you can possibly get.sure knowing why certain buttons and knobs do certain thins is fine but in the end it is all about how it sounds.those fools should know by this time anyway that there is enough business for everyone. so that is really bs about a conflict of interest

I'm just wondering why exactly you want to work out of another studio? For experience? To meet people? If you have a nice home studio then why not stay where you are and perfect your skill? Are you getting good results in your project studio? My experience working in bigger studios is kinda jaded I guess but I find I can make a lot better music at my own pace in my own shop.

I have guys that want to intern with me and I have bigger studios that have wanted me to work with them. I've never put much thought into either. Don't know that I want to. I guess the point of my long winded post is......Why EXACTLY do you want to intern in a larger facility?

Have you checked this place?
anywhere near you?
just looked interesting.

http://www.keyclubrecording.com/photos/index.html

Why I want to work in a commercial studio? To meet people and gain more experience.

I have heard about that studio, but never checked them out....thanks!

your attitude

Aurthur,

You've got the right attitude...a stick-to-it attitude with the desire to succeed...now to find the studio that is hiring at the point in time when they are hiring.

I'm thinking back to the time my wife had just finished college and was going on to graduate school. She wanted an entry level job in her field of study, but the jobs were scarce because her field was oversaturated.

As she went from job interview to job interview she carried a stack of thank-you notes and some postage stamps with her. When she would get to her car after the job interview she would simply write a thank-you not to whoever had interviewed her, thanking them for seeing her...and popped the note in a mail box.

Almost nobody ever thinks to do that.

Guess what? The interviewers were astounded! Every job interview she went to called her back! She had her choice of jobs!

The squeeky wheel gets the grease, and sometimes you just have to keep recontacting the studios that have interviewed you...and do so over and over every couple of months until you hit one when they have an opening. It's a lot like direct mail advertising...one letter doesn't sell the product, but 13 letters in a row month after month do the trick and get the sale.

Im not sure if I understand why you would want a job in a "true" studio...alot of them are closing the doors because of the technology given too us consumers to set up shop at home thus not needing them as much as we used too...If your an engineer I can see why studios are still open and why you would want to work in one but if thats not the case there's really no point.

I just want to thank the person that told me to check out Pressure Point Studios in Chicago. I emailed them on Sunday and just got a response. Let's hope I get an interview because here where his questions:

Do you have Pro Tools experience? Limited

Do you have experience behind a large format console and 2"? None

Hopefully the idea of hardwork and determination will carry me on this one!

i was the guy that mentioned pressure point. i think that if you tell them that you don't have large console experiende and that's why you want to work there to learn about things like large consoles you hsould be fine. if you tell them you kow how to keep quiet and pay attention and do as your told then they should go for you.

good luck

Holy shit! I just got an email back asking to call to set up an interview! I'm so nervous.

best of luck!

Thank you very much!

Good luck indeed.
There is an ENOURMOUS amount to be learned by working in a busy, pro facility that attracts good producers, engineers and artistes.

Thanks guys! I'm so excited already, but I'm trying to keep myself as calm as possible just in case.

Good Luck Arthur, let us know how it goes. I think you're better off interning than going to a tech school etc for recording. I meet guys pretty often here in Austin that are excited about spending $5k on a recording tech school and I wonder how that's really going to work out for them. Good luck, hope it goes well.......

jerks

Yeah, you'd have to be a bad ass mfer to take business away from a major or bigger studio (or enough to hurt them $$$$). And even if you weren't actually "bad ass" at it. It sure says alot about their insurcurities. That some guy might come in off the street and steal every single client that walks in the door.
Just because you own your own audio tools, is enough to scare them that you might be for real. Wow! I think they are scared of you.
Good luck!
And dont believe that crap.
IMHO They want some "yes man" in there who thinks like they want and will think or at least treat them like they are God with recording capabilities. And you are a nobody who needs them to survive.

therecordingart wrote: Holy shit! I just got an email back asking to call to set up an interview! I'm so nervous.

don't be nervous and don't be cocky. walk in and explain that you want to learn. you won't try to do anything you haven't been trained to do by their staff in the way that the facility likes those things to be done, that you're willing to work whatever hours they give you and be happy aoubt it, that you live to work double sessions and love empting ttrash cans and fetching lunch

metnion that you hope to earn your wat into the contirol room within a year, that you don't expect to be in the control room until you've proven your worthy in their eyes

then stick to all of htis. always give your employer a little more than they expect and you will move up faster. make sure to keep your eyes open to thngs that need to be doen. coffe pot empty, fill it, trash needs to be emptied do it when you get upt ob eing in the control room make sute that all the supplies aret here from recall sheets to trackwheets to china markets to pencils, pens, ashtrays, trash baskets, rolling papters bottle openers all the wires you cna think of to make adapters for weird patches etc.

before you walk into the interview close your eyes and take like 9 deep breaths from you diaphargm and relax within yourself if you look too nervous or hyper they may not want you around if you look relaxed, confident, but open to learning they will probably hire you on the spot

let us know how it oes

Arthur,
I'm glad to hear your getting some positive responses. It's a tough field to break into at the present time but anyone who really wants it will keep at it until they succeed. I think you have what it takes.

I heard your work and it's very respectable but you will probably need to shed any pre concived notions and go with what the studio guys want you to do .. keeping quiet, and ready to do what ever is asked of you is good advice.

Be prompt and bathe. You'd be surprised at how many interns I have interviewed that I would not want to be stuck with in a small CR.

Carry a small notepad and a pen to write down things you have questions about. Ask the engineer after the clients leave, while you're picking up the studio. If you have anything that you feel must be communicated to the RE during the session, again write it down and slip it to them, instead of saying something in front of the client. It is surprising how spooky clients can be and the last thing the RE needs is for an intern to say something to set them off. Part of production work is client relations and REs walk a tight rope keeping the client in check while wringing the best performances possible out of them. One reason many REs are reticent to mentor interns is because of this. Last, good luck with the interview.. go get 'em!

Thank you very much, Kurt.

I'll make sure I'm looking and smelling good before walking in the door for the interview.

I really appreciate your comments about the songs I've posted. At times I feel like a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest when it comes to mixing. I run in circles with the things that are a matter of taste (tick in a kick drum, bite of a guitar, etc), and I lose track of where things are going then end up getting burned out on the whole song. This is something I must work one!

I can't wait until I interview....I can't help but think that things are a little too good to be true right now. I mean...I work my ass off, but it doesn't feel like I've worked enough to earn/deserve this opportunity! Maybe it's because recording doesn't feel like work, but I have to label it as "work" because it is my income right now?!?

soooooo...... what happened?