Dont flinch if they make you start at the bottom again. Agree to it without hesitation.

How much time has elapsed since the internship?

Are you a man applying for a boy's job?

Are you up on all the tech they have? (If not get a friend to phone for a spec list to see whats there)

Wear running shoes & look 'fast' :)

Listen, observe and be confident.

Good luck.

the internship was five years ago [i'm 22 now].

i did make some errors while as in intern [basicly, i was dumb enough to take the blame for what other folks told me to do, but was stoooopid.

example:
assistand engineer guy:
"owen, we got this avalon 737 for the session and turned out not to need it, can you ask the toy specialists [rental co] to refund it?"

me: "sure!" [wanting to help]

everyone: "why the hell did you do that owen? we have a good buisness relationship with them, and you were being a dick!"

i didn't even have time for a "but...but..."

there are a few more "me being a dumbass and other people gently sliding blame my way when they, for example, let a $30,000 b&w speaker break with me there..."

but...i hope that is all forgotten!

what should i show up for the interview in? i look pretty sharp in a suit, but am i supposed to look that "buisness like"?

basicly: how do i be the most perstient in the least annoying way to get this gig?

sure, they might not have a job now, but i call back and call back just to check?

what kind of rapid response time do i need to TAKE the job [i.e. should i get an appt first....]?

luckily i know all the gear, the mic locker, how to do inventory, who the rental people are, where the mastering and repair places are, where the crossants are, where the nearest starbucks is, where to get emergency guitar strings, and sorta know some of the automation on the neve's and ssl's [i've done a few ssl recals].

how do i slip that knowlege into conversation without seeming arrogant?

i want to avoid sounding pushy...and still sound like i want nothing more than to scrub the floors @ 3am, as long as it's there....

sorry this is so long, but it's kinda important to me, as you can understand...

--owen

Owen said - "luckily i know all the gear, the mic locker, how to do inventory, who the rental people are, where the mastering and repair places are, where the crossants are, where the nearest starbucks is, where to get emergency guitar strings, and sorta know some of the automation on the neve's and ssl's [i've done a few ssl recals].
how do i slip that knowlege into conversation without seeming arrogant?"

Telling a studio owner all that is NOT ARROGANT in the slightest! Great idea, tell em!

And - "i want to avoid sounding pushy...and still sound like i want nothing more than to scrub the floors @ 3am, as long as it's there...."

You have to belive that last part...

- What can you say you have learned in the last 5 years that qualifys you for this job more than any other aplicant?

Suggestions.

Session protocol
Session etequette
Long anti social hours
Used to surviving on low pay
Dedication to the profession
DONT say how you have been 'producing'
DO say how you have been engineering
Wherever you DO live - give the impression that getting in to work will be a breeze & real quickly done if required at short notice...
Never say "I will relocate if I get the job" - they aint interested! Lie if you have to, use a relations NYC address.
With a 5 year gap you had better have some damn killer references.

Personaly I would turn up looking like a cross between a trendy kid and a track & field star!
Looking sophisticated, relaxed and 'worldly' in a suit aint the impression required. (save that for trying to snag a bridesmaid at a wedding :)

As a client of Sony, it's important to me that the assistants NEVER LEAVE THE ROOM. Or at least let somebody know when they do, and where they are going, and for how long. I have no idea how you might work that into the interview, or if it would make one bit of difference. But there it is. Maybe some subtle hint that you have no personal life whatsoever outside the studio? (See Jules' suggestions.)

Knowing all the gear, all the patchpoints, and the routing of every single cable in every room is very important. Almost as important as knowing the best Japanese (or _____) restaurant within 100 blocks. However, the studio managers I've talked to more or less don't care what you know. They're more concerned with how much you are willing to learn and commit yourself. (Or is that "have yourself committed"?) Knowing too much could actually hurt your situation, if the hiring manager thinks it will be difficult to re-train you their way. Think "team player" and "what's best for the company". They like that.

Make a point of referring to something on your palm pilot at least once. If you don't have a palm pilot, get one and become an ace on it before the interview. (Assistants with palms have an edge. Usually more together, organized.) Again, I don't know if the manager will pick up on that. But as a client, it's something that I notice, and I find it valuable to help guage how well a session will go.

Anyway, hope that helps. Good Luck Owen! :)

Yeah that I do not want to be in the big chair tomorrow thing is cool. I have a smallish PT room, and I have tried a few people out. Everyone is bursting to jump in the chair and drive. Thats good, although the last couple I tried did not know PT (hey why teach that at SAE).

I know this is not as relevant to you Owen, I just thought that not saying I am a producer already is real cool, although saying I know the desk etc is great.

I would still like to get someone in, who ain't a kid (or to old, bitter and twisted like me at 33) and would like to learn and understands I will only pay them when they are making money.
Shit i still have a 3 day a week job to pay for G.A.S. I know it is not really a hobby studio, I have been putting a few grand a month upgrading, so I can leave the job. Although I will still need the few grand to upgrade as I want everything, so its a catch22.

Sorry to dribble on schools just gone back after summer so I have had 15-20 calls since new years here in OZ, do you take interms?, how much you pay?, I know nothing? or I have done a year at audio school I know everything whats a mouse?

thanks for the palm tip, angelo...what the hell should i keep on there? [i'm all about pencil and paper...dosen't crash if you sit on it...]

and i will probably still be calling you to perhaps sit in on a session with you and be the quietest and most helpful monkey i can be.... :)

bum rush the show time...gotta get out my hipster clothes.

sadly i can only think of ben stiller in the royal tennenbaums with the running suit...

"and i will probably still be calling you to perhaps sit in on a session with you and be the quietest and most helpful monkey i can be.."

In my book NO ONE "sits in on my sessions" you are ether working or the client.

I believe the phrase "sit in" to be a kiss of death request from the 'studio interested'

Try decribing you contribution to the session as something other than "sitting", that's a poor choice of phrase. IMHO

"Sitting In" is an acceptable term on this side of the pond. I would actually love to have an extra GA or 3 hanging around. This will further prevent the assistant from leaving the room, as the GA can run to the shop to get that widget.

The GA can also take food orders and phone calls. In hip-hop sessions, there tend to be a lot of retinue hanging around. Running around getting everyone's order and directing calls can tie up the assistant for hours, while seriously f'ing with his concentration. I'd like for my people to eat AND have the recalls done right.

So "sitting in" would actually be working quite a lot, for most of the sessions I will be doing at Sony. We usually ask for extra runners anyway, so all Owen has to do is volunteer.

Originally posted by Ang1970:
"Sitting In" is an acceptable term on this side of the pond. I would actually love to have an extra GA or 3 hanging around.

God, that must be nice, I don't even have a secretary, just an answering machine.

Best of luck Owen! :w:
--Rick