I might be living in L.A. for a while, and I don't want to start from scratch with building a new home studio and then trying to get clients in my home studio since I may only be there temporarily. Is it just as impossible to get AE work in L.A. as it is in Chicago?
Here in Chicago I've called, emailed, and bugged the hell out of every studio I could find and have been the squeaky wheel for the past few years. .still no oil. I'd like to stay here in Chicago, but things have been pretty awful the last few years. I lost a few friends and family members, I lost my job, and now can't get anyone in to record other than my Dimebag Project. which I'm recording for free. I never expected it to be easy, and I'm going to keep trying if it kills me, but things have gotten a lot harder than I every expected.
So my question is. is it hard to get work in L.A.? The rest of my family that I've got left here in Illinois (mom, sister, nephew, and niece) are moving back to California, and I think I might follow suit.
Thanks,
Art
Comments
It's tough out here bro. I graduated from the LA Recording work
It's tough out here bro. I graduated from the LA Recording workshop about 2 1/2 years ago. After interning (being used, abused, and treated like shit) at studios for over a year I've come to the realization that "trying to get an AE job" is the wrong approach.
The best thing to do IMO is put a rig together and start recording bands yourself. Work hard, sharpen your skills, network, do as many recording as you can, and most importantly get a good sound.
Once you are capable of "getting a good sound" you shouldn't have that much trouble finding work. I don't know about chicago, but out here in southern CA there are tons of bands/musical acts and they all need recording work done.
My first two years out of school were rough, but the past half year or so has been great. I've got so much work right now that I have to turn people down. I've got two full length albums under my belt, and tons of demos. Now that I've got stuff out there (good sounding stuff) I get calls all the time.
That's pretty much all there is to it. If you have alot of good sounding stuff out there with your name on it, you shouldn't have that much trouble finding work.
YMMV.
These are tough times for the recording industry ... IMO what
These are tough times for the recording industry ...
IMO what is needed is a really great mic and pre amp for under $500! (sorry I couldn't resist).
First, if you are hoping for a postion in LA, you need to know your way around PT ... no ifs ands or buts! As much as I hate Digi and PT I am forced to admit it's the standard. No one is going to take the time to let you get settled in, so if you are not well versed in the latest version of PT, it's doubtful IMO that you will find work. Even as an independent with your own studio.
LA is one of the last bastions for pro recording along with New York and Nashville ... perhaps Miami.. If you're going to find work as a RE these would be the places to go ... but don't count on getting a job because there are about a million other people thinking the same thing as you ..