Every so often Ill get an email or someone will ask me “how do I get a job in this field” or “what kind of schooling do I need to do this?” I never really have an answer for them, because it’s not as simple as one would think. The music business is really a different creature from the usual 9-5 office job. There are no set hours, set pay or really anything written in stone.

When asked “Where did you learn everything you know,” everyone is always shocked to hear that I never attended any form of school for audio. I taught myself everything I know. Either from reading articles online, participating in online discussions or just doing it myself. I learned early on that a piece of paper will get you no where in this business. It’s all about who you know, and most importantly who knows you. If your skills are good and people know you do a good job, then the work will come to you. No school can guarantee you a job in this business when you graduate. Unless you plan on going into the studio business, I highly suggest skipping school. Make connections with people. Get a job with a local production company, and work your way up. Dont expect to start mixing right away. Dont expect to even touch a console outside of it’s case for a long time. You’ll probably be stuck soldering cables for a long time before you ever make it to the gig.

Once you start learning the basics, get an internship at a local club. You’ll get to mix in a controlled environment and you will learn things very quickly. Just remember to keep a good work attitude. People remember how well you work very well. A good attitude will get you further in this business then any degree.

I got very lucky. I met the guys in All Time Low back when they were playing small church halls in town. I had my little production company and I did sound for them back then. As time went on, and they started looking for a sound guy, they came back to me, as a friend that they knew and trusted. If I didnt know these guys, I could probably still be stuck at home waiting for my chance. I highly suggest that you make friends with local bands. If you can mix, and you can prove it to them, you might just get lucky. I know I did.

My only advice to people interested in doing what I do, is that if you really want to do this, get out and do it! You are never too young to start learning. Just remember: Owning a sound company may sound cool, but it is very hard to make into a profitable business. You need a lot of gear and a lot of connections. Your best bet is to tour or hook up with a regional company that has already established itself.

Back to the world of rock and roll…