Cameron wrote on Sun, 29 July 2007 17:00 |
I'm in high school and have found a passion for sound mixing and recording, in all forms and shapes. Since it is the only thing really on my radar for a career, I was wondering if anyone had advice of what to do academically and post high school?
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This isn't a career. Its a way of life. If you aren't ready for that, don't even try. You won't get off the clock at 5pm. Estimated work days will be twice as long as you were told. I'm on call most weekends, and have left party's at a moments notice of my job needing something for a gig, or if they're short stage hands.
If i were to do it over again, and not waste two years of messing around. I would look at an Electronics Degree. Learn how all this equipment works. I'm just picking that up now, looking at signal path's/flow charts of the equipment I use.
Business Classes are never a bad choice either.
Lastly, read up on this board, as this was recently discussed. Find a local production company, start stage handing. Climb the ladder. Read Jon Martin's post? I think it was him.
This isn't something that school will prepare you for. It will show you some rules. But when you get out to the gig, throw half of those rules away.
Practice your patience, Self control, customer service, People skills, Learn when to be a Yes man, Learn when to be the man. Trouble shoot, be ready to blow something up. Be ready to never do it again. Be ready to work 12 hours and still work another 6. Learn to be humble, learn when to talk, and when to listen, Learn to love living out of the limelight. Learn to respect, and earn respect. Learn to trust your co-workers, Learn to trust customers, then learn to learn it all over again when it goes south.
Network with people, Always take the shitty job/be the first to volunteer, People will notice when you volunteer to pull that feeder from out under the stage decks when everyone else will try and hide. Bring the big guy a water when he's run out, someday he may do the same to you.
Carry a lighter even if you don't smoke, its one of the best networking tools I keep in my pocket, better than those business cards you should keep in your wallet.
I'm sure other people will chime in, but this is what I've learned in the 22 years I've lived so far.