What is your advice for someone who wants to get into the recording industry?
Coming from someone who started young in the late 90’s, the process of interning and assisting, that process was the foundation of everything. Being in the studio with people who can give guidance even if they’re not the best in the world, just becoming comfortable with the studio environment and being part of it. Even now in 2024 the best way to do it is just being in the studio however possible whether interning or assisting, paid or unpaid, just be in there.
What is a lesson you’ve learned now that you wish you’d known when you started?
Never undersell yourself, there is this constant weight to get the gig or make the most appealing offer even if you are lowballing yourself. This works against you, whatever you think is competitive for where you are at you want to ask for a little more and believe it or not that gets more people in the door.
How do you get the gig?
This is not a on or off switch this is a process of consistently building up network connection and reputation. For anyone starting or trying to get that foot in the door just say YES as much you can. Sure this contradicts lowballing yourself but this goes back to the idea of getting in the studio however possible. So say Yes to everything you can say yes to and over time there will be things you can’t say yes to anymore because you already have a more important gig that is the paying gig or it’s building your reputation, this is a natural progression over time. But there is no getting a gig instantly just by throwing a smoke signal, you have to build reputation over time.
What is the first setup you recommend for a beginner?
Laptop and a space that has treated to some extent (learn DIY acoustic builds). Don’t spend more than $1,000 on a mic go for something fairly inexpensive like a Audio-Technica 4033A with a Shure SM7 or Electro-Voice RE-20. Don’t spend more than $500 on your first preamp when getting started. Learn your DAW, Protools is good because you should know this for commercial studios and most professional engineers are on Protools but for your own setup Logic is a great start. Inexpensive monitors either from Adam Speakers or Kali Speakers and Slate Audio VSX is a great headphone.
How do you know what reverb is right for what you are trying to achieve?
A lot of different reverbs can sound right but think of what is the intention? What is the emotion behind it? Going through your reverbs try to find what matches the closest to that emotion. Spring Reverbs tend to sound weird or surreal so something dark or uncomfortable spring reverbs can lend themself to that whereas a Plate reverb gives high energy up front so if something needs to pop with brightness Plates will lend towards that. Dark Halls and churches build more distance into the sound so if something should sound lonely or sad these can work best for that. It becomes about being familiar with your different reverb options and being emotionally in tune for what that source is trying to do.
How do you handle the toughness for getting and keeping the gigs and having to hustle?
A relationship is like a good piece of electronics or gear, it is going to need maintenance and a good upkeep. So you want to be following up with clients even clients you haven’t worked with for a while just to make sure they’re good, you’re keeping up with them, they keep you in mind etc. A few attitudes help like don’t deny pinch don’t nickel and dime, let the small things go, don’t be overly assertive but not under assertive either just be ice consistent not pushy just be there and always be willing to say yes to the client as much as possible.
