© Copyright Clive Young

CRANK IT UP
EXTRAS

From time to time, I'm going to post short articles here that supplement Crank It Up. These are not excerpts from the book; instead, they're new pieces that offer some additional insight--little "extras" like the bonus supplements on a DVD. To get deeper, more comprehensive information on these topics, however, I suggest you purchase the book.

WORKIN' FOR A LIVIN':
HOW TO GET A JOB AT A MAJOR SOUND COMPANY
Like the man sang, "It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll." If you dream of mixing the top acts but you're just starting out, you could do a lot worse than to break into the biz by getting an entry-level job at a major sound company. Often, that means working in the warehouse, doing everything from helping prepare systems to sweeping the floor, but you'll learn a lot while you pay your dues. New employees tend to land work at the sound reinforcement giants through three means: resumes, word of mouth and, surprisingly, walking in off the street. Interviews count for a lot, so here's some things you need to know before you walk through the door.

Audio Acumen
Its always helpful to actually know something about the profession you want to enter. Sound techs (the low men on the sound staff totem pole) work hard to keep multi-million-dollar sound rigs running throughout a tour, and when you're doing 37 gigs in six weeks, there's not much time to mess around. Even though you could likely wind up climbing around under the stage every day pulling cables, it still pays to bone up on your electronics, physics and technology, because sooner or later, it's knowledge you'll need.

Welcome To The Real World
Most sound companies prefer hiring people with a few years' experience, whether they mixed at the local biker dive or the local church. Engineers need to think on their feet and keep things going when the PA suddenly dumps--and that kind of knowledge usually can't be taught in a live sound school. That said, audio schools tend to get an unusually bad rap in an industry where most pros learned their trade on the road. Says one touring production manager at an East Coast sound provider, "I prefer people who have job experience over school experience, but someone with both would be really sought after, I expect."

People Skills Pay The Bills
It doesn't matter how smart you are if you don't play well with others. One director of operations at a major West Coast sound company put it thusly: "There's nothing worse than having eight people on a bus who hate each other, so I look for human and personal traits more than I do professional experience. As far as the technical aspects of this business go, that can be pretty much be taught. What we can't teach people is a sense of pride, a good attitude, a sense of dignity and a work ethic."

Location, Location, Location
Many major sound companies have trouble finding good help for those entry-level warehouse positions. No kidding, it's true! The problem is that there's not a lot of pay when you start at the bottom, and most major SR providers have already tapped all the top audio talent in their areas. Even if their crews discover qualified audio guys while out on tour, few if any SR companies will cover relocation costs for an entry-level employee. If you already live near one of the majors and you know your audio, drop them a line; they might be very happy to hear from you.

For the full inside scoop on what one of the top sound companies looks for in beginning soundguys, check out the Red Hot Chili Peppers chapter in Crank It Up!