Interested in pursuing a career in anything audio-related in LA

[ALKim4326]

Hello, my name is Andrew Kim. I'm a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music (online) with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, magna cum laude, with a GPA of 3.8. I'm currently located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, and I'm interested in relocating to Los Angeles where I can pursue a career in anything geared towards audio. I'm even willing to visit for a few days or so for shadowing or temporary work, if it means acquiring references through in-person networking and getting more leverage for future employment.

To give a brief overview of my background, I have a broad knowledge of basic audio processing concepts such as EQ, reverb, and compression, and can familiarize very quickly with audio hardware and equipment. I also have experience with several DAWs such as FL Studio, Logic Pro X, and Pro Tools.

If anyone living in the LA area would like to offer me a good opportunity to take that first step, please don't hesitate to ask! I'm very flexible and open to just about anything geared towards audio, and I have a strong work mentality and will to learn new things!

[OneWorld]

I live in Merrie England out in the back o beyond and where those men living at the top of the mountain have still got tails, so I'm not much use to you except to say there'll be some work available in the lambing season. But best of luck anyway

[Kwackman]

Welcome to the forum.
A related question was asked recently, and you might find some of it interesting?
https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... hp?t=85957

[RichardT]

As you're skilled in electronic music have you thought of trying to get work from artists directly? Many electronic artists work from their own studios rather than third party commercial ones.

I expect that many electronic artists, if they can afford it, would benefit from some-one helping them - for example, doing proper archiving, organising their data, defining new patches, setting up DAW templates, updating software, maintaining websites, tidying up DAW projects etc etc. This could perhaps later extend to helping them with mixing.

[OneWorld]

As you're skilled in electronic music have you thought of trying to get work from artists directly? Many electronic artists work from their own studios rather than third party commercial ones.

I expect that many electronic artists, if they can afford it, would benefit from some-one helping them - for example, doing proper archiving, organising their data, defining new patches, setting up DAW templates, updating software, maintaining websites, tidying up DAW projects etc etc. This could perhaps later extend to helping them with mixing.

I think that's a good suggestion - especially as the music industry was always built around the 'gig economy' i fact it is the gig economy. People tout their wares anywhere and everywhere they can earn a sheckle or two, and I agree there might just be work to be got by offering a personal service in helping out writers/artists who might be ok with the composing but less able when it comes to producing, engineering etc

[ALKim4326]

As you're skilled in electronic music have you thought of trying to get work from artists directly? Many electronic artists work from their own studios rather than third party commercial ones.

I expect that many electronic artists, if they can afford it, would benefit from some-one helping them - for example, doing proper archiving, organising their data, defining new patches, setting up DAW templates, updating software, maintaining websites, tidying up DAW projects etc etc. This could perhaps later extend to helping them with mixing.

Hmm, this sounds promising. Can you suggest any sites serving this very purpose?

[RichardT]

As you're skilled in electronic music have you thought of trying to get work from artists directly? Many electronic artists work from their own studios rather than third party commercial ones.

I expect that many electronic artists, if they can afford it, would benefit from some-one helping them - for example, doing proper archiving, organising their data, defining new patches, setting up DAW templates, updating software, maintaining websites, tidying up DAW projects etc etc. This could perhaps later extend to helping them with mixing.

Hmm, this sounds promising. Can you suggest any sites serving this very purpose?

I’m not aware of any sites that can help with this. I think you’d need to approach artists directly - I’d create a simple but professional website first so as to make a good impression.

[resistorman]

Hmm, this sounds promising. Can you suggest any sites serving this very purpose?

A site? Who would want to give up their contacts? You need to reach out to artists you feel a connection to, ideally someone just starting out like you who you feel has potential.

I'm even willing to visit for a few days or so for shadowing or temporary work, if it means acquiring references through in-person networking and getting more leverage for future employment.

A few days, huh A degree ain't no guarantee. How many graduates is Berklee churning out in proportion to available cherry jobs? Gotta get your hands dirty, your ears tuned, and while self confidence is very desirable, unless you're extreme alpha and can talk talk your way through anything, a bit of humbleness and a willingness to serve the music with all your heart will get you a long way.

[Drew Stephenson]

I'm a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music (online) with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, magna cum laude, with a GPA of 3.8.

Did you do any specialisms as part of that course? If so I'd highlight them in your conversations and any posts similar to this you're sharing.
Also at non-music institutions and creators - film studios, game creators, advertising studios - these all have requirements for high quality music.

[The Red Bladder]

Hello, my name is Andrew Kim. I'm a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music (online) with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, magna cum laude, with a GPA of 3.8. I'm currently located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, and I'm interested in relocating to Los Angeles where I can pursue a career in anything geared towards audio.

LA is all about TV and film. The only music work being done in commercial studios is film/TV scores - and even many of those are happening in home studios - some of these home studios are multi-million dollar projects! The down-side (for you) is that the seven or eight large rooms in LA get CVs through the mail, each day and every day and from really top-qualified students from some of the best music schools and music-tech courses on Earth. People who can read a score and read a circuit diagram and know the equipment and the software intimately from college.

What is working is A for V post production work - but the required knowhow takes a few years to acquire. Sorry, but that's how things are! Everyone and their mothers-in-law seem to want to be sound engineers and I cannot imagine why - it's a boring job most of the time and provides almost no chances of advancement!

The guy holding a 416 on the end of a pole can end up holding that pole into retirement!

To give you some perspective on what is ahead for you as a career, we used to take on interns, usually from either the original German Tonmeister courses or from Surrey Uni's famous Tonmeister course and we have taken on some US graduates as well. The Tonmeister graduates have all gone on to really great careers. The very best of the US grads was also a good musician and a very talented DAW editor - he is now working in a musical instrument store.

My 30 cents worth would be to let playing with audio remain a hobby and use your time and money to learn a skill that interests you and will actually provide you with a real career.

Failing that and if you are determined to enter the fraught world of sound engineering, Canada - Vancouver in particular - probably offers better opportunities in film and TV. You are also less likely to get shot!

[ManFromGlass]

If you are compelled to follow the path you outlined then you will try no matter what encouragement or discouragement you encounter.
If you are somewhat sensible you will consider that for every job there are literally thousands of applicants - grads from years before accumulating with grads from the years before that and don’t forget to include present and future grads. I’ve been composing for film and tv for many years, so I’ll speak from that perspective, and to say the competition is tough is an understatement. There is always someone who will do the work for less money and many for free to try and get a foot in the door. One producer I spoke with awhile ago said he literally gets at least 200 cold calls a month. Another said 80% of the calls she receives are from composers. I can only assume that the scenario is about the same in the other audio for media fields. And going to LA? Why be a tiny, tiny fish in a huge pond full of people as good or better than you? Many with a resume of experience.
But then you may get lucky.

[tea for two]

This is the era been for a few years of making your own mark, instead of asking others to give you a chance to make your mark.
Some people tend to take note when you have made your own mark.
The tools to do so have been made readily accessible pretty straightforward.
Plenty literally millions have made their own mark in a range of diverse fields on utube Indiegogo so forth.

::

Kim

Musically

I would suggest Junkie XL route.

Junkie had a massive Hit single by Remixing a classic vocalist : Elvis A little less conversation.
Thereafter Junkie (Tom) got offers invites for various projects.
Same happened with Daft Punk, Trent Reznor, members of Radiohead.
Even earlier Tangerine Dream, Vangelis.

These are huge names, principle is same for a no name starting out.

So
Make Stonkin Remix tracks using royalty free songs samples from yesteryear.
Make Stonkin Beats.
Upload them to tiktok utube with quirky funny weirrrrd videos as these types vids gets millions of views.

Should just 1 of these Stonkin Remix, Stonkin Beats + vid get let's say 1million+ views then you would have made your own mark, you may well then have a far higher chance of invites offers on your door for collaborations, projects.