Here's how it's done. The process is simple. Step 1 - Build relationships (aka networking) "I need to get myself out there." People say this all the time, but many of those same people stop short of taking action. Maybe they don't know who to talk to or what to say. They might not even know how to talk about what they do. Don't be like them. Develop a system to regularly and systematically build relationships. Learn how to talk about your work in ways that people will … [Read more...]
How Much Do Live Sound Engineers Make?
So, how much money do live sound engineers make? As you can imagine, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Instead, I'd like to show you a few profiles that represent a cross-section of the industry. Keep in mind that the numbers included below are very specific to one location and person. Before we get started, please take 30 seconds to fill out an anonymous salary survey and I'll share all the results with you at the end. PROFILE 1: San Francisco Bay Area Nathan … [Read more...]
Is IATSE worthwhile for sound engineers?
Subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Support Sound Design Live on Patreon. In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast, I talk to Nat Koren about his audio career with the San Francisco Opera. We answer these questions: What are the pros and cons of working with the union? How do you mix an opera? What does a sound designer do for an opera? What specialized gear do they use at the opera house? How do they mix the show and operate 12 cameras without any humans in the … [Read more...]
What your parents never taught you about money
Do you wish you had more control over your money? (Yes!) Do you wish you knew where all of your money was going? (Double yes!) You Need A Budget (YNAB) is the smart software that lets me figure all of this out for myself. To make sure I was getting the most out of it, I talked to Todd Curtis, their Chief Knowledge Officer. What is YNAB, exactly? I wrote about it in this article, The Minimalist Guide to Budgeting (for Sound Engineers). You don't have to read the article to understand this … [Read more...]
Don’t sell services; sell solutions
Subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Support Sound Design Live on Patreon. In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast, I talk with Brennan Dunn from The Business of Freelancing and Double Your Freelancing. Dunn tells the story of how he went from making $50/hour to $20,000/week by solving business problems for his clients instead of delivering services. Download the Audio Contractor to Consultant workbook Major points covered in this episode: To be a successful … [Read more...]