Audio Engineer to Sound Design?

[ryejenk]

Hello,
I am new to the site. I have a question for all of you.
I am an Audio Engineer in Nashville with mostly experience in the "music for albums" field. I do have some experience with sound for film/video/sound design. I have done foley work before and was part of a sound design team for 4 months. I also have done a good bit of surround mixing.
I am trying to move into post production/sound design/mixing for film/video.
My question is....Do I have a chance with my experience or do I need to go get a degree in sound design or film audio?
And if I do have a chance, where do I start? How do you find jobs in this arena?
Thanks everyone for your help!
Ryan
Ryejenk@hotmail.com

[Bondelev]

Did you need a degree to do what you are doing now?

[ryejenk]

I sure did. I have a business degree with an emphasis in music business/audio engineering.
Does that change things?
I hope it would be to my advantage.
But I am looking forward to hearing what you guys think.
Thanks.
Ryan

[jayrose]

Anybody can hang out a shingle and call themselves a sound designer.

But you'll be competing with folks who have years of experience in audio post, working their way from second engineer up through mixer or editor, and now know how to think in terms of 'visualizing' a track. They have track records and relationships with clients.

So it may be more productive to forget about an advanced degree - unless you're planning to teach sound design - and find a way to start doing more audio post sessions.

[Camel Rider]

I would forget about going to a school (those audio schools are a rip they are there to get your money that's it), it won't do you any good, no one cares what school you went to or if you went or not, in fact, I have found that some people are actually turned off by it (if they didn't go to school), because most of the people in the audio industry are uneducated. It makes them nervous that you might know more and be more talented than them.
Besides you dont need a school to teach you how to go fetch something, like lunch or dinner, and cleaning the bathrooms, washing windows, vacuuming, cause that's what you will be doing when you start work at a post house. but getting food for people all day, vacuuming and cleaning the bathrooms usually doesn't sit well for a talented up and coming editor
that's why I think over 30 is usually too old to get started unless you are willing to be a slave for free.
if you do go to a school CHECK who the faculty is and see if they are good qualified teachers that have credentials so you might be able to learn something. I worked at a well known school here in LA, Because they are not willing to pay for a real experienced teacher with credentials
you get someone teaching you who barely knows more than you do.

[jayrose]

you get someone teaching you who barely knows more than you do

A well-known "institute" (it rhymes with bull scale) has been advertising on and off in the trades for audio instructors. Required qualifications: either a bachelors in some related field, or two years experience.

So you might be taught by someone who graduated six months ago and hasn't been able to find a studio job... or someone who bought a portastudio and a couple of mics from Guitar Center and has been doing music in his bedroom for 24 months.