Getting Started

[Blue Label]

Hello sound people!

What should I be doing to get started?

I'm a film school grad conducting a job search in sound for film and television. Immediately after school (this June) I worked as a production sound mixer on an independent feature, was referred and worked on 3 other short films, did a commercial, a doc, and a web interactive project, but they have all been for very low pay. Except for one that I found at mandy.com, all have been referrals. I'm trying to find work that will keep me alive, but I don't no where to look. The faculty and career counselors don't have much more to offer than, "It's tough. Good luck."

I have worked on numerous projects for students, both in production and post. I'm still getting undergrads asking me to help them out, but I need to make a living!

Of course, I'm just getting started, so I don't have my own gear except my MDR7506 headphones.

Should I randomly find post houses in LA411 and email resumes? I'm feeling really clueless here on where to find work. :confused:

John E. Walker

[ChasWG]

Man, you've picked a difficult city to start your career in. LA is a tough market. Maybe a relocation to a smaller, less congested market where your talents may be in need.

Of course having your own gear is a huge first step in the right direction. People see that you are a real, dedicated sound mixer when you own the gear. Not to say that you can't do the job without the gear. Hell I started off not even owning a set of headphones like you. But I did hook up with camera ops. that owned all the stuff (back in the day when news crews where almost a "married pair"). I got used to using the mixers and mics provided me by different news camera men. It's tough to start out like that, but it has been a path for many of my peers here in the Denver, CO market.

Maybe that's the key here, finding someone who owns all the stuff and being that person's go to guy. You make the money ($250 to $300 per day) and don't have to own the stuff right now, but eventually you need to buy more gear if you really want to do this. That's kind of how I did it. The funny part is that those first couple of camera guys that gave me a chance still use me to this day and they don't want to own all the sound gear anymore. They're way happy that I bring all my stuff to the shoot. They know it's much better gear than they could ever afford to own and keep up. And it's less for them to deal with.

Keep your chin up and keep trying. Eventually you'll find someone who needs your talent. It took me almost 2 years before I became profitable doing this job.

ps. Also don't be adverse picking up a light stand or some other piece of grip-ology every once in a while. Early on in your career versatility on set will go a lot farther than being a one trick pony. Just be careful on union shoots...:roll: