Jobs in the music biz

[therapist]

Just curious if any of you actually work in or around the music biz, I know calling it that is lame as shit but what else am I going to call it?

I mean anything, like admin shit for labels, DJing, promoting, running your own label, producing, are you perhaps Timbaland?

Need to be way more pro-active about getting involved in shit and wondering if any of you lot are.

[Sheff]

I'd also like to hear from some in the "biz"


Sounds like such a fascinating occupation, but equally stressful

[AxeD]

I'm studying audio atm. My aim is to land steady work, hopefully in post-pro or something.
Rather not depend on anything music related to pay my rent.

[topmo3]

i'm studying kinda this field in uni so i hope i score a job in music biz. 'sall about connections nahmeen so i better start making them

[Laszlo]

No, but I know a lot of people who are semi-successful DJs, producers and club promoters. The number one thing that binds them all is not love of music but the gift of the gab/networking skills.

I can ask them any specific questions you want answers to if you like. IIRC Magma has friends who are actually in the proper music biz (representing big names etc). He/they might be more help depending on what you're after.

[ezza]

im doing an Audio BSc atm, but i really want to get into business. any kind of business would do but music related would obviously be my preference

i think when i leave ill probably move to london for a year or so and do one of those courses u see in the back of production mags lol try find one business orientated

a degree's great for having it on paper, but from what ive heard those commercial short courses often have top names connected to them and alot of my friends have made some really good links that way as a result

my dad makes music for films which is pretty cool, i wanted to get into that but he said its dead now



& im a big dj in the bedroom/livingroom scene

[AxeD]

i'm studying kinda this field in uni so i hope i score a job in music biz. 'sall about connections nahmeen so i better start making them

I'm not a big fan of connections. Seems like you have to act like you know everything
and talk bs all the time.. I suck at that.
If I'd have to talk to annoying people all day, I'd rather rob a 7-11.


Agent, what does he mean by dead? Like all producers are signing known music rather than
having it composed or something?
I'm not a composer by any means, just interested

[Nihilism]

They only ask Hans Zimmer now.

[ezza]

i'm studying kinda this field in uni so i hope i score a job in music biz. 'sall about connections nahmeen so i better start making them

I'm not a big fan of connections. Seems like you have to act like you know everything
and talk bs all the time.. I suck at that.
If I'd have to talk to annoying people all day, I'd rather rob a 7-11.


Agent, what does he mean by dead? Like all producers are signing known music rather than
having it composed or something?
I'm not a composer by any means, just interested

Umm, i think he meant people looking for the cheapest ways to do it like everything else. People can get a shitter product but its cheaper so they go that route

I mean he still makes coin cus of his name, but to get into it now as a nobody and make a living is pretty hard by the sounds of it

like he'll record full orchestras and charge 10k+ for tracks... and some kid could get something sounding pretty similar with a sampler instrument and logic

& yeah for the huge blockbuster movies theres just a few names who do them all

[Laszlo]

i'm studying kinda this field in uni so i hope i score a job in music biz. 'sall about connections nahmeen so i better start making them

I'm not a big fan of connections. Seems like you have to act like you know everything
and talk bs all the time.. I suck at that.

From my experience with the people I know you don't have to act like you know everything or talk bs all the time - it's more to do with being friendly, approachable and able to make people laugh/feel comfortable. This is in relation to the 'underground' music scene, though it probably is as you say in the 'real' music industry.

[alphacat]

No, but I know a lot of people who are semi-successful DJs, producers and club promoters. The number one thing that binds them all is not love of music but the gift of the gab/networking skills.

^ This, this, this.

Been around these people all my adult life - everything from sound techs to promoters to managers to game sound design people - and that is the #1 end-all be-all I've noticed.

Also, there's a bit of a disconnect between the technical world (recording/engineering etc.) and the administrative world (PR, mgm't, booking) culturally. It's uncommon to be part of both although not totally unheard of.

I know a dude who's been a high level Pro Tools sales rep for years, hangs out with stars all the time, all that stuff - he also plays music - and the more he does it, the less he wants to. Things that would get you sued and imprisoned in many legit lines of business are standard practice in The Biz - reneging on contracts, breaking NDA's, you name it.

[AxeD]

i'm studying kinda this field in uni so i hope i score a job in music biz. 'sall about connections nahmeen so i better start making them

I'm not a big fan of connections. Seems like you have to act like you know everything
and talk bs all the time.. I suck at that.

From my experience with the people I know you don't have to act like you know everything or talk bs all the time - it's more to do with being friendly, approachable and able to make people laugh/feel comfortable. This is in relation to the 'underground' music scene, though it probably is as you say in the 'real' music industry.

I actually noticed the opposite here.
I'm a social person, but it seems to me like the whole thing is a popularity contest.
Seems like the face behind the decks often is at least as- or more important than the music.

So far, from what I experienced, this is not the case in actual music/sound biz.
People will hire the best guy for the job.

[chekov]

The number one thing that binds them all is not love of music but the gift of the gab/networking skills..

well that's me fucked then

[mks]

I was in the music biz for more than 12 years. It's a tough game.

[Laszlo]

The number one thing that binds them all is not love of music but the gift of the gab/networking skills..

well that's me fucked then

LOL me too tbh. Thankfully, i'm the one that got a lot of these people into 'underground' music so they get me in places for free. I even get to go back stage/by the decks and drink the DJs orange juice out of the carton if i'm thirsty. lol big in the game :twat:

[ezza]

im pretty good at that social shit, so fingers crossed my lack of understanding and talent wont suppress my opportunities in the future

[therapist]

I'm studying audio atm. My aim is to land steady work, hopefully in post-pro or something.
Rather not depend on anything music related to pay my rent.

Other people have already said it better, but yeah, get your fucking gab on. Get every bit of working experience and 'shop-talk' you can while you're around these people. That's all I can say from cruising through a music tech degree, learning a shit-load, making no contacts, then being a bit lost.

Obviously you've got to have the chops, but getting out there seems to be half the battle. That's kind of what this thread is about, I need to put myself about a bit.

And Lol at Agent's dad, though I understand the comment.

[therapist]

Go on then MKS, blow your load.

[kidshuffle]

promoted for 5 years, was equal parts fun and stress.

it is all about who you know tho, not what. you don't have to be the most social person in the world either, but you do have to be able to know who will boost your journey and who will take you nowhere.

[mks]

What, do you want to know what I did?

I will just list the shit I got paid for: record producer, DJ, Jazz musician, record store clerk, audio engineer, internet radio station manager, and content manager for a digital distribution company. That content manager job also included label relations and had me talking to all sorts of labels and artists all over the world and at one point had me talking to the president of Universal Music at MIDEM in Cannes, France.