Hi Nickus On May 23, 2011, at 7:49 AM, Nickus de Vos wrote: > On May 20, 10:06 pm, Frank Carmickle <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hello Nickus >> >> On May 19, 2011, at 8:03 AM, Nickus de Vos wrote: >> Snip... >> >>> you get experience if nobody gives you a chance, well in the last 6 >>> months I have asked that question over and over but that's just how it >>> is. It's not a easy industry to get in to. >> >> The industry as a whole is really suffering right now. There are way to >> many people trying to do jobs that are disappearing. I understand your >> frustration. My plan is to hang in there and do as much as I can. Music >> always seems to suffer the most during economic down turns. At some point >> people will decide that they want to spend money on nice recordings of good >> musicians actually playing music. The object is to be in a position to work >> when the work shows up again. For some of us we just enjoy recording. If I >> go blow $$$ on gear that I keep for the next 30 years then I can record for >> 30 years. That brings me great joy. How much is it worth to you to make >> recordings? Or maybe you don't buy gear but you rent studio time at place >> that has great gear that you wouldn't be able to afford otherwise. Either >> way find a way to record if that's what you love to do. >> >> Take care >> --FCHi frank > I know that the industry is taking a dip because of the economy but in > South Africa it's worse than in Europe or the states. Thing is here in > SA the industry isn't as big we don't have 1000s of live engineers and > 1000s of studio engineers, most guys do both or whatever they can to > make money. We don't have massive studios like your Abbyroads in > England, most studios over heer is privately owned with guys working > alone. With all these factors I haven't even mentioned the blind thing > as that scares people they think I'm stupid or something so that's > another negative for me. The only way for me would be to basically > start my own studio which would cost me a lot of money which I don't > have, my other option is to start doing live sound to get in to the > industry which I also can't do because I can't go in to places, do set > ups etc. I can do live sound in places like theters with installed > systems but because of the experience factor and the blind thing > people just don't want to hire me for big shows etc. I am basically > screwed for now, luckally I still live with my parents who supports me > but sooner or later they are going to start getting tired of me not > working. The ideal for me would be to go to England or the US because > it sounds as if there's more oppertunities but with imigration and > visa regulations these days you have to have a job on the other side > before you can go. Anyway that's my story in a few words and before I > get kicked off the list for posting irevelent stuff let me stop.
Well... Maybe Brian doesn't think that this is on topic but I do. I think that the technical troubles are equally as hard to deal with as the lack of opportunity. I think it is very very important for us to talk about how to the skills to pay the bills. That means we need to be able to use the gear, find and keep the clients, and everything in between. I think you are greatly mistaken about the industry and how it is in other places than your own. Some of us do live in Nashville, New York city, or Los Angeles, but the majority don't. Even if you do live in NYC you still would have trouble finding work. I know sited folk in NYC who are trying to make it as audio engineers. Tom is correct in saying that it's all about persistence. Most people in NYC are recording in their bedrooms. I really think it's unfortunate. people have decided that they would rather spend money on a few crappy pieces of gear than to go in to a studio. The quality of recordings is surely suffering because of this. I am also looking for the answers to a bunch of these questions. In the mean time I'm going to record some projects and see if people start noticing my work. If they do than maybe things will start looking up for me. I'm gonna keep trying. --FC
