Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

B

Brian Henson

Freshman
Apr 30, 2013
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Oregon
How easy is it to actually make a living in live sound?


I've thought for a long time about pursuing a career in live audio but I haven't yet because I'm not sure I'd be able to do it and also pay the bills.


I've done sound in a house of worship environment for a few years now, but I've never had any formal training, so I imagine I'd have to start at the bottom, wherever I wound up at. I don't have a problem with starting at the bottom, I'm just not sure I can afford to.


Sorry if this should have been posted in the basement, wasn't sure.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Brian Henson said:
How easy is it to actually make a living in live sound?
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It's easy if you know how. Send me a single payment of $159.00 for my booklet "10 Things You Need to Know for a Career in Live Audio" and you're on your way to a great audio future.

Now if I can just sell about 5000 of these things I can afford to keep providing audio service to the local community.....
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Dick Rees said:
It's easy if you know how. Send me a single payment of $159.00 for my booklet "10 Things You Need to Know for a Career in Live Audio" and you're on your way to a great audio future.

Now if I can just sell about 5000 of these things I can afford to keep providing audio service to the local community.....
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:D~:-D~:grin:
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Never stop learning. It doesn't matter if you've had formal training or not, there are TONS of continuing education opportunities - everything from product specific manufacturer training, to things like SynAudCon and training opportunities from various industry organizations (AES, InfoComm, etc). The more you know the more you can be worth to an employer. But the things that aren't taught in a formal learning environment - things like people skills and social interaction - are often the most valuable. This is, after all, a service industry.

How exactly do you want to make a living in live sound? Simply pushing faders? Systems design? System engineering? Do you want to tour? Some folks make a career in the HOW market. There are lots of folks on these forums that are involved with live audio for a living, but don't necessarily push faders every day (or even every week). You may be surprised to find that you enjoy certain aspects of the business that don't involve mixing but can still provide a good living.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Brian Bolly said:
Never stop learning. It doesn't matter if you've had formal training or not, there are TONS of continuing education opportunities - everything from product specific manufacturer training, to things like SynAudCon and training opportunities from various industry organizations (AES, InfoComm, etc). The more you know the more you can be worth to an employer. But the things that aren't taught in a formal learning environment - things like people skills and social interaction - are often the most valuable. This is, after all, a service industry.

How exactly do you want to make a living in live sound? Simply pushing faders? Systems design? System engineering? Do you want to tour? Some folks make a career in the HOW market. There are lots of folks on these forums that are involved with live audio for a living, but don't necessarily push faders every day (or even every week). You may be surprised to find that you enjoy certain aspects of the business that don't involve mixing but can still provide a good living.
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Yes I definitely plan to continue learning as much as I can, even if I never wind up doing live sound professionally.

I'm pretty open since I haven't done anything other than pushing faders. Systems design and engineering seem like cool and interesting things but they aren't something I have any experience with. So there's plenty of areas that I'm interested in, but not nearly as many that I'm actually qualified to do right at the moment.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Do yourself a favor and get out while you can.

A life and career in live sound is nothing but pain, heartache and despair. If you keep pursuing this career path you'll wake up one day and realize that you hate your life, but aren't qualified to do anything else. Take it form me, I know first hand.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

There's a pretty broad range of options available for 'live sound' and with the right one, you can make a respectable career out of it. Eg, finding a venue such as a hotel or conference center that needs an AV technician is doing live sound, and it would be regular work. Finding a production company that can provide you work is another avenue. Not necessarily as regular of a schedule, and would mean more traveling, but it could be a lot of fun.

And then there's the step of starting your own production company and buying a bunch of gear and then struggling each and every day to scrape up enough cash to keep feeding the pig. Yeah, that takes a whole different breed to make happen. Most people get in and lose a bunch of money, destroy the market and get out. Good times to be had there.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

If you are gonna be in any kind of sales position I believe you must have the "gene" for sales. I don't and am amazed how people generate work from what seems to me like a desert. I wish I had a tutor...or better yet a salesperson as the people that I do know locally that are good at that end of the 'business' are basically hated by half the people they have every worked with/for. Then again. Lately so am I. At least they appear to be getting paid. Shoot for a pro job as working with low level people in general is a formula for frustration. My $.02.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

John Chiara said:
If you are gonna be in any kind of sales position I believe you must have the "gene" for sales. I don't and am amazed how people generate work from what seems to me like a desert. I wish I had a tutor...or better yet a salesperson as the people that I do know locally that are good at that end of the 'business' are basically hated by half the people they have every worked with/for. Then again. Lately so am I. At least they appear to be getting paid. Shoot for a pro job as working with low level people in general is a formula for frustration. My $.02.
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Yeah, I don't do well in a sales environment.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

It's tough.But if you really want to do it,find a company that will take you on as a part timer.If you work hard and show promise,you might be able to get on full time.I would suggest a company that does both live sound and installations.For many years,I have employed young part timers who were interested in audio,but none of them seemed to want to do it to make a living.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

If you're in it for the money, then get out! You can make more other places with less effort. If you love it and feel like you gotta do it then hang in there and make the most of it.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Craig Hauber said:
Don't worry then. Most people I know who are "genius" at sales aren't when it comes to audio. (unfortunately good sales skills makes your customers believe that you are!)
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This is the rub. Buyers react to sales skills because they also know nothing about audio. Everyone else suffers. I wanna get hired as a consultant...not sure how to sell that though!
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

It depends on what you call "worthwhile"?

If you are looking for money-there are far better choices.

If you are looking to travel-then maybe-but don't expect to spend much time "looking at the sights"

If you are looking for girls-you need to get on stage and perform

If you truly are "into audio" then maybe.

I have been on many sides of the industry.

I started out in live audio and did that for about 25yrs. local and regional stuff-small -large all types of music.

Then I got into install and did that for about 10yrs I was overall much happier-more money-less stress-more regular have weekends free (mostly) and so forth.

Then I got into manufacturing almost 9 years ago. I think I am truly happy now. More money-home more-more mentally challenging-less physical "danger" and so forth.

Yes there was some overlap in years for those "counting".

I never thought there would be anything but live audio for me-and there are many GREAT memories AND many BAD memories-----------------

You may not end up where you started- but the ride can be fun.

I truly feel I am living my dream now :) I still do live shows from time to time-but don't have to worry about all the hassles that I used to :)

If you choose a career in audio-you do it for the love of the industry-NOT for the money. Always remember that. And try to remember to put some money aside for the "end of the road". THAT is the hard part.

One of the biggest things I have learned over the years is NEVER STOP LEARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I got back into learning again (when I got into the install side of things) I was much happier mentally. I have always had a "thurst" for learning-and I was mostly missing that during the "production years"-yet did not realize it.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

long hours and low pay

mmmmm... sign me up


as has been noted...
lots of choices to be made

something left out so far-
unless you manage to land some kind of 8-5 gig [good luck...]
it takes two fairly unique individuals to make a family thing work
with one partner working in this industry

basically if your gal is not %110 on board with this
it's either a different career or a different girl

and no matter what they say
you may not know they cant hang till it's too late


fwiw
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

As others already noted, a career in live sound can mean many things. It might also help to know a bit more about you. Things like any relevant education, training or experience that you either have, are pursuing or currently plan to pursue. It would also help to know your initial goals and situation, for example do you want to be out on the road or stay in a certain area, do you have savings or a secondary income or do you need an immediate income off which you can survive and so on. And perhaps what opportunities you believe may be out there, for example do you have any events facilities, contractors, production companies, etc. in the area that might offer some entry level opportunities?
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Brian Henson said:
Yeah, I don't do well in a sales environment.
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You don't necessarily have to be good at sales, but you have to be able to sell yourself at least.

If you stick with audio for a while you'll realize at some point that you have an incredible mental platform for quick problem solving under pressure, and this is highly valued in other industries, so you won't be totally stranded if you decide to get out.

My advice is to develop multiple skills while working in the industry. Don't just be a mix engineer. Learn about website design. Learn about accounting and business practices. Learn about electricity. Learn about trucks. Learn about rigging. I guess this ties into the advice to never stop learning, but I want to emphasize that you should strive to diversify your skill set even if you mostly do just one thing on the job.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Daniel Postilnik said:
You don't necessarily have to be good at sales, but you have to be able to sell yourself at least.

If you stick with audio for a while you'll realize at some point that you have an incredible mental platform for quick problem solving under pressure, and this is highly valued in other industries, so you won't be totally stranded if you decide to get out.

My advice is to develop multiple skills while working in the industry. Don't just be a mix engineer. Learn about website design. Learn about accounting and business practices. Learn about electricity. Learn about trucks. Learn about rigging. I guess this ties into the advice to never stop learning, but I want to emphasize that you should strive to diversify your skill set even if you mostly do just one thing on the job.
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That does seem to be the key, doesn't it?

I'm finding that in the IT world. There's actually quite a lot when it comes to computers and software that I know how to do, or can easily figure out, but I don't have a lot of education or on-the-job experience doing. Unfortunately a lot of the time in the tech industry it seems that having at least a 4-year degree and 2 years+ experience is a given. Sometimes it can feel like a real catch 22, need the experience to get the job, need the job to get the experience.

At least in audio it doesn't seem like degrees are all that valued (depending on the area you're in of course), but experience still seems pretty important, probably more so even.
 
Re: Career in audio a worthwhile endeavor?

Brian Henson said:
How easy is it to actually make a living in live sound?


I've thought for a long time about pursuing a career in live audio but I haven't yet because I'm not sure I'd be able to do it and also pay the bills.


I've done sound in a house of worship environment for a few years now, but I've never had any formal training, so I imagine I'd have to start at the bottom, wherever I wound up at. I don't have a problem with starting at the bottom, I'm just not sure I can afford to.


Sorry if this should have been posted in the basement, wasn't sure.
Click to expand...

The way to end up with 1 million dollars in the sound business.....start with 2 million dollars
 
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