Any PHers work in the music/recording industry?
Discussion
Looking to secure a 1 week work experience placement for my 16 yo son next year (23 June to 27 June).
He is really interested in a career as a music producer, no matter what I say to dissuade him!
If anyone works at a label and they may need a bright kid to help out for a week in teh studio, or marketing departmetn or A&R (whatever the hell that is!), I would appreciate it.
He is really interested in a career as a music producer, no matter what I say to dissuade him!
If anyone works at a label and they may need a bright kid to help out for a week in teh studio, or marketing departmetn or A&R (whatever the hell that is!), I would appreciate it.
We are in Leeds - but he would go anywhere that we can afford to accomodate him.
He would benefit from either live or recorded. He is currently doing a music production course on Saturdays at the Leeds College of Music and is really interested in the production side of things. I have a contact at Universal/Decca but they are really strict on age and won't consider under 18 year olds.
I think he just needs to get an idea of what a career in that field might be like.
He would benefit from either live or recorded. He is currently doing a music production course on Saturdays at the Leeds College of Music and is really interested in the production side of things. I have a contact at Universal/Decca but they are really strict on age and won't consider under 18 year olds.
I think he just needs to get an idea of what a career in that field might be like.
I wish him luck!
I used to work in professional audio, the last 2 years at Angel studios in London.
We used to receive anything up to 50 CVs and requests from people who were doing college/uni courses for work experience/internship every month... NONE of these were ever followed up! Most major studios have people who are known to them or have been there for years, this is pretty much the case with all of the big studios!
He needs to try and get to know the people in the studio and offer to make tea/sweep-up/run messages!
It does seem like a glamorous industry but the reality is very different and there are surprisingly few people in the country who can make a decent living from it.
His best bet would be to concentrate on another line of business and get into music production as a hobby or second job until he decides it is for him and he is good at it. This would be achieved by him writing and making his own music (easy these days with so many software packages around) or get in with a local band!
I used to work in professional audio, the last 2 years at Angel studios in London.
We used to receive anything up to 50 CVs and requests from people who were doing college/uni courses for work experience/internship every month... NONE of these were ever followed up! Most major studios have people who are known to them or have been there for years, this is pretty much the case with all of the big studios!
He needs to try and get to know the people in the studio and offer to make tea/sweep-up/run messages!
It does seem like a glamorous industry but the reality is very different and there are surprisingly few people in the country who can make a decent living from it.
His best bet would be to concentrate on another line of business and get into music production as a hobby or second job until he decides it is for him and he is good at it. This would be achieved by him writing and making his own music (easy these days with so many software packages around) or get in with a local band!
Poledriver
Not too different to what I have said to him!
Luckily his academics are very good. He has just won the French prize at school and wants to study German/French at university, keep up his music throughout uni and see where it goes from there.
He has a number of other talents, so I am sure he will make his way somewhere - but thought I would put the feelers out.
Thanks for the comments though - I will pass them on to him.
Not too different to what I have said to him!
Luckily his academics are very good. He has just won the French prize at school and wants to study German/French at university, keep up his music throughout uni and see where it goes from there.
He has a number of other talents, so I am sure he will make his way somewhere - but thought I would put the feelers out.
Thanks for the comments though - I will pass them on to him.
The music industry is definitely a case of who rather than what you know. He needs to get an "in" somewhere by making a name for himself. Since he's too young to be getting into nightclubs (officially), online is the key. If he wants to do production he needs to start producing - demos for local bands, remixing, whatever. He needs a body of work to be able to show that he can do what he says he can.
I know someone who works for a company that looks after the IPR of artistes etc. They do work placements for 16+ looking for a taster. It's not music production but still an interesting (IMO) area in the current climate. It's London (Soho) based.
My daughter's doing a placement in December. Happy to PM you the company details for an independent approach.
My daughter's doing a placement in December. Happy to PM you the company details for an independent approach.
caiss4 said:
I know someone who works for a company that looks after the IPR of artistes etc. They do work placements for 16+ looking for a taster. It's not music production but still an interesting (IMO) area in the current climate. It's London (Soho) based.
My daughter's doing a placement in December. Happy to PM you the company details for an independent approach.
Thanks for that. Feel free to drop me a PM.My daughter's doing a placement in December. Happy to PM you the company details for an independent approach.
johnfm said:
He is really interested in a career as a music producer, no matter what I say to dissuade him!
Tell him to go for it and support him to the hilt. I wanted to go into the music industry but was put off by 'sensible' people. The net result is that I did something else, sensible, which, as it happens, has always paid so badly that at 39 I don't stand a cat in hell's chance of ever buying my own place or having the resources to support myself for the length of time it would take to re train... and I'm miserable as f
k because I'm not doing what I really wanted to. If you're not going to get any money out of your work by the time you've been reamed by the taxman, the landlord and the energy companies then might as well get some joy out of it instead.is he Yr11 or Yr12?
If he's really into music he may as well consider sudying full time at Leeds. My 16 yr old son is two months into his BTEC Level 3 in Music Technology (not in Leeds mind) and absolutley loving it.
Most professions are as much as about 'who you know' as 'what you know' and I think with music it even more so. As well having all the best gear, most music colleges help students built up contacts and get decent wrok experience so if he's serious then that may be a better way to go.
If he's really into music he may as well consider sudying full time at Leeds. My 16 yr old son is two months into his BTEC Level 3 in Music Technology (not in Leeds mind) and absolutley loving it.
Most professions are as much as about 'who you know' as 'what you know' and I think with music it even more so. As well having all the best gear, most music colleges help students built up contacts and get decent wrok experience so if he's serious then that may be a better way to go.
To have any hope of success he needs to be able to 'perform' as this is the main platform to push your own music and pay the bills.
Either as a singer/songwriter, band or dj.
Producing music for other people comes way down the line.
Most 'music tech' courses cover music theory, production techniques and sound engineering etc and usually give students time in a real studio.
Either as a singer/songwriter, band or dj.
Producing music for other people comes way down the line.
Most 'music tech' courses cover music theory, production techniques and sound engineering etc and usually give students time in a real studio.
I was in this position >20 years back. Set on career in music industry. However I realised that most musicians a d bands had formed at a college somewhere, so I went to uni, formed 12 bands in 3 years and wrote produced recorded non stop, and got a degree on the side..
After 3 years of trying to make it professionally I got offered a cracking it contract job and made music a hobby. Never regretted it. IT pays a lot better most of the time. I do admire those who are successful in the industry, but the success rate is very low from my experience.
After 3 years of trying to make it professionally I got offered a cracking it contract job and made music a hobby. Never regretted it. IT pays a lot better most of the time. I do admire those who are successful in the industry, but the success rate is very low from my experience.
Edited by mr_tony on Sunday 3rd November 22:43
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