So, what do you do?

The Lounge General Discussion
#154

I was feeling that for a couple of years until I finally made the leap to go freelance one year ago.

Initially I thought I could find a job in a studio, but that proved very difficult. And anyway, I’m more interested in writing and producing music. A friend who is a professional composer told me to just take some existing commercials and re-score them, then use that as the start of a portfolio. So that’s what I did.

Now I do:
[ul]
[li]composition – for commercials, film, etc.[/li]
[li]sound design – for games, apps, film[/li]
[li]production – making beats or instrumentals for singers/rappers[/li]
[li]mixing – for whatever, either music or film projects[/li]
[li]recording – both in my home studio and on set for film[/li]
[li]post-production – mostly fixing up noisy film audio, editing things[/li]
[/ul]

I find jobs on Craigslist or sites like Elance, if not through friends. It’s really nice not to be tied to an office or schedule! On the other hand, it’s difficult to make a living without putting a LOT of time into finding work and applying for jobs. And make sure you have savings before you start, as it takes a while to build things up…

In my experience, you have to be pretty broadly capable with any kind of audio task in order to string together enough gigs to make it work.

3 Likes
#155

I´m working at a hospital lab, am in charge of some big machines, spend most of the time answering two phones at once and helping my less experienced coworkers. It can be a bit distracting at times when the most sexy girl you know is flirting with you throughout the day, smiling at you with her deep, dark eyes, but I try to stay professional. She will have to be wait till Saturday night.

2 Likes
#156

I’m currently a software engineer in the medical industry.

I’ve worked in the Games industry - I wrote tools for sound engineers to get audio into games and I worked on the technology used in games for audio. My name appears on GRiD, DiRT and F1 2011.

Before joining a games company, I worked on sound card drivers for Windows. That’s what started my interest in audio and music.

1 Like
#157

I am a freelance video tech, specializing in site-specific video installation, i.e. video mapping.

I was a live audio engineer for about 8 years, then i went to film school, racked up some student loan debt, etc. Now I stay pretty busy traveling around quite a bit doing installations and live graphics work for live events.

I haven’t had a 9-5 job in 10 years, and I am very happy (still surprised) to be able to support myself comfortably while maintaining a flexible schedule that allows me some free time to work on music.

1 Like
#158

Engineer for building automation systems at times when C64 was state of the art in home-computing, doctor in my own surgery after countless nightshifts in hospital. I’m graduated in psychosomatics. One day I decided that it is better to make music at night… :slight_smile:

1 Like
#159

Hi all!

Product manager at Arturia during the day.
Techno producer hobbyist at night.

4 Likes
Arturia MicroFreak
#160

Hi all.

Music/sound student by day. Do extra sound for film (unpaid).

Aside from that I fill my time asking questions on elektronauts;)

Techno hobbyist, when I get a chance.

1 Like
#161

Producing electronic music on and off for about 15 years now. Graduated Hons BSc in Zoology in 2012. Currently studying a Masters degree in Music and Media technology in Trinity College Dublin. Just finished an exam in synthesis this afternoon. It was pretty full on. Two more exams this week and a summer break. Back in September for second year of the course

1 Like
#162

Crikey, I was considering doing that masters after I graduate in two years.
Tough going I’d say?

#163

:+1: Wow small world. At least in Ireland anyways. Yeah it’s a great course. Very demanding but worth the effort. Over the next year or two it will be condensed to a 1 year programme. They are making plans for that now. So it may be quite different by the time you get there. Best of luck with your studies

#164

:joy: ha :joy:

:dizzy_face: full time bum musician :dizzy_face:

#165

Im studying pure maths for a degree part time, rest of my time is spent caring for my daughter (single dad, my daughter has autism). Music keeps me sane (ish).

6 Likes
#166

respect :+1:

1 Like
#167
#168

Hairdresser for 20 years in Houston,Tx

i started to dj ebm stuff as a teen. Eventually I purchased a software program called Acid made by a company called sonic foundry which eventually got purchased by Sony. Then the curiosity for synths and drum machines got bigger and 1999 brought in the korg electribe ea-1 and er-1 . I went on to get the Juno 106 and was blown away by the sound. I started to remember all the 80’s sci-fi movies I grew up with. Went into ableton and started recording and got kinda popular on MySpace. Got divorced and sold everything I had. After a 5 year hiatus I continually read future music and missed making tunes so bad. I purchased a new electribe 2 and was thoroughly pissed at the os and said I’m through with this basic bitch bullshit. Then the Octatrack showed up at my doorstep on February 13th. And now it’s a matter of trying to find my sound again lol

5 Likes
#169

Full time dad to a 2 year old that loves causing some trouble, Post Production Engineer at WWE, music is my passion/hobby.

6 Likes
#170

Fulltime metalworker, cutting all kinds of sheet metal with a Trumpf laser machine.
From 1 mm to 20mm stainless, steel and alloy.

4 Likes
#172

A lot of amazing stories here. Full-time drug and alcohol/mental health counselor, part-time semi-pro musician.

8 Likes
#173

Teacher in history and geography.

3 Likes
#174

I studied film sound design in the Finnish film school, but I work as a sound mixer or boom op on shoots. Currently I’m the boom guy on a police drama, day ~20 of 90 going. Nice work, decent pay, but the hours are not nice.

5 Likes