advice? what to do for my future

[thetrooper9]

I am a senior in high school and im trying to decide what to do with my future. It took me a long time to decide what career to go for. I decided a year ago that i should be an audio engineer.

 

I have read a lot about it and now that I see what it takes to become one im thinking that I would should continue to be a musician instead of pursuing the craft of audio engineering. What im really thinking I want to do now is to be a composer for movies commercials or video games.

 

I have a studio set up in my room and I have enjoyed making my own songs. Im not sure about how it is to get a job as a composer though. Should I go to a music school to learn about it? I already know a lot about music theory from playing guitar. I don't know anything really about the music industry.

 

Can someone give me advice on what I should do? or what you wished you did when you were my age?

[soundwave106]

There's a lot of advice that comes up every now and then on the scoring trade. Essentially, from what I have read, you start off by connecting with other artists, and doing freebies for independent and/or student films (video games, the same). You're young so you're probably in the best position to get started.

 

Music school will help you learn more about composition, and possibly help you get connected with other young artists. I would personally not go for an overly specialized school, instead concentrating on a standard university with a good arts program.

[primeelite]

If I were you I would go to school for business/marketing/etc and then get a minor in music composition or audio engineering. This way you won't be one dimensional and will also have something to fall back on if you can't find a job in that field. The audio engineering, composing, and music industry in general has a lot of people wanting jobs and a very small amount of jobs open.

[danosongs]

LOL, neither is a good career choice.

 

People don't do music because its a great career, you do it because its the only thing you can imagine yourself doing.

 

If you can picture a life without being a musician, then I urge you to do that.

 

If you want a great creative career, then become a programmer - web, games, whatever.

[Poker99]

Wanna be poor? The music business is there for you.

[primeelite]

^ That is exactly my point. Just because you want to be a musician or in the music industry doesn't mean you should put all your eggs in one basket. I have made a career out of the music industry as well as other marketing ventures in my company and media but it is very hard and I got a very early start. I just said go ahead and pursue your dream but also prepare yourself if you would need to get another good paying job while you work at it. Or look at it this way if you have a business degree as your major it can only help you in opening up your own music company once you gain experience.

[thetrooper9]

I am already doing freebie stuff and some paying jobs for people. I know I should have a backup or side job. I do want a creative career with designing things. Thats what people have been telling me to do since i was little but since im colorblind I don't think there's much I can do besides sound. Video games are big now. I was wondering if there is a demand for sound designers for video games?

[soundwave106]

 

Video games are big now. I was wondering if there is a demand for sound designers for video games?

 

 

Yes there is, and it can even be a salaried position. This is probably one of the better choices to go to for those looking to be a "working musician" -- there is a growing demand as the complexity of today's games increase, with even simple Flash games often having good modern sound; and contrary to most music careers, the salaries I'm seeing listed are respectable (although not like the computer programming guys.)

 

That being said I imagine it's a tough nut to crack. Having your own studio is a good start -- you really need to be self-sufficient in this career, it seems, and good at producing effects and scores in all sorts of styles. You also need to (IMHO) be sufficiently computer-literate in this sort of career -- not just in computer production of music, but have some familiarity of the platform backbone. Many game composers are free-lance or small studios, which means marketing and negotiating skills are also nice to have.

[CLOCK13]

I do not know why I am the only person who ever brings this up. You can have your music placed in a music library. That way if someone want's your music in a videogame, movie, etc they can find your music parked at that site. Do a search for "music library". www.audiosparx.com www.partnersinrhyme.com are two of many similiar sites.

 

Maybe you could start your own recording studio for others to use in your local area? I also recommend studying some books on the music business.

[Matximus]

 

I am a senior in high school and im trying to decide what to do with my future. It took me a long time to decide what career to go for. I decided a year ago that i should be an audio engineer. I have read a lot about it and now that I see what it takes to become one im thinking that I would should continue to be a musician instead of pursuing the craft of audio engineering. What im really thinking I want to do now is to be a composer for movies commercials or video games. I have a studio set up in my room and I have enjoyed making my own songs. Im not sure about how it is to get a job as a composer though. Should I go to a music school to learn about it? I already know a lot about music theory from playing guitar. I don't know anything really about the music industry. Can someone give me advice on what I should do? or what you wished you did when you were my age?

 

 

 

I say join the Army or Marines - it'll make you tough and disciplined and set you up for school. When you get out, hone your musical chops while you go to school for audio engineering. You'll be a double threat: an artist with a practical, marketable skill. And I'm serious about the military, thing. I signed up when I was a kid. Smartest I ever did. I'd urge every young person to consider it. Good time to do it too, as a smart kid like you is probably eligible for all kinds of fatty bonuses with the wars going on. Oh yeah, and if you think the military's no place for a burgeoning artist, consider Maynard of Tool, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix and James Blunt, among others....I can't stress how badass it makes you.

[Fernabulax]

can't really recommend the military option - always run the risk of getting killed. audio engineering is glutted with wannabes. the only guys i know making a living at it do freelance for established producers.

 

you might want to get into mixing live sound, instead - it pays pretty steady if you locate to a larger city. i have a pal who did live sound in htown for years and paid off a nice house.

 

happy trails!

[thetrooper9]

If i want to do sound for games should I be looking into game schools?

 

I would like to join the military most of my family has been in the military. I used to be very athletic but i developed severe tendinitis in my knee so I think that would be to physical for me now. Ive tried everything with different doctors to heal it but it never gets better. I can't even ride my bike without being in severe pain anymore.

 

I haven't really thought about doing live sound. What kinds of jobs are available for that?

I was kinda thinking that it would be harder to find work in that than audio engineering.

[soundwave106]

I do not know why I am the only person who ever brings this up. You can have your music placed in a music library. That way if someone want's your music in a videogame, movie, etc they can find your music parked at that site. Do a search for "music library". www.audiosparx.com www.partnersinrhyme.com are two of many similiar sites.

 

I think music libraries are okay for the small-time hobbyist musician, but I haven't seen any indication that you can make much of a career just by submitting stuff to music libraries. Even TAXI doesn't seem to be the optimal way to do things, it seems perhaps okay for an occasional job but doesn't seem to be the path to a full time composer career.

[Matximus]

Yeah, you might get killed in the military. But you might also get the chance to kill - which is totally awesome. So it all evens out.

[mulch]

There is no right answer - even mine. But if you have an avenue to attend colllege and earn degree's - do it. Sure you can work hard and make a nice living without doing so - but the experience and education you will get staying in school is woth doing it - while you are young. Like suggested earlier - major in business/marketing, minor in music.

[CLOCK13]

I say join the Army or Marines - it'll make you tough and disciplined and set you up for school. When you get out, hone your musical chops while you go to school for audio engineering. You'll be a double threat: an artist with a practical, marketable skill. And I'm serious about the military, thing. I signed up when I was a kid. Smartest I ever did. I'd urge every young person to consider it. Good time to do it too, as a smart kid like you is probably eligible for all kinds of fatty bonuses with the wars going on. Oh yeah, and if you think the military's no place for a burgeoning artist, consider Maynard of Tool, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix and James Blunt, among others....I can't stress how badass it makes you.

 

There you go.

[CLOCK13]

I think music libraries are okay for the small-time hobbyist musician, but I haven't seen any indication that you can make much of a career just by submitting stuff to music libraries. Even TAXI doesn't seem to be the optimal way to do things, it seems perhaps okay for an occasional job but doesn't seem to be the path to a full time composer career.

 

I thought I would bring it up. Taxi gets mentioned a million times a day here but not music libraries.

[Scafeets]

There's not much percentage in training for a hot job. If you go for the specific skills, you'll end up in a very deep talent pool trying to figure out how to jump into the adjacent (and very shallow) job pool.

As you no doubt figured out, there are more way more audio engineers than jobs, and it's always been that way. Likewise, everyone and their monkey wants to design and produce vidgames.

For the past 30 years, Journalism Schools have been cranking out thousands of aspiring Woodwards and Bernsteins. Look at the current media market and you'll understand why the guy checking you out at Borders or Starbucks might have a Masters in Journalism. (or English, or Philosophy.)

Become a well-rounded, well-educated person with a BS or BA in anything you like. If you're thinking "marketable skills" then go for engineering, marketing or management. Then, while you can afford to do so, work for slave wages in the glamour industry of your choice. The degree will help you elbow your way past the 1,000 other applicants and will demonstrate your capacity to learn.

You will have more doors opened to you if you are not the one-trick pony with last-year's skills in the buzz profession, so avoid having nothing else to show for an expensive education other than the mastery of some particular software app or narrowly-defined skill.

Since many of these glamour jobs revolve around technology, the biggest downside of acquiring technical skills in school instead of on the job is that you'll learn from academics instead of working pros, and on something less than state of the art equipment.

This is why I suggest you learn business, communications and other generalized skills in a degree program. Whatever you end up doing, those are the skills that will separate you from the code jockeys, button-pushers and other tech-oriented guys who don't have the big picture in focus.

Finally - as any successful visual or musical artist will tell you, you're NOT going to learn creativity in college. At best, you'll learn how to handle the success your creativity will ultimately bring. Good luck!

[CLOCK13]

 

Well, when I'm in high school. I would like to take a nurse course but by the time my cousin told about the situation of a nurse I change my mind. I took hrs course then I found that it is very expensive. Now I'm planning to shift a journalism course. Elektronische Rechnungen

 

 

Sounds like you have a plan.

[bluesway]

get a degree first. keep writing and cataloging everything you do, but get that degree first. chances are, you'll be working in another job while you're still getting the music off the ground. the better you set yourself up with that other job, the better off you'll be. ({censored}...ruben blades is a lawyer!)

 

one of the major misconceptions I had (i have a degree in music) is that music works a lot like other jobs. it doesn't. careers have to be CREATED in a grassroots fashion - from the ground up. nobody gets "hired" out of college and begins their climb like, say, a computer programmer or a financier.

[bluesway]

I thought I would bring it up. Taxi gets mentioned a million times a day here but not music libraries.

 

first hand experience: TAXI is a load of {censored}. it's another example of a company promising a 'quick hit' approach to many musicians. it DOESN'T work like that.

[tubejay]

 

Can someone give me advice on what I should do? or what you wished you did when you were my age?

 

 

1. Yes you should definitely go to school for whatever you decide to do. Go to a prestigious school if you can get in and get at least a 4 year degree. It puts you a leg above everyone else when you're looking for a job.

 

2. Always think about the job, and how you're going to pay the bills. Do the things that are going to most likely ensure you end up with a living at the end of it all. Which means go back to point one, and go get a good education.

 

3. Go to a school that is geographically located near the places where there are the most jobs in that field. Do this so you can meet people, network, and get your name out there. If you want to do this type of work, be prepared for ridiculous hours, and a ridiculous amount of time spent trying to meet the right people to get heard. If you plan to move back to podunk, MO after you get your degree, then you will not be happy with the work you get, if you get any. So you must network, you must meet people, and you must make a good impression.

 

If you have a superb education, a good personality, and talent, then you can go far. Think long and hard if this is really something you see yourself doing when you're 45 years old. If it is, and you're good at what you do, and you're ready to work your ever loving ass off, then go for it. I highly...highly recommend a good education though.

 

If you go the four year degree route you'll have something to fall back on if your plans don't work out. It's always good to have a plan B in the music business. In fact, you NEED to have a plan B. Sometimes talent, personality, and skill aren't enough in the music business, so it's best to be prepared to put the twinkies on the table if you get dealt a bad hand. I know it sounds like more work that way, but it IS worth it. You're young, do it now, because doing it later with a wife and kids is about 10 times harder.

 

Also getting a minor in business is a huge plus, because you may very well end up running your own business in this field. Even if you don't, understanding the money side of things is incredibly important. Again, it's all about being prepared, and if you minor in business, then you'll have a great fall back if things don't work out.