Beiträge von jbernhart

  • Suche Praktikanten

    Ich poste einfach mal was ein Ami gepostet hat um einen Praktikanten zu finden:
    At M-A an "intern candidate" is expected to show up in T-shirt and jeans and ready to sing the blues. The LAST thing I could care about is their "portfolio"... if their "portfolio" were worth a shit it would be a "demo reel" and they'd be out hustlin' work.

    The general schedule is that first they learn how to pay attention to what needs to be done [like if you see a full trash can, take it upon yourself to empty the motherfucker]... then they're taught basic soldering skills... then they're taught how the "microphone patchbay" works... from there the actual patchbay [which generally takes a good measure longer]... from there deck operation [and if they take their own initiative to learn the DAW commands... good on them, then they become more useful in a big hurry]... but it's all still built on the "rudiments" of signal flow.

    Somewhere in there they're taught how to hang mics [stand tightened, do NOT wrap the fucking cable around the stand please, neat coil of extra cable at the base of the stand, not near the mic box - thank you]. They're taught to put on headphones and listen to mic movement commands from the CR... they're taught to move in slow 1/2" increments and remember their every move [or even better, some take on a set pattern of movement]... eventually learning to recognize sounds in the headphones so instruction is unnecessary [that's called "graduation day"].

    In the meanwhile... documentation is drummed into their head like a religion... and learning to see ahead 2-3 steps through repetition is drummed into their heads [as well as not second guessing anyone, nor pre guessing anyone... to be aware of what might be happening next, but not executing until the instruction is given]... basic discipline which damn few of us are born with, and fewer parents that aren't in the military install in their offspring.

    On the other side of the coin... no intern should be exposed to anyone in a control room with fewer than 10 years experience.

    This crap with a facilty that is 2/3'rds a "project studio" with some moron that just got out of school at the controls [who got Dad to cough the $20-30k to build Junior 1/4 of a studio] is complete bullshit as well.

    An intern is not a source of cheap labor... an intern is supposed to be someone who you feel is worthy of being mentored... in other words, the only thing I want and intern to know is how to say "how high" while they're in the air [after I've said "jump"]... by the same token, during a logical pause or at the end of the day, I will take whatever time is requested and explain every move, why it was made, why something wasn't done... the theory behind ______, the theory behind a piece of hardware selection [even if the answer is "seemed like a good idea at the time"], what I was going for in terms of mic placement, overall sonic picture and relationship(s) to the other sounds in the project, yada, yada, yada.

    I have always felt that the whole "intern/assistant/engineer" relationship is based on the idea that you were grooming someone to take work away from you... grooming your direct competition... the next generation that will replace me when I become an ineffectual cog in the machine. The harder they work to take my gig, the happier I am about it [and I'm not talkin' "trash talk" in the back of the CR to the client... that is the absolute fastest way I know of to get sacked!!]

    The coolest part is that the harder I work to make the "intern/assistant" better at their gig the better I actually become from the process... the more I explain the better my understanding... so from that perspective, I really couldn't give a fuck what they ever did in the past, I don't give a shit how they're dressed, the only thing I care about is their work ethic, ability to question, ability to learn, and ability to be a contributing factor to the process.

    If they walk in with some knowledge of theory... be it music theory, electronic theory, recording theory, theory of relativity [as in never hire your cousin!!]... then we're all on the bonus plan.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fletcher
    Mercenary Audio


    We have an opening for an "intern" type person... responsibilities will include testing equipment as it comes into the building, testing equipment before it leaves the building... setting stuff up for evaluation as well as sessions... and tearing it down, putting it away neatly, in it's proper place... helping with shipping on occassion running errands, etc.

    The hours are days usually 10a-6p... sessions in our "Methods and Applications Laboratory" happen after 6-7pm and on weekends [there isn't much booked for the rest of the year... there might be a quick project or two, but it's unknown at this point... looks like it's going to be mostly mixing from here to the end of the year... not that that's a bad thing].

    The pay sucks $6.75/hr. for the day gig, session stuff is "volunteer work"... but you will get exposure to "real world" recording techniques and access to some of the world's best recording equipment.

    Interested applicants should send an email to: Jay@mercenary.com the heading on the email should be: "Candidate for the intern gig".

    To be considered you MUST live somewhere in between Boston and Providence, or within relative proximity to Foxboro, Massachusetts [no, we don't have Patriots tickets], must have a car, must be over 21 [OK... that part is negotiable but we'd really like to be able to send you to the package store should the need arise... and it arises often].

    A totally "equal opportunity" thing... but we are looking for someone of intelligence so morons really need not apply.

    Hope to see ya soon.

    Peace.


    All football stuff aside... what we expect in terms of education you already have... what we expect is an open mind and a closed mouth. What we expect is a willingness to learn every aspect of how a studio runs, from wiring to power, from routing to editing, from mic placement to layering effects in a mix... with that expectation there is the assumption that you know damn near nothing.

    I don't care what school you went to, if you went to a school at all... this ain't a school, this is like boot camp... a mini-Paris Island for audio.

    I was taught most of what I know by a guy named Phil Greene... many of my friends were taught what they know by a guy named Phil Greene. Phil is one demanding son of a bitch, but he is also probably one of the best engineers I have ever met, and one of the best teachers on the planet.

    The one thing that was pounded into you when you worked for Phil was "attention to detail"... the one thing that will be pounded into you on this gig is attention to detail.

    There are other little things you'll learn... like when to ask a question... how to read the politics of a session [and they all have politics... someone is always the "alpha" of any session... learn to read that dynamic, and work within the parameters... it is indeed a learned skill]... along with some of the thought process that goes into mic selection and placement [not so much the nuts and bolts that you should go out and regurgitate... but how to think in a situation and come up with a plan of attack or two... the idea is that when you get out in the world, you should be able to work your way out of any jam you encounter].

    There's a little bit of theory, not a whole lot because I don't know a whole lot... but I know a little and that will passed along as well as possible.

    In the old days, there was also the promise that if the intern "graduated" I'd make a phone call and get them a gig in a real studio where ever they wanted... but with the current environment [larger studios closing left and right] I won't guarantee that... though I know of no studio that has ever had a problem with a "Mercenary University" graduate.

    Something tells me that if we chaged $15k for 9 months of this shit we'd have them lined up 6 deep to get in... but alas, we're not charging for the training, we're paying people to learn [at shit wages... but you'll very rarely have to utter the phrase: "want fries with that?"].

    Yeah, the tradional cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping the floors, running errands, etc. is part of the gig... it ain't all "classroom"... but ya gots ta suffer if you wanna sing da bluze

    Does this help clarify the gig at all?


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fletcher
    Mercenary Audio

  • Suche Praktikanten

    Hi,
    ich bins nochmal.
    Bis jetzt haben sich erst zwei Leute gemeldet die beide sehr schon sehr gut klingen. Allerdings wundert es mich trotzdem warum da nicht mehr geht, ich meine, ständig liest man "wie schaffe ich den Einstieg" usw, und wenn man mal was Konkretes anbietet dann rührt sich keiner. Also an die Jungs die vielleicht noch Praktikumsbewerbungen in der Firma liegen haben: Leitet es an mich weiter, wäre echt geil.
    Lieben Gruß
    Jakob

  • Dummes Gespräch - ich finds zum KOTZEN

    Na klar, der Robert vom Unifestival Oldenburg, der der Pickel bekommt bei Bands in denen Frauen mit französischem Akzent singen.
    Vielen dank nochmal für die nette Betreuung.
    Der Einlauf mit Bockwurstwasser hat aber nicht soviel Spaß gemacht wie Du versprochen hattest :?
    Kinders hört hört, der Robert rockt massiv

  • Dummes Gespräch - ich finds zum KOTZEN

    Und wie ich dass merken würde, letzten Samstag in Biel bin ich vor den Foh Platz gegangen und höre dass einer am Masterfader fummelt, bin ich zurück und Frage die zwei Betreuer (Chef und Azubi) "Wer hat meinen Master angefasst?", der Chef nimmts auf sich. Nachher kommt er her und entschuldigt sich, er mache das immer so es höre eh nie einer. Da komme ich mir irgendwie verarscht vor. Ausserdem war der Chef total verplant, verliert 20 Minuten vor der Show meinen Rider und so fort. Es ist halt immer das gleiche: Wenn die Leute gar zu sehr einen auf locker machen wirds meistens nachher schwierig, ich hasse mittlerweile den Spruch "alles easy"

  • Dummes Gespräch - ich finds zum KOTZEN

    Hallo,
    ich lese gerade eure "lustigen" Tricks und Tests.
    Ich arbeite permanent auf verschiedenen Festivals und Clubs, und ich kann euch sagen, wenn die Örtlichen bei mir sowas versuchen abzuziehen werde ich stinksauer, auf gut deutsch scheißgrantig.
    Ausserdem ist es Erfahrungsgemäß so daß Leute die so etwas tun, fachlich selbst meist nicht voll auf Zack sind. Schon oft erlebt daß bei Ankunft noch flapsige Sprüche gerissen werden und beim Umbau dann die große Panik und tausende Fragen auftreten.
    Ich habe folgende Erfahrung gemacht: Wenn ich freundlich begrüßt und zuvorkommend behandelt werde ist technisch meistens auch alles in Butter.
    Nur mal so zum drüber nachdenken...
    Gruß
    Jakob

  • Suche Praktikanten

    Naja eigentlich suche ich ja nicht direkt einen Hand sondern der Kerl soll eigentlich das Ziel haben FOH Mann oder Monitormann zu werden. Also ich hatte eigentlich schon vor ihm nicht nur Hands-Fähigkeiten zu vermitteln. Im Idealfall mixt er sozusagen den letzten Gig der Show. So MTV Made mässig....hehehe

  • Suche Praktikanten

    Eigentlich ist das nicht geplant. Ich meine was soll ich dem denn geben?
    Hands werden von den Venues gestellt, er kann im Zweifelsfall gar nichts.
    Es läuft bis jetzt auch ohne Praktikant, was soll ich ihm bezahlen? 50 Euro am Tag sind 1500 im Monat, das ist viel zu viel.
    Ich habe in einem Studio angefangen, da dürfte ich auf der Couch pennen und das Bad benutzen, hab essen bekommen, und nachdem ich einen Monat gezeigt habe dass ichs bringe habe ich Gehalt bekommen. Da konnte ich dann allerdings auch schon eine Session mit allem drum und dran (Mics, Bänder, Pult, Gobos, Talkback, Cuemix, Tracksheets)vorbereiten.

  • Suche Praktikanten

    Unkostenvergütung: Es gibt kein Geld, allerdings einen Monat Nightliner, Frühstück, Catering, eine Warme Mahlzeit, Alkohol. Das ist mehr als ein schlechtbezahlter Praktikantenjob bei dem ich mein Essen und mein Trinken selbst bezahlen muß.

    Crew: FOH, Backliner, Lichtler, Tourmanager.
    5 Mann Band

    Venuegröße: Nürnberg Hirsch, Berlin Knaack, Hamburg Logo usw.