The Life of an Intern: Question of the Day

WHICH ROUTE SHOULD I TAKE?

This is a question I've been asking myself lately.  The two major routes I've been thinking about is continuing on the Internship Road or Making a Road Myself.

INTERNSHIP ROAD

At first I had chose this route because it makes you stand out.  Not a lot of people are willing to work more than 40 hours per week and not get paid anything.  It shows how hungry you are.

It made since to me because if you're having a hard time reaching certain people, majority of the time they are more willing to talk to their interns.

I thought since its hard getting in "the door", the easiest way was to intern.

Most studio internships are for people who want to be engineers.  After being an intern the next step was to be an assistant engineer.  I always considered myself a producer first then an engineer.  Because most of the material I was mixing was something of my own.

After interning at Silent Sound I felt I still needed to learn more.  But I wanted to learn more from the production side; therefore I thought it would be a good idea if I could intern under a producer...easier said then done.

MAKING A ROAD MYSELF

This is the road that most people decide to take.  I shied away from this road because its so crowded.  I've never wanted to be one of the thousand CD's on an A&R's desk that have a good chance of ending up in the trash.

The only thing is though...all of my favorite producers started from making their own road.

There are many advantages of this route.  Its just a gamble...and I hate to gamble.  I believe in the work I do...don't get it twisted.

I've read so many books on the business of music.  But none of them have gave any examples of how certain people made it in the game.

I have heard tones of stories about how Producer/Songwriter so-and-so got their big break.  But it always involves a little something that looks similar to luck.  Its all about the people you know.

ANSWER?

I don't have one.  For now I'll continue to make music and continue to send out my resume.

Diddy (ft. Dirty Money) - Love Come Down

I love this song & video.  It feels like the old Bad Boy.  I'm feelN the whole Dirty Money movement.  Gotta pick up that Last Train to Paris when it drops.

The Life of an Intern: Quote of the Day

Knowing is not enough; we must aply.

Willing is not enough; we must do.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~ 

Movie Review: PRECIOUS

This is one of the best movies I've ever seen.  Me and my girlfriend Lamura tried 2 go see it on here bday (Nov 7) but it was sold out at Atlantic Station. But we found another theater the next day.  I'm not one 2 jump on a ban wagon or believe in the hype.  We saw the preview a little while ago.

Precious is one of those movies like Pursuit of Happiness. After seeing the film it makes me appreciate everything. I try not to complain, but now I have no reason at all to complain.  The girl Precious goes threw some much in her life.  I didn't want the movie to end.  Its a must see for everyone.

Mo'Nique gives the performance of a life time.  If she doesn't win an Oscar something is wrong.  She was scareN the hell out of me in that movie...lol

I know we gonna purchase the DVD when I comes to Block Buster...maybe even before it hits the 4 for $20 rack.

The Life of an Intern: Question of the Day

SOCIAL NETWORKS

Today I was on Twitter and I saw that one of my possible future employers was online. 

I've sent his company my resume' and I've made follow-up calls.  People from Silent Sound have been trying to contact him to put in a good word for me.  I've met him before.  And I've also met a few of his employees. 

I don't have his personal phone number.  I was tempted to write him on Twitter, but I stopped...

I questioned... "Is a Twitter message professional?" Or any other social networks at that.

They are there for networking, but is it actually the way to go?  I'm pretty sure he has received a billion Twitter messages saying...  "Yo...I'm the next So and So!"  I don't want to be put in that category.

I wouldn't holla at him like that...but I don't know what to do. 

I decided not to send him a message.  Hopefully one day soon I'll receive a call from him...

Hopefully

Intern Tip 103: PERSISTENCE

One of the easiest ways of being notice is to be PERSISTENT.

This goes for during an internship and afterward. But there is a very thin line between being persistent and being annoying.  I still find it hard to remain on top of some things.  I always feel that I am crossing that thin line, even before I get close.

While I was interning it was pretty easy to be persistent because once I figured what people liked

I continued to do it.  I knew a certain engineer who liked bottled water.  So after every session I would give him a bottle of water for his ride home.  It was little things like that which made me stand out.

But now that I'm out looking for employment it feels like the thin line gets closer.  I make sure to call and check up on places where I've sent my resume'.  But how many calls is too many?

Its easy for outside people looking in to say...

"I would call EVERY MINUTE of EVERY DAY until I got what I wanted".

 But I know how annoying it could be to hear the same guy on the line saying...

"Have you had a chance to review my resume?".

Sometimes we can get so anxious that we over do it.  While other times we worry about how we are perceived by others.  Nothing will change if you just stay in your room with the headphones on.

Stay PERSISTENT.

The Life of an Intern: Quote of the Day

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot;

But make it hot by striking.

~William B. Sprague~ 

Intern Tip 102: DETAIL

DETAIL is one of the most important thing in a recording studio.

I'm already a little OCD, so I naturally pay attention to detail.

One night @ Silent Sound I was cleaning up so I had to straiten the magazines up.  Kory told me it was the best organization of the magazines he had seen.  Its just little things like that.  I made sure that the controllers to the game systems were cleaned.  I noticed the likes and dislikes of clients and staff members.  I wrote everything down.  I made sure that the tea pitcher was always full.  Coffee ready in the morning for when Dave came in.

I wouldn't do anything to kiss ass, just whatever was expected and then some.

Its hard to standout as an intern, so you gotta make sure you take care of all the small DETAILS.

Michael Jackson - THIS IS IT (movie)

I saw Michael Jackson's This Is It movie last night.  I was touched.  The main thing that kept going through my mind was how excited everyone was.  It looked like the show would've been one of the best ever. 

MJ vocals sounded great. Dude's falsetto was always crazy.  He was still dancing.

So much work went into the show.  I know so much money went into making the show.

I had chills watching the movie.

R.I.P

THE KING

MICHAEL JACKSON

$10 Tuesday: Amerie - In Love & War AND Ryan Leslie - Transition

Usually I only buy one album per week.  But I had to pick up both of these.  I've been waiting for Amerie's album for a few years now.  And Ryan Leslie's first album is still getting played in the car.

Had 2 make a few congrats calls (Miles Walker & Sam Thomas).

Two highly anticipated albums from two talented artist.

I'VE BEEN IN THE BAT CAVE

Last week I spent the majority of my time in my home studio refining some skills.

I'm not a singer, but I love to make R&B music.  I never sang in a church or school.  It feels like the songs I've been writing have been missing something...and I figured it was harmony.  I recently bought a book on vocal harmony. I've been studying the harmonies of songs written by The Dream.  Dude is mad talented. I know he has a team of people like Tricky Stewart and Kuk Harrell.  To sit in on one of their sessions would be crazy.

I also been trying 2 get my mixing skills up.  For me its so much easier mixing Hip-Hop vocals then R&B vocals.  Hip-Hop is straight forward.  To me, R&B music always has more going on.  I notice that there are always 1,000+ rappers coming out.  Most aren't any good. There are mad people fakeN like they can rap.  But R&B...no matter how much Autotune you use...you can't fake singing.

I always compare my music to the music I like.  The only vocals I record are mainly reference vocals for songs I wanna sell. I know that don't have to be the best of the best, but they need to be close to it.  The music industry is a competition.  Whenever I decided to send music to potential clients, I'm pretty sure that they are getting music from thousands of more people.  I'm not only competing with other up-and-coming producers, but also the Timbalands, Pharrells, Maestros, and Ryan Leslies. I've gotta make my songs stand out.