The Only Real Stability in Audio

I’ve been working professionally with audio now for over a decade.

(My qualifier for “professional” is having earned $1 – maybe it’s low, but you have to start somewhere.)

In that time, I’ve gotten paid for a lot of different kinds of audio work.

Music with live concerts and records.

Corporate event audiovisual tech.

Film production and post production sound. (yes, films, commercials, web series, and TV – all of it)

Live theatre.

Podcasts, and terrestrial radio before podcasts were a thing.

Architectural audiovisual design.

even live audio for a stunt plane pilot who sang while flying.

and yes, video games.

When I was coming up in “the industry” – I thought that this is what everyone did, worked on anything that made noise. It’s certainly how younger people market themselves now – “I’ll work on anything! Sound Design, Composing, Implementation, and Programming!”

But what I’ve found in reality is, this isn’t actually true. Most audio professionals tend to get into one discipline, stick in it, and not move very often. Then those people talk about how other sound people can’t do their discipline of choice because it’s “too different” (the only valid argument with that right now is games, interactive audio is very different than non-interactive).

Being different from many other audio professionals gives me a pretty unique perspective. I’ve worked with a ton of different clients. I’ve worked freelance, owned my own business, been an in-house employee, and in just a few days I’ll be out on my own again.

That last part – the “I’m losing my job, again” point – has been a considerable point of stress for me recently. You’re probably not shocked with that.

But it also made me remember what’s probably the best piece of advice I can possibly give you if you’re in or pursuing a career in audio.

The best skill you can ever learn, is learning how to consistently land on your feet.

You’ve heard this before if you’ve ever heard someone say “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Cheesy, but true.

This isn’t meant to be motivational or inspirational. I’m not trying to get you to work hard, harder, or even at all. This is not a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps and kick ass” moment.

I mean this as a realistic slap in the face. That’s how it hits me, every time.

Here’s the thing – my default response to bad things happening is to immediately go into “woe is me” mode. I lose a gig, I want to feel sorry for myself. I don’t want to do all the extra work I wouldn’t have to do if I hadn’t lost the gig. I want someone to swoop in and hand me another job.

Friends – I’ve been at this for ten years. You know the older people in your life who complain about “younger people” making it hard for them to find a job? Or who get people their age inadvertently fired because the younger workforce is cheaper? They aren’t hungry anymore, they’re tired of working for it because they think they’ve earned their spot. You are not getting any further from feeling that way yourself, I promise.

Being in a hard situation like losing a gig or desperately needing money, it completely sucks. It’s hyper stress inducing, it causes you to question your worth (if your self-worth is tied up in your work), it makes you wonder if anyone will hire you again.

If you’re in audio, there’s almost no way around this. There is an extremely high likelihood that you will find yourself between gigs at some point.

So what do you do?

The only thing you can do, besides playing the victim card which will earn you nothing, in my opinion is learning how to land on your feet. Start turning negatives into positives. Start mentally reframing your current position and see what you can suddenly take advantage of. Capitalize on it.

Did you learn any new skills at your last gig that you didn’t have before? You better update your resume.

Did you meet new people through or while you were at your last gig? Start sending out emails.

Have you impressed people online or off with your work or your intelligence? Setup coffee meetings.

What do you have time to do now that you didn’t before?

Can you take on freelance clients and have time to meet new clients?

Can you create and sell anything online?

Are there new ways you can be useful to people?

How many people are you willing to pick up the phone and call?

I can’t answer how this relates for you specifically. I know that I’ve thankfully done enough good work for people in the past that if I wanted any random available audio job – I can pick up the phone and make it happen.

I also know that I now have a hell of a lot more time to learn, and teach people what I know. You’re definitely going to see plenty more products and resources from me in the near future.

But think about this question – if all your work dried up tomorrow, what would you do? Write down the answer, and then you don’t have to ponder it continually.

If you don’t, then when that inevitably does happen, you’re going to panic and feel sorry for yourself if you’re anything like me. That won’t help you.

Do your practice fire drill, learn to reframe, and always land on your feet.