Live sound engineer jobs

Many of us became involved in audio because we enjoy music. That was definitely my journey - my audio skills were just a result of my desire to make my own songs. However, as I began to work as an audio engineer, I realized that there are a variety of audio jobs that don't necessarily have anything to do with music but can still be incredibly instructive and gratifying, or at the very least can help pay the bills. Here are a few ways you can use your audio engineering abilities to make a living, whether you see them as long-term career chances or short side employment.

1. Audio in Film and Television

If you want to work as an audio engineer, the film and television industry is one of the few places left where you can find stable jobs with benefits like vacation pay and retirement plans. Skilled audio workers can work in a range of areas in this business, from site sound recording to audio post-production tasks like dialogue editing, ADR recording, sound design, and foley artistry.

On a personal note, I've found the majority of my audio work, both music and non-music related, in the film and television sector. One of the advantages of working in this field that I've noticed is that starting in the audio department is a terrific opportunity to work your way up to other positions. I began my career as a boom operator, which led to positions in post-production sound, music editing, and even some composition work.

2. Voiceover recording/podcast/audiobook

There's no reason you shouldn't do voiceover recording sessions if you have a studio with a competent vocal booth. Many studios charge the same hourly rate for voiceover recording sessions as they do for recording a complete band (at least in my experience), so you're not losing money by taking on voiceover clients in addition to musicians.

One of the advantages of taking on more voiceover sessions is that they are relatively easy to do. So you can take on a few more voiceover sessions each week and use the extra energy/brain space to focus on a music project that you're really excited about.

3. Sound Design in Real Time

Yes, live sound engineers frequently mix live concerts, but audio engineers are also needed for a variety of other live events. Public speaking events, conferences, charity events, company Christmas parties, outdoor church services, and sweet 16 birthday celebrations all require sound systems, and they almost always require someone to handle the sound system.

True story: When I lived in London, I used to work as a bicycle sound system delivery/setup person, which means I'd pack up a cargo bicycle with a full PA system (complete with mixer, microphones, stands, and speakers), ride it to your event, and put it up for you. While my company was infrequently booked for events such as open mic nights, public speaking engagements or parties accounted for the majority of our revenue.

4. Software Development

Software design is becoming an appealing job route for the technologically oriented audio engineer. The demand for audio professionals who are also computer programmers is growing as more plugin firms emerge. And the demand for tech-savvy audio specialists isn't limited to music plug-ins.

Software businesses like iZotope create a full range of audio tools tailored exclusively for film and TV post-production, and there are plenty of app developers, video game designers, and other software companies looking for skilled audio engineers.

5. Repair and sales of audio equipment

Repairing and selling audio equipment is a lucrative business possibility for people who prefer the analog environment. There's lots of money to be made dealing in audio equipment, especially the antique variety, whether it's on your own through an internet medium like eBay or craigslist or through work at a retail site.

I worked as an instrument repair technician for a while after getting recruited at a music store and rapidly learned that I was lousy at persuading people to buy pricey guitars. This job had a lot in common with mixing music in that you basically take something that doesn't sound great and improve it, plus it offered me the added gratification of being able to work with my hands all day. True story: When I lived in London, I used to work as a bicycle sound system delivery/setup person, which means I'd pack up a cargo bicycle with a full PA system (complete with mixer, microphones, stands, and speakers), ride it to your event, and put it up for you. While my company was infrequently booked for events such as open mic nights, public speaking engagements or parties accounted for the majority of our revenue.

6. Acoustical Engineering

While becoming an acoustician usually needs extra training, most audio engineers already possess the necessary underlying abilities. If you're interested in acoustics, consider some of the vocations listed by the UK Institute of Acoustics: recording studio/concert hall design, industrial product sound design, environmental acoustics, music therapy, speech and language pathology, seismology, and so on. With these types of work opportunities, acoustical engineering is a real potential for audiophiles to make a difference in the world.

7. Audio Identity

This may seem strange, yet there are several significant companies that specialize in providing audio expertise to brands. The Sound Agency (established by Julian Treasure, who has delivered numerous TED speeches on sound and audio) is the most well-known, with clients including Honda, Nokia, and the BBC. And, if huge brands use these services, who's to say that little businesses in your neighborhood wouldn't profit from them as well?

Everyone seems to be preoccupied with branding these days, and sound design can help create a unified brand, whether it's for a tiny firm or a large international organization. I've had the pleasure of working with a few local businesses to produce original music stings for their animated logos, and this is just one example of how businesses can collaborate with audio experts to help define and disseminate their brand.