a little detail. This client (there are 4) is a large manufacturer of commercial hauling equipment. The audio part does not start until the film (20 minute) is 3/4 in the can. Attending various parts of the production are: A plant manager, a chief engineer, a legal guy, a producer, a film editor, and audio engineer several other musicians (sometimes?)and three people from the national advertising agency.

Typically, the film is scheduled for worldwide distribution at 8:00 PM on Tuesday morning. I arrive at 4:00 P.M. Sunday. From 4:00 to about 10, I do a treatment based on the roughs. That is reviewed as it is created by the producer and whomever else shows up. With a partial OK on the concept, the bed is produced (includes lots of tempo changes, sampled sounds of the manufacturing process, etc.It is finished and "rough fitted" by about 8:00 AM, when all hell breaks loose. That's when Advertising Agency people (a creative director, account supervisor, continuity director, etc.) show up with the job of making contributions (read "changes") without knowing anything about film or music.

Then, from 8:00 AM until completion (6:00 PM-midnight)it's a run to the finish with lots of "tuning", legal changes,etc.

I am also paid to control continuity (re-writes that happen in real time), am the "big picture" guy, who fixes all the problems.

It's a music factory (really, a sound factory). We use all house owned instruments which are placed, tuned and otherwise adjusted to the producer and engineer's preferences. A change, adding a different player (I do 90% of all the playing)would require instrument changes and other actions that add cost and time. We don't have either.

Even though I'm not an entertainer, it's refreshing to see faces smiling back at you, occasionally. For that reason, I'm keeping a little 4 night country club job and a twice a month B-3 job. Just need a little fix every once in a while.

Today, there is more work for producers of UTube kinds of industrial productions than ever before. They are replacing print, big-time....Annual Reports...installation instructions....publicity releases, etc. And there's an audio track for each piece of a certain level.

Versatility, patience and the ability to stay up for days is what's required.

It's music ,plus. It's exhausting, rarely creative and can drive you nuts.

But, it's work and the pay is GREAT.

Breaking in is another thing. You don't do staffing calls/auditions. It's word of mouth from production insiders.
Your completed reel is your audition.

Check it out! If you're good enough, you can earn as much as mid-level corporate officers. ($250,000.00, plus).


But, you'll always miss the live (read-"people") element.


Check it out!


Russ