CAREER FAQs
Click on the question for the answer.
What advice would JAMES offer on presenting songwriter demos?
It's extremely tough in the pop market to get songs covered or placed, especially if you don't have a hard working publisher or a manager, many top pop writers have specialist managers who are often Producer managers as well.
Unfortunately, there's no magic secret or route.
Producers are a surprisingly good route for placing your songs as we are more approachable than record companies, obviously there is the direct route to artists and managers of artists.
One source that is worth checking out is the Songlink organisation, run by David Stark. They put out an email list each month with people and labels that are looking for songs. See www.songlink.com.
Unfortunately, there's no magic secret or route.
Producers are a surprisingly good route for placing your songs as we are more approachable than record companies, obviously there is the direct route to artists and managers of artists.
One source that is worth checking out is the Songlink organisation, run by David Stark. They put out an email list each month with people and labels that are looking for songs. See www.songlink.com.
Can JAMES help me get a work experience placement?
We cannot offer any work experience through JAMES directly.
In our experience, the only way to get a work placement in a recording studio is by knowing someone, or someone who knows someone, etc, etc, that can be persuaded to offer a work experience position.
One avenue might be to try the Music Technology department of your local FE College. Most FE Colleges around the UK now have Music Performance and Music Technology courses requiring a recording studio for their students and as a College they will be better positioned to take on a work placement than many commercial studios.
In our experience, the only way to get a work placement in a recording studio is by knowing someone, or someone who knows someone, etc, etc, that can be persuaded to offer a work experience position.
One avenue might be to try the Music Technology department of your local FE College. Most FE Colleges around the UK now have Music Performance and Music Technology courses requiring a recording studio for their students and as a College they will be better positioned to take on a work placement than many commercial studios.
Does JAMES listen to song demos?
I'm afraid we don't listen to demos as part of our careers advice service. You could go to the MPG website and look at the Producers there for advice and help. See www.mpg.org.uk
What is a Record Producer?
There are many and varied possible answers to this, some more can be found on the Music Producers Guild website www.mpg.org.uk
Phil Harding adds, "A Producer has to be a good politician and diplomat, a good listener and an excellent therapist. Wherever possible a Record Producer needs to have no ego and the patience of a saint. Beyond that, a good knowledge of music generally, including music practice and theory. Also a good knowledge of studio technology both past and present is vital. Some general business skills are also very useful."
Phil Harding adds, "A Producer has to be a good politician and diplomat, a good listener and an excellent therapist. Wherever possible a Record Producer needs to have no ego and the patience of a saint. Beyond that, a good knowledge of music generally, including music practice and theory. Also a good knowledge of studio technology both past and present is vital. Some general business skills are also very useful."
What are rough salary levels of recording engineers in the UK?
Here's a rough guideline for an 'average' 10hr day -
Freelance Assistants: £50 - £150 per day
Recording Engineers: £100 - £400 per day
Mix Engineers: £200 - £1,000 per day
Freelance Assistants: £50 - £150 per day
Recording Engineers: £100 - £400 per day
Mix Engineers: £200 - £1,000 per day
What is the role of a Sound Technician?
A Sound Technician is a very general term for people working in music studios and multimedia/tv and film studios where there is a need for sound/audio control. It also covers any live gig, theatre or concert scenario.
All of those roles are related and in terms of learning and teaching, there are many crossover areas that are all relevant and similar to the point where an overall training in one area will give a student the necessary skills to transfer to another area of media.
All of those roles are related and in terms of learning and teaching, there are many crossover areas that are all relevant and similar to the point where an overall training in one area will give a student the necessary skills to transfer to another area of media.
What are the best courses in the UK for Music Technology?
JAMES is the education arm of MPG and APRS and we run an Accreditation scheme for Universities and Colleges, of which there are 12 involved to date and these, by default, become our recommendations.
You'll find that list and contact details of those courses on our HE Accredited Courses pages.
You may also want to look at our FE Approved Centres pages.
You'll find that list and contact details of those courses on our HE Accredited Courses pages.
You may also want to look at our FE Approved Centres pages.
How can I become a sound engineer or music producer?
Very broadly speaking there are two paths leading to music and sound for visual industries and realistically neither will guarantee leading to the career you aspire towards. One is to write to anyone and everyone you can find who already works or operates in areas of interest to you. It is always better to follow this up with face to face cold calling, as you can imagine, facilities are continually receiving such requests. A good reference for names & addresses is www.theunsignedguide.com
The second option is to undertake a programme of related education leading to a relevant degree. This takes some time [and money] but on successful completion, you will have a valuable statement of your academic value as well as the relevant skills acquired on route. You should also acquire some additional transferable skills that will be of use should you move into other employment areas. This leads to my final point, good educational courses will open doors to areas you will probably not be aware of just now, let alone consider as a career route.
There are many good courses out there, not just the ones listed as being accredited by JAMES. All we can say is that these are proven, excellent courses that deliver on their claims in the prospectus and have relevance to current industry needs & have produced many successful students in the past.
A full list of UK courses can be found at www.bpi-med.co.uk
Our web site leads to the university/college open pages where you will find entrance requirements and general facility and course information. You will always be welcome to attend the open day each course holds for prospective students to look over the facility and equipment.
The second option is to undertake a programme of related education leading to a relevant degree. This takes some time [and money] but on successful completion, you will have a valuable statement of your academic value as well as the relevant skills acquired on route. You should also acquire some additional transferable skills that will be of use should you move into other employment areas. This leads to my final point, good educational courses will open doors to areas you will probably not be aware of just now, let alone consider as a career route.
There are many good courses out there, not just the ones listed as being accredited by JAMES. All we can say is that these are proven, excellent courses that deliver on their claims in the prospectus and have relevance to current industry needs & have produced many successful students in the past.
A full list of UK courses can be found at www.bpi-med.co.uk
Our web site leads to the university/college open pages where you will find entrance requirements and general facility and course information. You will always be welcome to attend the open day each course holds for prospective students to look over the facility and equipment.