Re:Keys to Success at a Studio (From "Employment")

[Eric Heil]

I have made the attempt to move this post here because this is a relavent topic and important to all of us currently in the field or just getting in!

I will post the original document that seemed to be causing such a ferver:

Keys to Success at a Studio
#826700 - 05/18/05 10:07 AM Edit Reply Quote



Keys to Success at a Studio
(Things every intern should know)

Please let me begin by telling you that everyone you will be working with at your studio has been through and done EVERYTHING you are about to do! Contrary to what you may have imagined or have been told, your job as an intern is to support the Senior Staff and represent the studio in the best possible and most professional light. It is not to “WOW” the staff, producers, or clients with your knowledge, expertise or “What you did in school” or elsewhere. Most times, the tasks you will be given will seem degrading or “Beneath you”. However, your role at the studio IS vital and I promise that if you approach every task eagerly and complete them quickly and to the very best of your ability, you WILL get what you came for!

This time in your career is extremely important to your success in every facility you go to (Even your own if you have one some day). Any production house such as the studio you will be working at is not just designed to provide the clients with great product. It is also to make the clients, engineers and producers feel comfortable and at home so that they can give their very best performance and want to come back for EVERY project they have. That means you need to help provide a safe, clean, friendly and professional environment so that everyone can feel “At Home”. To that end, here is a list of “Do’s and Don’ts:

1. Do dress business casual-Pants with no holes/patches/sayings/safety pins, etc., a golf shirt or long/short sleeve shirt with a collar and appropriate footwear.

2. Do be properly bathed and groomed.

3. Don’t EVER be late! That one will, at the very least, put you on the bottom of the list of people the Staff will invite into a session and, at worst, mean your termination from the studio.

4. Do memorize the studio’s inventory of equipment, how it operates and where/how each item must be placed when asked to retrieve or put back an item.

5. Do ask a Senior Staff member before touching ANY piece of equipment. You may inadvertently destroy someone’s “Setup” or the product they have been working on and have a deadline to complete.

6. Don’t offer suggestions to Senior Staff or clients no matter how brilliant you think it is or how wrong you believe they are. Everyone has their own way of doing things and if you wait long enough, the reason for their actions will become clear. If you would like to know why, ask ONLY the Senior Staff and ONLY when they are not working on a project and are not in front of the client.

7. Do assume that every closed door is a session in progress. You may enter only if “Invited” or a message needs to be delivered. (More on messages later).

8. Do use “Yes, Mr.______” or “Yes, Ms.______ to address ANYONE unless you are instructed by that individual to do otherwise.

9. Do speak only when spoken to.

10. Do respect and protect the privacy and intellectual property of ALL individuals at the studio. That means don’t name drop to your friends or persons on the phone and NEVER make unauthorized copies of ANY material for ANY reason.

11. Do keep all areas of the facility spotlessly clean and stocked. Make lists of items that are in short supply or gone and give that list to your coordinator ASAP. Clean all areas as if your absolute “Favorite artist in the whole world” will be using it because they just might!

12. Don’t interrupt ANY conversation. Wait until you are recognized or there is a break in the conversations and always say, “Pardon me Mr. or Ms. ______... “

13. Do keep a smile on your face no matter how bad your day I going. A positive attitude will make others around you want to help and teach you what they know (…and that’s what you’re there for isn’t it?)

14. Do keep your word. If you tell someone you will do something, DO IT! If you are in the middle of another task, properly weigh the priority of the second task or cordially ask the individual if you may complete the task you are currently working on first. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed and ALWAYS politely ask for help when you need it. You will garner more respect and it will help you to delegate responsibility when YOU are in a position of authority.

15. Do keep a small note pad in your pocket to take down important information (like the 25 different microphone model numbers the producer just asked you to retrieve).

More on messages and phone etiquette:

1. Never let the phone “Ring off the hook” if a receptionist is not on duty and a Staff member has not picked up by the 3rd ring, ANSWER IT!

2. The proper way to answer the phone is: “Thank you for calling "Big Time Studios", this is ________. How may I help you?”

3. Always put EVERY message into the phone log. Make sure you include: The callers first AND last name, who the caller would like to speak to, a “brief” message from the caller to the recipient (… in regard to…), the number where the caller can be reached, your name and (if possible) when the caller’s message can be returned by the recipient.

4. NEVER verify if the person the caller is trying to reach is or is not at the facility unless you KNOW they are expecting or want to take the call. (Sometimes the person they are trying to reach is too busy or has some other reason they are not available) You may say, “I’m not sure but I will take a message and make sure they get it.”

5. Always ask the caller to repeat any information you did not hear or did not understand and record it accurately in the phone log! You will appear genuinely concerned about the caller’s needs and ensure the recipient gets accurate information.

6. If the recipient is in a “Closed Door Session”, open the door slowly and quietly. DO NOT KNOCK!!! Wait for a Staff member to recognize your presence and place a copy of the message down in front of the Staff member, wait a few seconds to make sure they don’t have any questions for you and then silently exit the room.

These are just the “Basics”. Your coordinator will give you more complete instructions. Make sure you follow them “To the Letter”! The image in the eyes of the Senior Staff of you will be, “WOW! Now there’s a ‘Go Getter’! That’s who I need for my session with ‘Mr. Super Star’!” Then you will get what you came for!

Good Luck in all you do!


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"Make a sweet noise !"

theheilious
The Loft Recording Studio-Atlanta
Your Affordable Recording Solution !
www.TheLoftAtlanta.com