About Being a Studio Intern
Sometimes, becoming an engineer at a studio starts with being an intern. This can be a good opportunity to show your face around the people you want to shadow and learn from. While it can seem rather straightforward on how one can be a good intern, there a few things I recommend if you find yourself in this new position.
Going on a run?
Yes, doing runs can be a part of the job when just starting off. This can mean runs for food, runs for supplies, runs to audio stores. Things at a studio can happen quickly so the demand for items can be urgent. You want to get things right on the first try. This means:
Write things down.
Again, this seems straightforward, but time after time I see folks trying to remember long specific lists off the top of their head and getting things wrong. It hurts nobody to write things down on your Notes app or on a piece paper. Do it!
Double check everything
Whether you are handling session set-ups or picking up food, double check everything. If you are asked to set up a mic for a session, test it, and then test it again. If you are picking up a cheeseburger with no onions, make sure the food you are bringing has no onions. It’s the little things that make people want to rely on you. Once you are a reliable intern, you may be considered to be someone’s assistant because you are reliable. Make yourself trustworthy and useful no matter the situation.
Learn your environment
There can be a lot of downtime as a studio intern. Some studios start you on the early day shifts until you are ready to move onto the night shifts. Some studios also don’t allow you to touch any equipment without supervision from more senior engineers. Whatever the rules are in your environment, you can adapt to them and still make the most of your experience. You can do this by learning the inventory. Know what is available, what works, how it works, read the manuals, try it virtually through plug-ins. Become familiar with the patchbays. Learn it all.
