[ published at http://www.studioreviews.com/internship.htm ]

If you're looking for an internship at a recording studio - and you're serious about it - I just wanted
to crank some numbers for those who think that an "unpaid internship" is working for free.

I spent a number of years working in commercial studios in NYC, and hiring and training interns. Even as an engineer it wasn't just about earning money for me. It was more about getting access to the gear. And if you're serious about recording and making music, spending a lot of time around a lot of great gear will be a high priority.

Instead of working for "free", let's turn it around. Instead of an "unpaid" internship, let's pay you.
But let's also have you pay for the studio time and instruction you receive.

Do the math: You're hired on as an intern. You are "unskilled" labor at that point.
Let's give you $10 an hour. You work 20 hours per week as an intern. $200/week.

You're there for instruction and also to be able to use the studio. The average engineer
is around $25/hr and the average good commercial studio would be around $60/hr.

In a given month you'd work interning for 80 hours. If you had "the meter on" you would have
earned $800. Let's give you a six-month internship with three 8-hour shifts per week.
Total value if you were paid in cash: $4800

Let's turn "the meter on" for the engineers who instruct you and the studio time you'll use.
Even if you are sitting quietly in a session in the back of the room –
you are "being instructed" by the engineer. And the studio and engineers are taking a chance
on having an inexperienced intern in the studio - especially during sessions.

Month 1: You mostly clean and do errands. But you show demonstrate your dependability.

Month 2: You use a little downtime during your shifts to start using the DAW. Two engineers
spend an hour each with you giving you instruction and answering your questions. You use
20 hours playing around in the studio. Studio time: $1200.

Month 3: You start using downtime at the studio. You use 5 hours per week.
20 hours of studio time in a month is $1200

Month 4: You bring in a friend and record some singer/songwriter material.
You use 20 hours of studio time, and two different engineers each spend an
hour with you. Studio time: $1200.

Month 5: You continue using downtime. You also work on mixing practice with a
song file that's in the computer at the studio. You use 30 hours. Studio time: $1800.00

Month 6: You've proven you're a good egg. The owner gives you a set of keys to the studio.
You start working on recording a friend's band late at night on the weekends. You use 16 hours of studio
time every weekend that month. You're wiped out, but you're having fun and learning
a lot. 64 hours of studio time: $3840.00. Additionally, two different engineers spend
5 hours each with you over the course of the month answering your questions, and even
doing some tweaks on your recording project.

So – after 6 months you've used $8800 worth of studio time. And you've had several engineers
give their time to you talking, answering questions, and giving you instruction. You also have keys
to the studio and are starting to really learn your way around. Over the course of 6 months you
received 120 hours of instruction @ $25 per engineer is $3000.

If you do the math you're hardly working for free. And, in fact, the studio has invested more time
and money in you than you've invested in the studio. You've exchanged $4800 worth of your
time over 6 months for $8800 worth of studio time, as well as additional instruction from the
engineers at roughly $3000 for a total of $11,800.

So, hey – if you'd rather get your $4800 @ $10/hour in cash and then pay the
studio and engineers for the $11,800 worth of time you use – I'm sure the studio owner
would be more than happy to work something out.

In that light - working for "free" in a nice studio starts to sound like a pretty sweet deal.

I would prolly give my left nut to "work for free" in a sitch like that!!

mud

*intern available*


*will travel*

quote:

Originally posted by Dot:
In that light - working for "free" in a nice studio starts to sound like a pretty sweet deal.

Until you factor in the cost of rent, food, utilities, transportation, medical insurance and the second job you gotta have to pay for that pretty sweet deal (which would leave a prospective intern considerably less than 80 hours a week to work at said sweet deal).

Man, if only I were 20 years younger, independently wealthy, had no family, had no mortgage or significant bills to speak of, I'd jump at chance like that.

nice scenerio Dot

Nice post, Dan.

I was talking to a guy awhile back who was thinking of charging guys to intern.Find a guy that wants to pay for a "recording course" and use him.

-and to not offend, i took a few courses myself, but what you can potentially pick up from aggressive interning can really beat the hell out of some engineering schools. save the tuition, bank it and live off it if you can. -D

quote:

Originally posted by dirtyragamuffin:
*intern available*


*will travel*

Be careful dirty, or I might take you up on that!!

Well then I'll make a point to not be very careful

When I was younger and just starting out, Studio owners seemingly weren't into the idea of interns. I didn't work in another studio until I could prove that I already had studio and production skills.

i also am looking for an intership....and yes i will travel...anywhere

Now that is music to my ears. In that case, working for free is not necessarily working for free. I have been trying to get an internship for a short while now. Things are coming through and I plan on learning all I can while I can. Great post!