Premier Rock Forum

Remember him? I learned everything I know from him!

Eierdiebe wrote:is that you, Seth? tell the doctor you worked on the new Battles LP, that should count for something.

Indie rock can't keep these pearls white.

Kayte R. wrote: Why is audio recording called/considered engineering? Please answer me honestly, despite my asshole question.

Does someone who knows how to record records, even very well, but had no schooling besides maybe a protools workshop or something, or maybe a certificate from a 16-month recording school = someone with 5 difficult years of math, physics, programming and engineering classes ultimately leading to a BS in electrical engineering?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think "audio engineering" is the only "engineering" field that doesn't require at least a bachelor's degree (in the field) to work in. In the electrical field, anyone without a bachelor's can at most be considered a "technician". Why not the same with audio?

I'm just being a dick cause I can't find a job. And cause school is fucking hard.

Settle down.

spaghettilee wrote:Settle down.

Don't you think you would be a bit peeved? I mean honestly. This douche I work with calls himself an engineer. He knows how to use protools le. Poorly. He doesn't know anything. Yet he's allowed to be called an engineer because the rich college indie kids pay him to shittily record their bands in his basement. He considers himself as much as an engineer as me, despite the lack of any sort of technical knowledge or math/science background. This douche is an engineer? Really?

YES I should settle down.

I didn't go to school for this crap, or school in general. I've only been doing it for about 4 or 5 years, but since October or so I've made over $1200 from recording bands, and all of that money has gone to pay my bills and keep/help rescue me from debt. I guess that counts as "making a living". More like "saving my ass".

I want nothing, underline nothing, more than to do this every week or so as my main source of income, running pizzas in between jobs or something. I've turned down opportunities at well-paying full-time jobs just so that I can have a flexible schedule to take a few days off and record bands whenever I need to. I just wish it was more steady than it is - and I'm working on that. I've accepted the fact that it's going to take a few more years before I can do this fullish-time, but I'm not giving up...I'm just going to be eating ramen and smoking Gold Coast smokes and driving beat up surplus auction cars until I get there. The idea of working in an office or warehouse or car dealership every day till I'm 60 makes me want to fucking vomit, regardless of their benefits, so I feel like I can sacrifice a little bit of my health and well being to do what I want.

Kayte R. wrote:Why is audio recording called/considered engineering? Please answer me honestly, despite my asshole question.

Does someone who knows how to record records, even very well, but had no schooling besides maybe a protools workshop or something, or maybe a certificate from a 16-month recording school = someone with 5 difficult years of math, physics, programming and engineering classes ultimately leading to a BS in electrical engineering?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think "audio engineering" is the only "engineering" field that doesn't require at least a bachelor's degree (in the field) to work in. In the electrical field, anyone without a bachelor's can at most be considered a "technician". Why not the same with audio?

I'm just being a dick cause I can't find a job. And cause school is fucking hard.

I assumed the poster was talking about audio engineers...just and abbreviated form of the phrase.

This should not just be for engineers! As a designer who aspires to support myself solely through freelance, I would be interested in this sort of union as well.

For insurance: I had a policy through the National Association of the Self-Employed. It was pretty reasonable for decent health-care and other benefits. The actual medical policy was through MEGA; NASE is just a larger organization that includes a bunch of other stuff for self-employed people.

For taxes: if you are organized enough to make a record for someone, you should be organized enough to use Quicken or QuickBooks to keep track of one person's income and expenses. You can always hire a CPA to go over your books, file for you, and give you advice.

For savings: there ain't nothing wrong with a regular savings account, at least until you have enough in there to make you think you should be socking it away somewhere where it will make more money.

I was a "professional" engineer for a while. That was my only job. I got sick of being a total bohemian, and working around music all the time killed my desire to make it personally.

Now I work in the printing industry and do a few mastering gigs a month. I'm much happier.

Ben Adrian

matthewbarnhart wrote:For insurance: I had a policy through the National Association of the Self-Employed. It was pretty reasonable for decent health-care and other benefits. The actual medical policy was through MEGA; NASE is just a larger organization that includes a bunch of other stuff for self-employed people.

For taxes: if you are organized enough to make a record for someone, you should be organized enough to use Quicken or QuickBooks to keep track of one person's income and expenses. You can always hire a CPA to go over your books, file for you, and give you advice.

For savings: there ain't nothing wrong with a regular savings account, at least until you have enough in there to make you think you should be socking it away somewhere where it will make more money.

Am I big-time enough for this stuff? Every couple of months my friends call me up and say they got screwed at other studios and want me to record them in my friend's basement, money enters my hands, immediately goes to paying my bills and putting gas in my car.

I'm going to get into that area eventually, but am I at risk of getting screwed by the IRS for a couple hundred dollars every couple of months?

P.S. I do not have a business license.

Andrew --

You probably don't need a business license, but call someone who would know to make certain (get the number of a local CPA from a friend, for example).

Regarding the IRS... it's never wise to hide income from the IRS. A schedule C in addition to your usual 1040 form oughta cover it. I've found it worth every penny to have someone else help me with this stuff, and again, friends can usually recommend a CPA who is both affordable and very good.

Saff

wiggins wrote:Am I big-time enough for this stuff? Every couple of months my friends call me up and say they got screwed at other studios and want me to record them in my friend's basement, money enters my hands, immediately goes to paying my bills and putting gas in my car.

I'm going to get into that area eventually, but am I at risk of getting screwed by the IRS for a couple hundred dollars every couple of months?

Big-time enough for what, exactly?

Anything that actually goes into my bank account, I claim on my taxes. If I get paid cash for a job, I try to spend it on things I don't want to write off later, like tacos and beer.

P.S. I do not have a business license.

Shouldn't matter. If you need/want to claim self-employment income, just read up on the Schedule C and Schedule SE tax forms for federal taxes. Check your local and state laws and taxes, too. If you're at all confused, hire a professional to help you out.

Pretty much any small business/self-employment book covers the basics of this stuff. Ask a librarian!