The following is a guest post from Niclas Jeppsson, a London-based professional audio engineer.
His site, Your Audio Solutions, is for the home studio owner, freelancer or studio engineer who is struggling to get clients; or is struggling with the business side of running their own business.
Over to you, Niclas…
Having consistent work from a few clients as a freelancer is very valuable. It allows you to get some consistent money coming in, feel more relaxed and have a sense of accomplishment that you can do this for a living.
Most of us don’t start our sound engineering careers having a consistent gig. It might be sporadic and unpredictable. However, in this article, I will share some tips that have allowed me to get consistent work coming in and how you can get more clients.
The 4 “Rules”
There is no magic bullet to getting consistent work coming in but there are a few things I have implemented that have allowed me to get consistent work over time. Whether that’s recording bands or live gigs, it all boils down to 4 simple “rules”. They are:
1) Be Prepared
Always show up to a gig prepared. Whether that’s recording a band, a live gig or whatever it is you have been hired for. You don’t want to be the reason the session has come to a standstill because you don’t know how the console works.
If you are booked for a recording session, have templates prepared. Know, or at least have an idea of where you will place the instruments, which mic’s and pre-amps to use etc. This will make both your life and the artists’ lives much easier and allow you to get to the creative part much quicker.
2) Show Up On Time
Always be on time. It’s very unprofessional to show up late. If you have worked with someone who is always late you know how that can put you in a more stressful situation and forces you to work quicker.
Also, showing up on time, preferably early, shows that you respect the project and that you are prepared.
It also makes for a much easier, relaxed setup and if something breaks down (which it will) you have time to fix it.
3) Be Available
This is probably one of the most important aspects when starting out. You might get a lot of last-minute calls and being available for those can be really beneficial to you.
I know it can suck when it’s Friday night and you have other plans. However, if being a freelancer is something you want to do for a living, saying yes to those last-minute gigs early on is very important.
It will probably lead to you getting more work for that client because they can trust you and know that they can rely on you.
4) Serve The Client
If you think that you are always right and that your opinion is the right one this business might not be for you.
Instead, listening to what your client wants and needs will take you a long way.
For example, one of my regular jobs is to mix a jazz/improvisation show at a beautiful venue in London. For that particular gig, the act requests that I’m there mixing their show.
One of the many ways that I put myself in that situation was by putting the client’s needs above mine. I do my absolute best to make sure that they are as comfortable on stage as they can be. If they have any requests, I listen and adjust accordingly.
This doesn’t only apply to live sound but anything you might work on. Whether it’s working on an album or making music for a video game. Listen to your client’s needs and dreams and do your best to serve them.
It does tie in with all the previous examples because by being prepared, showing up on time and being available are all there to serve the client.
How To Get More Clients
Having consistent work coming in is also down to how many clients you have. That’s why I want to give you some tips on how you can increase your client base.
Online
Finding more clients online has never really been easier than it is today. There are a lot of bands and artists you can find on websites such as Bandcamp or Soundcloud that have their contact information available.
The best way, in my experience, is to focus on building a relationship with the band rather than going for a hard sell right away. The same goes when you are building relationships with people you meet at networking events or gigs.
The easiest thing to do is to start a conversation about their music and why you like it. It doesn’t have to be complicated and a few words are usually enough.
Just remember, people love talking about themselves.
If you implement that in your emails to bands, you will get a few conversations going in no time.
Shadowing And Building Relationships
Being able to shadow someone in your industry can be very beneficial to your career. It can lead to you getting hired or being the one called in if someone is sick or can’t make it.
It can be your way into the industry.
Asking if you can shadow someone does go back to my previous point about making it all about the client. Which, in this case, is the person you want to shadow. Find out who the person is you want to shadow. For example, a FOH engineer or studio engineer. If you send them an email, make sure to reference their work and why you love it.
This method can also be used to get meetings with people like studio managers.
That is how I landed my first recording studio job. I didn’t ask for a job straight away. Instead, I focused on him and said I’d love to take him out for a coffee and ask him questions about the industry.
Instead, he invited me to the studio and that was my way into the industry.
The tips discussed in this article will get you results but it will not happen overnight. You will have to implement them over a long period of time and do them consistently. Just have them in the back of your mind every time you are working on a new project.
If you are interested in learning more about how to increase your client base I have a free guide called, 3 Tested Ways To Increase Your Client Base, which you can download for free.
About The Author
Niclas Jeppsson is a freelance sound engineer in London where he records and mixes bands and does live sound in various venues. He has worked with some of the best engineers and producers in town such as Jon Moon (Amy Winehouse), Cameron Craig (Adele), Manon Grandjean (Stormzy), Fraser T Smith (Sam Smith) and many more.
Check out his website, www.youraudiosolutions.com, where you can read more articles, watch videos or listen to his podcast.
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professional sounding mix every time...
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