Our Training Philosophy
Festival internships are given to qualified individuals who have completed at least 1 year in an accredited audio engineering course** and demonstrate the aptitude, commitment and desire to become a professional audio engineer. The staff will control the pace of learning and the intern will gain experience. This program provides successful interns with the tools necessary to operate as a professional audio engineer at Festival Recording Studios. Internships are not limited to audio engineering. Marketing internships are available for the right person. If you are interested in an internship, contact us using our feed back form. We welcome applications worldwide but it is the intern applicants responsibility to provide the proper documentation (visa, work authorization etc). International applicants must submit to the same program requirements as all other interns.
**These are just a few of the schools we consider accredited
The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio:
http://www.recordingworkshop.com/index.html
Full
Sail in Winter Park, Florida:
http://www.fullsail.com
Conservatory
of Recording Arts and Sciences in Mesa, Arizona:
http://www.audiorecordingschool.com/
An excerpt from our Standard Operating Procedures concerning Internships...
Section 2, Festival Recording Studios
Standard Operating Procedures
1)
Applicability: This document
and all attachments are to be included in the Studio Standard Operating
Procedures. This document is subject to periodic review and modification.
2)
Scope:
This document is designed to provide general and specific guidance
pertaining to the Internship Training Program.
Not all situations can and will be addressed here.
Management on a case-by-case basis will evaluate topics not addressed
here.
3)
General:
a)
Internship:
As an Intern/Assistant Engineer with Festival Studios, you will be
exposed to many concepts, tasks and techniques that are applied toward the
successful operation of the studio and the control rooms.
Your progress toward achieving the status of engineer and running your
own sessions greatly depends upon your ability to grasp and apply the material.
We do not expect, nor is the program designed for you to jump in head
first, but rather your exposure will be gradual and geared toward your skills
and abilities. We will control the
pace of your learning but we ask that you continue to show your desire to learn.
Completion of this program does not guarantee employment with Festival
Recording Studios but does provide successful interns with the tools necessary
to operate as a professional audio engineer.
b)
Overview: In your training,
we will use your individual talents toward meeting the goals of the studio.
Your time will be spent on operations tasks and control room tasks.
c)
Studio Operations Time: It
is important for anyone working in the studio to understand >how
things work=
in order to obtain a global picture of the studio. This will in the long run make you a better engineer.
Your training will be done with a practical approach using your
individual talents toward meeting the goals of the studio.
This way you will gain experience based upon your skills.
Some of these tasks will be but are not limited to:
i)
Clean and learn where things are. These
tasks are to be documented daily using the Cleaning Rotations Check list.
ii)
Act as a runner for engineers and management
iii)
General office tasks
iv)
Answering the telephone
v)
Filing
vi)
Some correspondence and telephone work
vii)
Assist in booking
viii)
Assist in the marketing program
ix)
Receive clients and visitors
x)
Learn the basics of BMI and ASCAP membership as well as familiarization
with copyright applications.
xi)
Building and Studio maintenance/improvement
d)
Control Room Time: We will place you in sessions as applicable to your training.
While in any of the control rooms, you will be expected to daily maintain
the Independent Study Worksheet and the Studio Session Worksheet. Some of these
tasks will be, but are not limited to:
i)
Ask questions
ii)
Take notes and observe
iii)
Learn from the engineers
iv)
Perform actual hands on tasks with the guidance of an engineer.
v)
Tape Deck Maintenance
vi)
Learning Troubleshooting
vii)
Build and repair microphone cables
viii)
Learn and apply equipment signal paths thoroughly
ix)
Electronic/Electrical work
x)
Learn Music Production on several computer program types
xi)
Assist setting up sessions (Microphones, headphones, cables, stations)
xii)
Attend periodic individual and group training sessions.
4)
Scheduling and
Accountability:
a)
Scheduling:
Each week you will be asked to submit your projected schedule to assist
in scheduling. You will post work
your schedule in the studio Booking Calendar for a minimum projected 14-day
period. We ask that you arrive on time each day you are scheduled to work and
work your assigned time. If you cannot be here on time or cannot work the full time
scheduled, please coordinate with the Studio Manager in advance.
Your schedule will reflect involvement in a manner that serves both the
needs of the studio and your training and not to interfere with outside
employment, family, etc. Normal weekly involvement required is 25 hours.
Ideally, 50% of the time will be spent in the control rooms and 50% in
studio business operations and accomplishing other related tasks according to
the needs of the studio.
b)
Accountability: You will be
responsible for maintaining your Training Binder.
Your Binder will contain a minimum:
i) Intern Cleaning Rotation
ii) Intern Independent Study Worksheet
iii) Intern Studio Session Worksheet
iv) Microphone and Headphone Inventory Sheet
v) Tape Inventory Worksheet
c)
Daily Activities:
i)
Each day as you arrive you will sign into the computer and will log your
activities there.
ii)
Using the Intern Cleaning Rotation sheet, you must then complete your
cleaning duties as assigned. You
must indicate completion of each task for your assigned group DAILY before you
begin participation in sessions or in unsupervised control room activities.
iii)
You will determine your participation in sessions or in unsupervised
control room activities. See the
Independent Study and Studio Sessions Worksheet for complete instructions. The
Studio Manager or Chief Engineer must approve Independent Study and Studio
Session participation in any of the control rooms in advance.
iv)
You will be expected to have your Training Binder with you at all
times while working in the studio. Your Binder will be turned in each day to the Studio
Manager. This material is
considered proprietary and is not to be taken from the studio.
5)
Internship Levels,
Evaluation and Compensation:
a) Intern Levels: There are three levels of intern. These levels and the tasks necessary to be mastered before moving to the next level are enclosed.
b) Evaluations: Management will evaluate your progress approximately once every 45 days or at such time as deemed appropriate, place you in the next higher intern level.
c)
Compensation:
Level 1 and Level 2 interns are not monetarily compensated for their
service. Upon reaching Level 3, you
will be considered an Assistant Engineer and may be assigned minor, unsupervised
sessions for which you will be eligible for monetary compensation up to 15%.
Completion of this program will be determined by your ability to absorb
and apply the skills learned to the standards of the studio.
6)
Exclusion from the Program:
a)
Performance Exclusion:
i)
If during any two-week period, your activity in the studio drops below a
total of 40 hours for causes other than management scheduling or situations
beyond management control and/or you fail to show without notice more than 1
time in a 30-day period.
ii)
If the management and the chief engineer determine that your progress is
not compatible with the goals of the studio and the program, the management will
meet with you to determine your continued participation.
iii)
You have failed after 3 evaluation periods to move to the next higher
level.
b)
Self-Exclusion: If at any time you feel that you are not able or willing
to continue with the program, consult the management for resolution without
prejudice.
7)
Problem Resolution: If at any time during your internship you encounter any problem, be it
technical, operational or otherwise, get with management before the problem
becomes too large to deal with. You
will be treated with respect and honesty and management will do what is within
its power to help you find resolution.
8)
Statement of Understanding and Non Competition: All workers within
Festival Recording Studios are required to read, understand and apply the
procedures outlined in the Standard Operating Procedure.
Each person will be required to sign a statement indicating that they
have done so. In addition, you will
be required to sign a confidentiality statement.
This statement will be kept on file.
