CEO Blogs

My father spent his life as an auto machinist and my uncles were all construction workers.  Anytime I was about to start wrenching my Harley or adding an addition to my house, my father and uncles would remind me, “you need the right tool to do the right job”.  Although, it took me a few decades to truly…

I thought I’d add my two cents with the writers’ strike now behind us. Then, I thought, “Why would I write about something I have no first-hand knowledge of.” (It’s funny in today’s world; speaking about something you have no real insights on seems to be the norm.) However, I do get asked often, “What…

In industry, there is something called “disruption.” Some companies go down because of disruption, and some companies thrive in disruption. It is called their AQ adaptability quotient. How well they adapt to disruption or change in their sector of an industry. Going back to normal will not happen. Normal is only relative to the present…

Being a Digital Engineer, primarily hardware engineering, and being a “Creative”, primarily Video, Music and Writing, I’ve been told I use both sides of my brain. Apparently, neuroscience had said that is unusual.   Well now some of them say that Right Brain / Left Brain dominance is a myth. It is more complex than Right…

Story sounds like a simple word. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it is incredibly complex. A complex story might be a feature film or a book series like The Hobbit or Harry Potter. A Broadway play or even Ted Talks are stories. Then again, it could be as simple as you relating a situation that happened…

The power of AI, Wonder Studio, the family of Adobe apps, Avid and so much more have changed and are changing the way we create. But unlike past tech, new tech is coming at us so fast and furious (do I have to pay licensing fees for using that phrase) it’s hard to keep up, let alone master them. Historically,…

The other day, I somehow ended up in a “discussion” where everyone was blaming “millennials and GenZ” in one form or another for ruining everything this group of industry veterans held sacred. Claiming this next generation has distorted morals, no social skills, and no work ethic.  Listen, I grew up with hair down to the…

TOO LONG FOR A POST …BUT WORTH YOUR TIME With the passing of yet another 911 anniversary I am always drawn to the day and the flood of emotions it created. For all of us there is “a” moment. The moment we heard, saw or felt the horror.  The moment we realized how fragile our…

Ever wonder what it was like to sail on a pirate ship?  The diversity of the crew and their backgrounds. The shared experiences of each crew member.  The different adventures that each day would bring.  Maybe battling for your life against the big corporate armada. (Oops almost gave away the analogy.) I have run serval…

EPISODE SYNOPSIS:  In this episode of Skills & Technology, Joe Scacciaferro welcomes SaVon Slater, a real podcast producer, Savon shared with us his experience producing podcasts and how to ‘keep it real’ is one of the basis core to have a successful podcast, SaVon took a risk to follow his dreams to achieve his goals…

I am pleased to announce a new milestone for the growth of our community of emerging leaders in entertainment production.  Ferro City has acquired CROOW – a strategic union that represents the coming together of two forward-thinking teams. If you’re not familiar with CROOW, they were named one of the top 100 startups in the…

When you roll up your selves and start your struggle, people will see your struggle, and talented people will come to your aid.  If you sit on your couch and plan your struggle no one is going to help.  Help comes when someone can see your attempts. Not having the right resources whether its money,…

Okay that’s enough generation profiling…from all gens to all gens.. I’m tired of hearing people talk about Gen Z’s bad social skills or the Millennials sense of entitlement. I am tired of hearing my generation talk about the industries future like “chicken little yelling about the sky is falling”. (Google it up if the reference went…

The first step anywhere is never exciting in itself. Where that step leads is AMAZING What happens once you Get In?  Let’s say you found someone who offered you some rando gig. Not exactly what you wanted but at least it’s something in the outer ring of the production.  Now what? Now pay attention! No, not to…

Calling ALL creatives… “You need to relax…” How many times have you heard someone tell you that! Easy to say … but hard for most of us to do.  If your career depends on you being at your creative best, as mine does, you better learn to shut down. I mean really shut down, turn off…

I have thirty years of experience working at the highest level of music and broadcast programming. Co-authored fifteen books on the creative use of technology in the music industry. I’ve written over a hundred blogs posted on Ferro City and social media. Completed seventy-plus One-on-One interviews and documentaries with industry legends and working professionals in…

Did you ever blow out the sound system at Carnegie Hall an hour before showtime? Did you ever Nova the lighting grid in the studio during a live broadcast? Have you ever wiped out all the drum tracks on a Steely Dan album before its release without backing it up? Did you ever pull the…

Today’s smartphones didn’t just appear on the market and radically changed the world. Several instrumental developments had to happen prior. Actually, nothing just happens on its own. There is always a sequence of events before what is perceived as the major event. Whether it’s technology, medical advancement, music, story or film, they are all influenced…

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: In this episode, Joe Scacciaferro talks with long time broadcast sound producer Karl Del Piano. Coming from a background in music, Karl was able to take that skill and successfully transition into entertainment broadcasting specializing in a process known as “sweetening.” Similar to follies in film, Karl was tasked with matching appropriate audio…

I spent my entire career / life being part of a band, team, crew or department and never thought much about.   That was until the events of the 2020 pandemic hit and forced all of us to stand down from working in person. It was after that that I understood the critical element needed…

Stop blaming it on the technology. How often do you hear people say, “I never got that email.” Never got your text” or “My phone never rang”. Stop it! This isn’t 1980 when tech was still glitchy. How about the “My laptop crashed, and I lost all the notes from the preproduction meeting.” “Didn’t get…

Some people train daily for hours in a gym, some study a single subject for years, many spend a life time honing their skills to a fine edge. All preparing in anticipation of an opportunity that hopefully will just show up at their front door. Then there are others who just walk onto the playing…

That may sound like a weird title for career in the entertainment production industry so let me unpack it a little more. A few weeks ago, my team and three other vendors were renovating a broadcast studio. Most of the folks working this gig had dozens of years of experience in the biz.  Some of us…

“The greatest teacher, failure is”… spoken by Yoda in The Last Jedi. Other than the word scramble that is Yoda speak, that thought couldn’t be truer. It’s hard to believe when you’re starting out that screwing up on a gig isn’t going to be the end of your career but may be a leap forward.…

Let’s begin with the defining of these words: WISDOM 1. The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. “listen to his words of wisdom” 2. The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. the body of knowledge and principles…

You can get trapped limiting your growth even if you’re working at the highest level in your industry. At one point in my career I ended up working at ITT Defense as a QC engineer on the Shuttle missions and GPS satellite project (which at the time was a highly classified government satellite system). I…

Embarking on your career journey can often feel like an expedition through uncharted mountain passes in search of hidden treasures. The path is marked by awe-inspiring vistas, daunting rocky terrains, and steep cliffs that can make the journey seem like you’re not equipped and, at times, unworthy of the effort. What adds to the challenge…

MASTER GLASS BLOWING IN A WEEK! I was thinking I wanted to become a master glass blower. I set aside a week or two figuring that’s more than enough time. I watched a few videos on You Tube and it looked pretty easy. Well after several few weeks of burning my hands, wasting a lot…

EPISODE SYNAPSIS: In this episode of skills and technology, Joe Scacciaferro has a warm and entertaining conversation with Bill Gibson, who with 35 years of music industry experience shared with us his anecdotes with Quincy Jones, Bruce Swedien, Sylvia Massy, and more, he loves music, he understands music and he’s passionate about it. IN THIS…

MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS AND EXPANDING YOUR NETWORK Industry friends may not be good industry connections and good industry connections may not be a good friend. Not everything is as you may think it is and it could be too late when you find out. I have tons of friends in the biz that I love…

We live in what is known as the “Information Age .”The transition from the Industrial Age to the Information Age began somewhere around the mid-20th century. This transition was the result of an economy centered on traditional industries becoming an economy centered on information. Which parallels the development of computers spawned by the invention of…

“…I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king I’ve been up and down and over and out…” Remember those lyrics sung by Frank Sinatra? No? Check out his video That’s Life or just the lyrics. This song could easily be your anthem once you decide to choose a life in the…

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: In this episode, Joe Scacciaferro talks with son Frank Scacciaferro on his career and success in production at a young age. Beginning when he was 10 to winning his first Emmy at 26, Frank has had a vast set of experiences through which he has dedicated himself to continually mastering his craft. “I…

Waiting your turn and laying back in a creative collaboration environment is more beneficial then leading the conversation. The creation of an episodic show, a movie, a play, a song, etc. all need to blend the talents of a diverse group of creatives. It also takes everyone knowing when to execute their particular talents /…

I’ve been told Goldfish only grow to the size of their surroundings / bowl / tank. Whether that’s a myth or not is not going to be decided in this post.  Let’s assume for a minute it’s true. Throughout my long career, in many different sectors of the entertainment production industries, I have met many…

If you’re interested in the entertainment production industry, I’m willing to share my 30plus years battling and succeeding in it. Sometimes being creative is not as awesome as other people think. Let me explain why that’s not true… Some people think being creative is a curse.  I was one of those people.  I had way too…

Knowing people is cool. People knowing you even better. BUT having the RIGHT people know you is the KEY to your success. Meeting the RIGHT People… “How am I going to get in if don’t have any connections?”   “How do I meet and make industry connections?” “I’ve looked on all the online employment sites and no luck.…

Would you believe me if I told you I knew a guy who quit school at 16 and went to work in the Caltech Music Lab. At 18 was handpicked by Tom Oberheim, founder of a leading and pioneering synthesizer manufacture of the same name, Oberheim. This “kid” went on to help design Oberheim’s OBXa,…

Starting your career in a corporate / network environment could be like a non-domesticated animal being raised in captivity while working as a freelancer might be more like that animal trying to survive in the wild. As many of you know, there are significant differences between life as a freelancer and a staff gig. Even…

I want that job NOW… Don’t sweat the WAIT… remember when you were little, driving with the family and asking a hundred times, “ARE WE THERE YET”. NO? How about waiting for your birthday or holiday and asking every day, “IS IT TODAY?”. Still not ringing a bell. I know you know this one, “when…

If you go back through history, you will see a constant forward shift in technology and a dynamic shift in how creatives adapt and expand their creativity with this tech. Before the invention of the camera, the only way to capture a moment in time or the impression of something they saw was by capturing…

Episode Synopsis:  In this episode of Skills and Technology, Joe Scacciaferro receives Dennis Size in his vast experience of over 40 years of experience in the entertainment industry more specifically  in the lighting department take us back in time and explains how was the use of light in the 80’s creating a natural look and…

“Natural Position” is a term used in professional sports to describe a position that an athlete is “naturally” built to play. This natural ability is driven by either experience, physical characteristics or an innate aptitude, as opposed to a position he / she is being forced or asked to play other than their natural position…

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: In this episode of Skills & Technology Joe Scacciaferro and Evan Reinstein dive into the differences and similarities of a music recording engineer and a TV sound engineer. Evan explains how music mixing it’s like painting a beautiful picture, an engineer for TV is not as precise as an engineer for music because…

I’ve been at my career (life) for a long ass time. I’ve had some really amazing moments along the way.  I’ve learned a ton. I developed an insane network of incredible people. At this point in my career you might say, “I made it”.  Made it? Ummmm Yes, I’m proud of what I’ve done. I have even…

The worst advice ever shared is, “Don’t ever change. You are prefect as you are”.  Yea, I’m old but so will you be someday. BUT I’m still professionally relevant and have more work than I can handle. Why? I RECOGNIZE CHANGE, ADAPT TO THE CHANGE and “GO WITH THE FLOW”, as my daughter would say. …

In day’s world most people have lost touch with their instincts or if they still hear that internal voice motivating and guiding them they find a million ways to deny its value. That’s unfortunate because it’s the sole human trait that we all possess naturally and it is the key to finding and fulfilling your…

I know I’ve written about this before but it is so important that I thought I’d do it again. Before you get all, “Your generation doesn’t understand how we get our information. Your old ways take too long to explain and provide more information then I need when I need it.” Let me start by…

A “fresh out” told me her story about having a hard time finding a gig since she graduated. She went back to her professor and asked for advice. The prof offered up this pathetic solution. He told her to fill in the blank and then go for it: I want to be a ____.   How…

THEM: “I learn everything I need to know on TikTok, You Tube or Insta”    ME:“Why? THEM: “Oh that’s because I can multitask and have a short attention span so learn tons in 60 sec bites.” ME: “You know who else has a short attention span… the people that need to remember you after the gig.”…

This past Thanksgiving found me sharing my holiday dinner with some of my broadcast production family. Yes, if you’re watching TV on a holiday many of us are working to make that happen. This blog isn’t about me complaining about working on a holiday or missing being with my family, which I did, it’s about “reflection”.…

EPISODE SYNAPSIS: In this episode of Skills and Technology, Joe Scacciaferro receives the talented musician Joss Bess and he explains his music production method which It’s all focused on breaking down and teaching the core elements of music production. These elements are found in any western song the first one is songwriting arrangement, which could…

Remember saying those words, “When will I ever need to know this…” while sitting in algebra, earth science or any other class you had no interest in. Well, you may not have ever used the exact formulas you memorized for the algebra test BUT without realizing it you probably learned how to solve life problems.…

EPISODE SYNOPSIS:  In this episode of Skills & Technology Joe Scacciaferro has a friendly conversation with the talented Errol Antzis, they both shared their passion for music, good instruments and hard work. Errol has a guitar collection of about 250 instruments. He explains the story behind his guitars and how the was able to diverge…

Them: “When will I stop being nervous at the start of a gig?” Me: “NEVER!!  And that’s a good thing.”   Anatomy of pre show nerves  When I started writing this post I was also in the middle of preparing for a gig at Carnegie Hall, NYC.  My production company, Ferro Productions, was hired to capture a new…

No political affiliations needed or even wanted when you are hired to design, build or work a network political event. In today’s polarized world, frontline production people have to learn to put their personal beliefs aside and focus on the gig. I’m not saying you need to change or compromise your beliefs just focus on…

In the world of entertainment production, the roles of show producers, supervising producers, and production managers can often be shrouded in mystery for those outside the industry. The question I frequently get asked is, “What do these professionals do, and what does it take to excel in their roles?” Regardless of whether I’m working on…

When do you know it is time to quit trying and move on. When is it the right time to jump from the gig you’re presently on to something else?Maybe it’s time to move to something other than the gigs you’ve been doing?Or maybe it’s time to quit and find a new career. Have you…

Does tech drive creativity or does creativity drive the development of new tech? In the 70s creative artists turned a device for playing records, the turntable, into an instrument which became the center piece of a new genre of music. That creative use of old tech, tech that was originally developed to playback music from…

Creatives, visionaries, inventors and “dreamers”, all share one limitation, the desire to create. Yup! You read that right the desire to create is a limitation. Limiting how? You ask. Usually financially!  Most people who have found their “muse” (that word sounds so bougie or hipster. But it serves its purpose here) spend most of their…

When you’re a creative whose craft is dependent on technology, like recording music or creating video, mastering that tech is important.  But mastering tech isn’t the key to succeeding. The real key to success is about knowing your craft.  Mastering your tech tools is unarguably important. Knowing the how, why and where you should apply…

What’s right for me may not be right for you. This may very well be one of the most confusing writings I’ve done to date. Why? Because for the longest time I have been telling you to learn your craft, techniques, style, skills from others in the biz who are and have been successful. Now…

We all know the word, collaboration. We all agree collaboration yields the best projects/products. I have written and lectured a ton about finding backdoors into the industry to meet people to collaborate with and learn from. When you’re leaving a concert or theater play, stop by the sound, lighting video console, and congratulate them on…

A GATHERING OF PASSION AND TALENT  was invited to a gathering of indie film folks. The sponsors presented it as an industry networking mixer. A chance to meet others in the biz, expand your understanding of the opportunities in the biz and maybe attach to a project.  The challenging part of those opportunities is that…

A million years ago, I spent my days designing and studying the creation of sound through the technology of analog and digital synthesizers. My nights were occupied by pushing audio faders and tweaking EQs as a studio and live sound engineer throughout NYC’s recording studios, clubs and concert venues. Without realizing it I was rewiring…

Lights, Camera, Action… Is that all it takes to bring a story to life? Some lights, a camera and go for it? As all of you in the biz know, that’s not even close to what it takes. For those in the biz, this article or post or whatever I’m supposed to call these writings,…

Wanting to Get In to fulfill your dream of being in the production industry? Whether it’s, broadcast, music recording, live events and so much more. These are things you need to know. Production success is built on never quitting… Your journey to success is not going to be easy. Each step of the way will…

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: In this episode, Joe Scacciaferro talks with musician Dave Rosenthal about his early love of music and tech and how that began a successful career. Dave shares his experiences playing with Billy Joel and Elton John, talks about what goes into true live performance, and details how changes in technology have affected his…

Let’s start with one the questions I’ve been asked for the last thirty years by hundreds of different people, “do you need to go to school to be in the entertainment production industry?” Do you need to? No. Should you probably Yes.  Confused? Get used to it, these industries are confusing.   But I have developed an arsenal of insights and…

Before I begin this week’s writing I want to extend my deepest condolences to Jeff Beck’s family, friends and dedicated fans. This week the music industry lost one of its’ most talented and innovative musicians. RIP Beck you will be missed. Many of the positive comments I have been getting on these blog posts come…

EPISODE SYNOPSIS:   In this episode of Skills and Technology, Joe Scacciaferro and Mark Steinmetz talked about the evolution of broadcasting in Covid-19 times and how Mark and his team cover the NFL DRAFT remotely, and how this new clouds production models were you don’t need to be in an studio you can just have a…

Freaking out over a new tech like AI isn’t a new experience. Because change has been part of a creative’s life forever. The threat of AI taking over the whole world or replacing all of our jobs is ridiculous. AI is an awe-inspiring technology. As with all new tech, it comes with the fear of…

The one of the questions I’ve been asked for decades is, “How much should I charge for my time? … What should I say my rate is?” Sounds like a simple question and my answer is usually just as simple, “What do you value your time at and how important is this gig to your…

I spend a lot of time talking about developing your skills, learning the talents that are of value to the industry and Cross Training yourself to perform in different production opportunities. Those are all critical to know but difficult to learn. I say, difficult to learn, not because you don’t have the aptitude to learn…

If you’ve been in the industry as long as I have, you have heard those phrases for years. And every time I hear them, I laugh. Based on that theory, your contribution to the industry is about an HOUR! The hour when you’re not considered young, and you’re not considered old. When you’re just starting…

“That’s it for me! I screwed that up BIG TIME!!” When you’re in the midst of a crisis, whether it’s a job that didn’t work out, a gig you screwed up, or even something you got blamed for that wasn’t your fault. Don’t dwell on the mess.   Make a list of what you learned. The…

You know that feeling the first time you found yourself out in the woods completely out of your element and the temperature dropped to below freezing.  Your face and hands started becoming numb. The only chance to make it through the night was to try and start a fire, but how? When you started looking for…

When we look back to how things were done in the past, we usually say, “wow they must have loved what they did because it took so much time and work to accomplish.” Now imagen seventy-five years from now what people will say about us, “wow they must have loved what they did because it…

Creative people come in all shapes and flavors.  Accountants can be a creative. A doctor, a teacher and of course writers, painters, musicians etc. are all creative.   Being a creative means you see and think about things differently.  You see new ways of doing old things, henry ford for example took the horse and wagon and thought “automobile”.  George Lucas saw the 1950’s western the…

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: In this episode, Joe Scacciaferro talks with Mike Fortunato, longtime music for television A2. In sharing his vast experience working in musical production, Mike explains what his role entails and it’s importance for any live event. Mike also shares some of the numerous events and places he’s worked on including some of his…

If you follow people’s social media accounts in the production entertainment industries, you’d think everyone, everyday are living the best life.  Everything goes their way. And every day is successful and loaded with adventures. That’s not to say everyone’s post are Bull Sh** T. There are a lot of people doing cool gigs.  Just not every minute…

Just because… Just because you’ve been at this for decades doesn’t mean you have aged out. Just because your old ways have been replaced with new ways doesn’t mean you’ve aged out. Just because you hear new words doesn’t mean you don’t understand what is being said. Just because you don’t understand “why” things are now being done a different way doesn’t mean the way things were done…

Throughout my career’s early years, all I heard was, “You need more experience.” We all know the catch twenty-two about acquiring experience, “How do you get it if no one will give you a shot without it?” First, having experience doesn’t mean they are good at their job. It doesn’t even mean they know anything…

Don’t know anything about the pain of giving birth or having a child grow inside you for nine months? Neither do I! But I do know about the pain and discomfort about giving birth to your career in the entertainment industry. The first 2 to 3 years are killer.  Every successful person is the biz didn’t…

There is no question advice is a key to learning and succeeding.  Whether it is advice on how to best overcome an immediate problem or a better way to operate a piece of gear, relationships, or career paths. Almost anything you can think of is better played with advice. But just like Ben and Jerry’s…

“Receiving an award or individual recognition for a collaborative effort is unfair”. You would expect this statement to come from a person who has NOT received awards or recognition for their creative contributions. This time is coming from a person who HAS received many such awards and recognitions. During my career I have received five…

Regardless of the project or what everyone else thinks of the project, I always try and bring my best. I approach the project with all my acquired skills and talents. Well… “Hurrah for me” haha. Not so fast. There is another side to this approach. I will never disrespect my clients and or bosses.  But I never let…