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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…

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…

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.”…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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…

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…