Musicians On Tour

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in time for a quick excursion to a music store, an outside restaurant, or a point of

interest in the city, but this is rare. Generally the crew spends their day at the venue.

POINTERS FOR THE JOB SEARCH

Take classes in sound engineering or contact local clubs and see if there is a house

sound person that you can assist for free, to learn the basics. Next, find a local band

or club that needs help with sound, and offer your services to get some experience. As

you become more experienced, give a business card to bands coming into the venue,

or others you see out performing, and let them know you're available. Even if you

work for free in the beginning, get experience. No one wants to pay someone with no

experience.

FERNANDO ALVAREZ, JR., FRONT HOUSE ENGINEER, DIXIE CHICKS

Fernando Alvarez, Jr. was studying architecture at the University of Texas at San

Antonio (UTSA) when an opportunity to work in music presented itself. The San

Antonio native's brother was playing in a local group that needed crew assistance and

Alvarez got the call. "I started with the group as lighting engineer, and then moved to

CASE STUDY:

"There is something my dad told me when I was young: `The minute you

think you're too good to sweep the floor is the minute you need to be

handed a broom, in order to sweep the floor.' "--FA

"I'm always trying to be on top of things so that they [the artist] are not

having to ask for something or wondering why I didn't take the initiative

to get something done. In this business, I think, it's almost 75 percent

networking and marketing yourself, and the other 25 percent is technical.

The schooling will help, but we're looking for someone that is able to rep-

resent our company and themselves in a proper manner."--FA

"People who ask questions and are interested in learning more, and who

will actually go out of their way to get things done, are the people that I

spend my time with. I don't like working with people who just sit and

wait to be told what to do."--RO

"Don't give yourself a backup plan. If you don't give yourself another

choice, then you have to stick to it and make it work, one way or

another."--RO

CAREER

TIPS

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