During the start of the professional futures module, I was passively looking for graduate schemes and managed to find one as a studio assistant for a post-production studio in Soho. A company called Pitch & Sync. I was using websites like LinkedIn and Indeed, arts temps etc to find jobs in the industry. I have spent the last three years taking any opportunities that had arrived in my hands for engineering, mixing, mastering/recording. This has led me to many opportunities and learning without fear of failure. A key highlight was after my submission of my audio paper, my lecturer decided that the quality (sonic that is) was great, so I was asked to record a podcast for her and receive payment from art temps. This gave me confidence in knowing my recording /editing/mixing skills were up to par.
Since I had been applying to many jobs, actively emailing studios and receiving very minimal replies, when this opportunity came, I jumped on it and managed to get a second interview after the first, finally ending with being hired on a graduate scheme, part-time for the last 3 months of university going into full-time work at graduation June 1st when I finish my last hand in.
I think this is a great step towards learning the ropes and eventually having my own recording studio, I am learning about how the admin side runs, answering emails, making clients feel comfortable, creating relationships and more importantly the technical sides, recording, mixing, sound design etc. At a very high level.
The next step which is what I am doing is to actively seek to learn and continue my passion for arts and music / sound arts while I leave, I will do this by searching for residences as my job is very relaxed about taking unpaid leave to follow creative goals, today Angus shared a list of residencies and gave great advice, to consistently apply for them makes you able to learn and when the right one comes, because you have spent time writing and constantly being declined it will eventually work.
Some websites are,
https://resartis.org/open-calls/
https://www.artistopencalls.art/opportunities
After reading the open calls I can apply and send an artist statement and what I would do. I need to make sure that I can afford to survive during these residencies or projects as well. And balance the money with payment and getting the project to its highest level.