Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandon Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Brandon, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Everyone has their skill sets and it can sometimes take a VERY long time to hone in on your craft or passion. I’ve never wanted the simple job or something that I wouldn’t enjoy. I like solving problems and as an audio engineer, 99% of the job is troubleshooting. Often, you are the only one who knows how to do a certain job during a show, and you don’t always have the luxury of asking for help or for answers when something isn’t working. The toughest part is that in a live setting, you get one take. It’s not like a recording session where you can do multiple takes. So if something goes wrong, it needs to be fixed immediately and smoothly. There’s a lot of pressure, and I think the success I’ve had really stems from not folding under pressure and always finding a solution. You HAVE to care about what you do and be confident enough in your ability to get the job done and execute it well.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Brandon and I’m a professional audio engineer and musician for over 7 years. I started doing live sound mixing in 2020 when all jobs in the film were unfortunately shut down due to Covid. I have 2 degrees in sound design for visual media and audio production/engineering. Initially, I was planning on mixing post-production audio for television but had to find a different line of work thanks to Covid, so the only thing that was available was working in a rehearsal studio. While working in a few different rehearsal studios, I learned an incredible amount in terms of mixing live for artists by mixing their in ear monitors. You also have to work fast and I had to adapt very quickly. This prepared me for mixing live shows at the multiple venues I’ve mixed at in the greater LA/Hollywood area. I’ve always loved attending concerts, and have always been fascinated by how some concerts sound great, while others don’t. I wanted to see live music every night and this was the best way to do so, while also being a part of the show and getting paid for it.
In terms of being a musician, I always enjoyed playing music and it was my escape whenever I needed to focus on my mental health. I write music as a form of therapy and it has gotten me through several dark periods in my life. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to know and hear that the music me and my band make, actually helps others with whatever struggles they too may be going through, and that is the most important aspect of the band and has been so rewarding. We’re currently working on a new album that doesn’t have a release date yet, but it will hands down be the best material that we’ve ever made, and are extremely confident in this upcoming album.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Humility, Dedication, Resilience
Humility: The most important lesson I’ve learned is that you are a piece of a much bigger puzzle in both life and a show. You also can’t go in with the attitude of being the smartest one in the room. You can be the best person for the job and be very good at what you do, but you can’t go in with a cocky attitude. You have to be compassionate and understand that you are one of many pieces that go into making a great show.
Dedication: The 10,000 hours rule definitely applies. I can say I’ve easily hit that number both in terms of playing and mixing. You have to eat, sleep, and breathe music in this profession and without that, you’ll have a very hard time breaking through the mold. I’ve encountered numerous obstacles and if you fold at the first sight of struggle rather than finding a solution, you’ll never make it. 99% of mixing is trouble shooting and you have to fix problems quickly and seamlessly. In live, you get one take, so it better be a good one.
Resilience: Being an actor or musician is the hardest profession in the world in terms of handling rejection. You HAVE to be able to take criticism and use it in a positive way and constantly find ways to improve. I think over the last several years I’ve gotten very good at my craft, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find ways to improve. You have to continue to strive to be the best version of yourself at your position. Don’t change who you are, but also be willing to adapt and find a way to grow and improve
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The number one obstacle I currently face is making that next jump to where the artists I work with become touring musicians. I’ve mixed more shows than I can count in terms of up and coming artists and local shows. Some of these artists are incredibly talented and deserve WAY more recognition than what they’re getting, but like me, they’re struggling to get noticed. You can have the best songs, stage presence or performance, but in today’s world, if you don’t have a huge social media following, you’re never going to get noticed. The algorithm can be very helpful, but it also is killing music in terms of finding talent. Popularity is more important than good songwriting and talent now to most industry people because it sells. In my opinion, people have gotten lazy in terms of actually finding musicians that do engage with their audience, despite the size of the crowd, and have some of the best lyrics. So the every day struggle for me, is trying to find a way to make our social media presence as a band, match the popularity of our live shows. It’s also to keep mixing for talented musicians that feel comfortable with you, so they want to work with you and only you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soundhoose.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundhoose/?hl=en
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/soundhoose
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-smith-454087197/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyVbU7vTYA86aa9EbM1u4pQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/soundhooseaudio
Image Credits
Mathias Fau
