Sketch the Rhyme

  

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Famous.

When did you know you would work in the arts?

For as long as I can remember

How would you describe your work to a complete stranger?

Multi-facetted art. Many aspects of music, audio production, drums

How hard is it to be authentic in the arts nowadays?

It is not hard to be authentic but hard to be noticed and to be able to justify yourself.

Is there a mission to your work?

to be heard

What's your background - are there studies that prepare you for this?

After finishing year 12, I studied for four years in a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Sydney.

What's the first thing career related you usually do each day?

It varies from day to day depending on my current project, but the one thing that is always constant is a big cup of coffee in the morning.

Can you describe an "average" working day for you?

I have a number of jobs, hard to say exactly what an average day for me would be. Though, every job I do is related to music.

What else do you do to pay the bills?

I am a sub-contractor. I do a variety of thing for work, such as; Audio engineering, technical directing, mixing, and a lot of production work for bands.

What's the one thing - piece of equipment, toy, security blanket, – you can't work without?

When it comes to playing music, obviously I need my drum sticks. But, in my everyday work, I can’t do it without my laptop.

What gets you fired up?

TV ads.

Who in the industry most inspires you?

Bands such as “Atmosphere”, who are a two piece hip-hop band. My main inspiration is the late J Diller, who was a production manager.

What in the industry do you despair about?

Music isn’t how it used to be. Becoming successful is no longer based on what you know, but who you know. It isn’t all about music anymore.

What is the best thing about your job?

My job is never the same. Each day is something different and I am constantly faced with new challenges.

What’s the worst?

Once again, my job always changes. It has its up-sides but the result of that is the inability to find stability. I don’t have time to create a strategy for the jobs that I do because they are over too quickly.

What are the top three skills you need in this industry?

You need a specific skill, like the drums or guitar, a financial plan and way of thinking, and clear communication skills. Can I throw a fourth in? You need to be happy and positive.

What advice would you give anyone looking to break into the field?

Be persistent. Work hard to get your point across. You have to really persevere when you are starting out. Don’t be disheartened, there are always going to be disappointments along the way, You just have to be confident in what you are selling and to not give up.

How do you know when you missed the mark?

When you realize that the way that people are interpreting you is wrong.

Which of the below phrases best suits your career development to date and why?

a. "The road to success is always under construction. "
b. "Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor."
c. "Success is best measured by how far you've come with the talents you've been given. "
d. "No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself."

No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself

When do you know you’ve made it?