Hi there.

I'm a 24 year old guy with an HND in music and audio technology and some (limited) live sound experience. I've been trying for months to try and make my way into the Glasgow music scene without any luck.

Does anyone know of any good places to try or have any tips or even want to take me on as a runner/assistant? I'll happily work for free to get my foot in the door and get on in the music business.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not gonna try and put you on a downer mate but I have been seaching for a job in a studio for almost a year in Scotland now and the closest I got to it was some work experience with 2 studios and then a Job doing sales for Sound Control which I just lost because the company has just gone into administration. I have written to and called over 60 Studio's in Scotland plus about 10 post-production ones as well. If they reply to your emails your lucky, I got between 5 & 10 replies from 60-70 places I wrote to, all said no and I was only asking for work experience, not a job. I did find out alot of useful information from some studio owners when I called the studios to talk to them. They basically said that unless you get the luckiest break or know someone in the industry there is not a hope in hell of getting a job in a studio in Scotland, the industry up here is far to small, that was the words of 90% of the studio owners. You either have to be prepared to move away or set up your own studio, which, in Scotland is more than likely going to fold if you try to do it full time. I would advise doing little recordings of bands you know locally to try and get a portfolio together to show to studio's when you send a CV or go in etc. However having the eqiupment to actually record them is the catch 22, how many young people can afford to buy say 10-15 mics so they can record a band, then you need a soundcard with mulit i/o's and lets not forget the mic stands and cables your gonna need, oh and of course a decent computer. In the end you need money to build a studio, you need a portfolio to get work, which you cant create without studio equipment etc. It's a vicious circle and everyone in the industry knows it. I am now actively seeking work outside of Scotland but even then it's still impossible to find a job without the right contacts or experience. It boils down to no experience = no job & no work experience. Keep persevering though mate you might get lucky, someone from my college did and is now working as a junior engineer in one of the top studio's in New York, that right NY, USA, luck b*****d,

I wish you all the best in your search mate !