Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Mark Needham · Accepted Answer

“Again, there are so many people out there doing it, and to try to really break through the fray, one thing that has worked for me was to get involved (because it’s hard for a major label to hire you for a top artist when you don’t have millions of records sold and have platinum records hanging on your walls), finding unknown bands at clubs and doing development deals with them, [then] going in and mixing their songs.” 
“I was in for an overall percentage on those records; I’ve had great success doing that and probably had artists who sold over 50 to 100 million records. That’s such a good springboard, so labels are knocking on your door instead of the other way around. If you can find the right band who can get signed and sell a lot of records that’s a great way to break through and become a known Engineer.”

Question 2

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

Mark Needham · Accepted Answer

“I see a lot of people who want to do it who then will train for a while, then expect jobs to just start flowing to them. There’s a lot more to the process than that. You really have to be out hustling for this work every day because there are always 100 people underneath you who want to work as well. Being proactive, out at clubs, meeting bands, and socializing is the best way. Networking is something a lot of people miss.”

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Mark Needham · Accepted Answer

“People don’t ask how hard the job really is. They think this is glamorous, and in some ways it is — I mean, this is what I love to do so I’d be doing it anyway. I started for very little money at first.” 
“It’s the same as being a Rock Star; a lot of people aspire to it, then they get a big deal and they’re like ‘Oh my God, I’ve been on tour for two years and haven’t seen my home and I’m stuck on this smelly bus.” 
“There are certainly a lot of unglamorous aspects and very hard hours and I don’t know if people understand that.”
“Also, be prepared for the ups and downs — it’s not like a regular job with a salary and a health plan. I’ve always worked for myself and I see how there could be some comfort in that, knowing ‘Next week I’ll get a paycheck,’ however, that’s not always the case going into this.”

Question 4

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Mark Needham · Accepted Answer

“The passion for doing it.”

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