War Stories

Jamey Rogers - Recording Engineer
South Carolina


1. In your job, what are some challenges you have to deal with in relating to “production” people (they will likely know exactly what you mean, production refers to producers, location people, coordinators, assistant directors and pa’s). Another way of asking this is to question how a production person can best help facilitate this person’s job.

Creative differences. In most cases I am the producer. People don’t seem to see eye to eye often and that’s tough to get around, but it usually works out in the end.

2. Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seemed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out [or didn’t work out]. If the story relates to producing or locations, that is terrific.

I was doing a record for a band bout a year ago and from beginning it seemed to be plagued with conflicting opinions causing three days of turmoil between band members and myself. One of the guitar players wanted to change things constantly on the spot and it looked like I was going to have to shut down the whole deal, but it pulled together last minute after they made some compromises. I wasn’t very satisfied with the final product and wasn’t able to do some things the way I envisioned it, but it worked out

3. Do you have any advice for a person starting out in the business, someone who is about to graduate?

Internships. Get one with someone who knows what they’re doing. What you learn in school is basic and knowledgeable, but not like the real world. Also, once you start working, never work for free. Always keep up with technology and never stop learning because it’s a constant battle between you and the next guy.