Because Maine Music Mill operates as a private, boutique studio, we do not offer unpaid internships or employment opportunities.
HOWEVER, if you’re an aspiring audio engineer/producer, this is what we can offer:
If you book studio time at our standard rates to record your own music (or a friend’s band), we’re happy to consider allowing you to “shadow” the engineering/production side of the process. We can help you learn foundational principles such as signal flow and mic placement, as we work together on your project.
This allows you to walk away with a professional product and real-world audio engineering experience. It also puts you on a track to one day engineer sessions of your own, whether at Maine Music Mill or another studio.
“Real talk” about a career in audio:
While the above is a great way to help you move beyond your bedroom/basement studio, we encourage you to be clear-eyed about the realities of a career in this field:
1. The Odds are Long. Landing a full-time, living-wage job strictly as a “music producer” or “recording/mixing/mastering engineer” is about as statistically likely as a musician getting a major label record deal. The industry has changed dramatically, and the mid-level studios that used to hire staff and offer full-time careers have almost entirely disappeared.
2. The “Day Job” is a Superpower. Maine Music Mill is a success because it doesn’t have to pay anyone’s mortgage. Those who work with MMM have full-time careers outside of audio that provide stability and benefits. These days, the best advice we can offer aspiring engineers is to develop a dual career path.
3. Educational Alternatives. If you are looking at colleges, our advice is to look beyond “Music Production” degrees. Although some institutions do offer quality programs, graduating with a degree (and likely thousands of dollars in student-loan debt) into a field that’s already oversaturated may not be of much help. Instead:
- Consider a Music Teaching Degree: If you are a musician, pursuing a music education degree allows you to immerse yourself in music for 4+ years, make connections with other musicians (don’t underestimate the value of this!) and graduate with a degree that has a clearer path to employment. You can still engineer/produce music on the side, perhaps even minoring in music production.
- Consider Broadcast/Media Technology: If you love the tech side, look into broadcast, IT, or live sound. (In Maine, schools like NESCOM at Husson University are great for this). These fields often have more steady employment opportunities than studio recording.
Parting advice: Don’t stop making music. It is vital for the soul. But build a career and life structure that supports your art, rather than expecting your art to support your life immediately.