Paul Frutiger

Hi! Its a relief to have a site like this that you can interact with people industry specific. Well everyone has a story, and here is mine... In September 2006 was making my way out here to L.A. with a car full of what I could stuff and my dreams. I had arranged to get set up in an apartment already decided. Well I got my first taste of L.A. hospitality. The apartment manager never answered or returned my call. Nobody answered at the building.
Started my internship at Studio Atlantis with a desire to learn more about the hip hop world (which was not my most favorite) and told me there's something different about this style of engineering. Little did I know the unfortunate was about to happen, I was in a major car accident and totaled my car. The studio manager unfortunately decided there was no use for someone without a car. So with little money, and no credit to get a new one I loss my position to the studio.
Little time after a friend of mine from school came out here and we started playing with ideas of projects. He decided to open a small office studio which we talked to bands locally and got them to sign with us to do their albums. I only worked as assistant engineer and co-producer. I went further into business with him as his employee promoting and booking bands. That is were money started getting in the way of our friendship. Eventually that took a sour turn.
I decided to start my own promoting company and do live sound for the clubs I was at. I fell in love with the energy of performances. How sound bounced off walls in different spaces and how to manipulate those sounds so it didn't bleed your ears. The experience of working with bands on the fly and coaching them on how to perform.
During all of these years I had to make some steady money so I worked for a number of catering companies. Every event that had an opportunity to speak with someone in audio I took it. Asked many questions and asked how I can get a chance. Every door was sealed without even a crack.
So with no real professional studio experience over the last 4 years and little interest in sound for small clubs I went back to restaurants. I worked at the Hollywood bowl during one summer and meet the executive sound engineer. I got to know him over a while and was told how to get into the union. Mustering the confidence I decided to go give it a shot. Went to the 2 hour long line only for a 30 sec interview just so they could put my paper on a stack. I never heard from them again.
My real interest now is Post Production and would love to see were it takes me. Although I haven't had much luck finding a studio that will take me in, I'm optimistic that this site might show me a doorway that I may prove my worth.