Category Archives: Uncategorized

Christmastime….

December 23, 2014Uncategorizedaudio, christmas, monsters, podcast, projects, recording, sound design, workJohn D. Costello

It’s christmas eve tomorrow. I’m in shorts, with the window open, and the fan on. This is kinda strange for me.

I started another job today. My hours were getting cut at the bar so I picked up another job at a pizza place. Owner is from philly too. I thinkI’m gonna like it there and work enough to make decent money.

Sound work is still nill. I keep looking, got a small freelance gig for 2 days left week with the lighting company I worked on halloween for. The podcast I worked on is up! Go to earbudtheater.com. The episode I worked on was “This Monstrous Life.” I did the soundscape for the last segment in Cthulu’s Lair.

Monsters, Podcasts, Sounds

November 21, 2014Uncategorizedaudio, monsters, podcast, projects, recording, sound, sound designJohn D. Costello

Well, Its been almost 2 months of living in Los Angeles. I’ve been to more studios than I can count. I’ve sent more emails than I can count. I work at a bar and a catering/staffing agency. So, yeah, LA is exactly what you would (or should) expect. It still cool. I’m still trying to figure out how to get a sound job, a paying one at least. Yep, got my first job, doesn’t pay but its awesome.

I’m doing sound design for an audio-drama podcast. Its called Earbud Theater, check it out at EarbudTheater.com. Its a fairly new podcast. They don’t have any actual sound people on their crew, just a bunch of people trying to figure it out. They guy in charge seemed to like what i came up with for a soundscape to the upcoming episode about monsters. I’ll post a link when its up.

This seems like its gonna be really fun and a great portfolio piece. The people seem cool and everyone really enjoyed making the show. So I can’t wait to post it and see what people think.

Jobs, Interviews, Life

November 8, 2014Uncategorizedaudio, dream, live sound, los angeles, podcast, projects, recording, sound, start-up, workJohn D. Costello

So I met with a guy who writes for this podcast. They do sic-fi/fantasy/horror audio dramas. Its all unpaid now and done just for fun. They don’t have any real sound guys on their crew so I’m gonna work on their next episode and see where it goes from there. It’ll be fun and cool. Check them out at earbudtheater.com! Download the episodes when I start working on it!

I’m also having a phone interview with PSAV for a part time A/V tech job. Hopefully that goes well and they give me decent amount of work. It should defintly pay well too! If i get that then I won’t really have to work with the catering, which I don’t like doing. I’ll keep the part time job at the bar though. That should give me enough money to pay my bills and enough time to keep looking for a job to turn into a career.

Seems things are working out fairly well. Slow but its going. I still have high hopes for the next few months!

See ya guys.

Busy weekend, woa

October 31, 2014UncategorizedJohn D. Costello

So I got another job with the lighting company. I’m also working at a bar. Last night i worked at the bar until 230, slept for about 4 and half hours and went to the lighting job. Worked until after 11pm. Got home by midnight. I’m exhausted right now. Tomorrow, I don’t have to be in the bar tip 9pm(really weird going to work that late) working until about 230 again then gotta be back at the lighting by 7am. That will give me like 3 hours sleep followed by a 12 hour day. So its hard.

I was so used to do crazy hours in Philadelphia. Hard getting back into it. Trying to stay up later so I can sleep all day tomorrow.

L.A. is cool. Weird. Different. but cool. The labor laws are way different than home. We have mandatory unpaid breaks. It kinda sucks. Like tonight I would have rather worked through out hour break, gotten paid for the hour, and got shit done early. The Cali people are different. I mentioned now taking a break and the one dud was like baffled by that suggestion.

I’m just glad to finally be working again. More production houses to visit and emails to write. Meeting with a sic-fi podcaster next week. Maybe he’ll need a sound guy. Check them out earbudtheater.com.

Exhausted. Have fun everyone.

JOBS!

October 21, 2014Uncategorizedaudio, dream, workJohn D. Costello

So today I did a small job with a lighting company. It was a small gig but it seemed to go well. Hopefully I did well enough to get some more work from them. Tomorrow is going to spent following up w bunch of jobs i applied to. Today i talked to the owner of a studio I gave my resume to, he was busy but is going to call me tomorrow so we can set something up to meet. Also, I have a few people working on getting me onto a tv or film set. At least one should pan out. Hopefully work can come from it. Really glad that there are people who truly wanna help me out.

Other than production work, I start a catering job on saturday. Also, I have an interview at a bar tomorrow and another one at dominos on wednesday. I may bail on Dominos if the bar works out. Figure if I can work at a bar and catering company then I can pay my bills for awhile. Then I can do freelance or as needed production work. Hopefully I will eventually be more steady with production but in the meantime a bar and a catering service seem like a solid job to pay the bills.

Overall everything is going very well. LA is a blast and it looks like I will finally have some income.

See Ya Guys.

A week and a half in L.A.

October 9, 2014Uncategorizedaudio, audio engineer, audio engineering, dream, live sound, los angeles, moving, music, recording, sound, sound engineering, Sound recording and reproduction, start-up, workJohn D. Costello

So, its pretty awesome out here. Applied at a studio and a venue as well as a few restaurants so far. Possibly may get a job at Domino’s. It’s something to pay the bills for now. Tomorrow I have a list of about ten venues and studios I’m going to apply for. They’re all within a few blocks of each other. Over the weekend I’m going to map out other areas to hit. Gonna look at some post-production houses.

Talked to a guy today who seemed really cool. He’s from Mayfair and Father Judge, like me. He’s an established writer out here and seems like he really wants to help me out. He knows a few sound guys and is gonna take me to Fox Studios next week. He seems very Philly-like. So I’m pretty stoked about that.

I also have a job on Halloween with a lighting production company. So, it may not be audio but its a job and its a step in the right direction. Last few days were pretty stressful but today went pretty well. All in all I think it’ll all work out.

In Northeast Philly born and raised…..

October 1, 2014Uncategorizedaudio, audio engineer, blink 182, dream, kevin smith, live sound, los angeles, moving, music, projects, workJohn D. Costello

So, I moved to Los Angeles. It is awesome here! I never want to leave. So, I’m here to follow my dream. Being a bit of a tourist while my sister and dad are here but Thursday starts working. To prepare for this, I’m obviously doing research on places for work. But I’m also looking at things to remind me why I’m here. Im re-reading “Tough Shit” by Kevin Smith. If you want a job in the media arts read that book. Its about another east coast no body who made it. Kevin Smith is a big inspirations to me so naturally I’m also streaming his podcasts, and Tell ’em Steve-Dave. I also brought a stack of his movies along too. I’ve got all the bands on my ipod that made me want to do this as well. This obviously includes Blink 182, my biggest inspiration. They made me want to do what I do. I’ll be blasting some Starting Line, a bunch of PA kids who made it! SO here goes my adventure on the west coast!

It will be hard at first. I’ll miss my home and family. I’ll miss late night drinks with my friends. I miss my cat. But you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. I may have to mop floors and flip burgers for a while. But here its goes.

Mid-Summer Post!

July 15, 2014UncategorizedJohn D. Costello

Well, as expected Eventions is slowing down a bit for the summer. Still working a gig or two a week, tomorrow I’ll be at Sesame Place! So to compensate I’m working as much as I can at Tony’s to keep saving for my move to L.A. My plane ticket has been bought! September 28th I will be leaving Philly! Still need to find a place to live though. But I think it’ll all work out and I’m pretty excited! But between now and then I’m applying for jobs, looking for a place, and just trying to keep busy and save money.

Summertime

May 23, 2014UncategorizedJohn D. Costello

Well, summer is just a few days away. Looks like we will be slowing down a little bit at Eventions. So a lot of this summer will be spent applying to jobs and looking for somewhere to live in LA. September 25 is when I’ll be heading out so I have to figure out a place to live. Hopefully i could even secure a job by the time i get out there. If not then I just gotta find one. It’s going be a big risk but fingers are crossed and I’ve got money saved and doing some research. I should be good for a few months when i get out there.

Last summer in Philly?

May 8, 2014UncategorizedJohn D. Costello

Hey guys,

Well, I’ve been super busy. Eventions has me working about 6 days a week right now so its pretty hectic. Been doing some cool shows and seeing some cool bands. Tomorrow I’m working at the zoo! Its some press conference or something. Other than that I’ve been spending a lot of time researching Los Angeles. I plan on moving there in September. I’ve been looking at neighborhoods to move to and prices and all that stuff. I’ve got a few areas I’d like to focus on but its gonna come down to rent prices. If anyone knows anyone out there who is looking for a roommate let me know! Any other advice for LA would help too, haha. Once i find a spot to live and get out there then I can start looking for a job. So expect a lot of entries on what its like to go from Philly to LA and find a job! Well I gotta get ready to sound check for Hawkapella at St. Joe’s. Talk to you later!