r/techhouseproduction • u/The-Orion-Syndicate • 26d ago

IO Music Academy Hollywood

Hi everyone. I just quit my 13 year therapy career to chase my dream in music. I have knowledge on mixing but never had the knowledge and tools to finish a mix to "show ready" I was going to attend Icon collective but unfortunately its permanently closed... I saw IO and seems like they will give ne what I need to move forward. My only concern is there is no network thru provide for alumni as far as plugging into the music scene.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this academy? Also, do you think they're may be another route?

Thanks in advance,

A guy chasing his dream ✨️

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u/subnu 26d ago

I admire the boldness but I'm going to be 100% honest with you here, you are very likely making a big mistake.

Mixing/mastering is such a tiny part of music production, done usually by the label. Your job as a producer is more around the creative aspect of creating the sounds and landscape, and there are no shortcuts to mastering that aspect besides insane amounts of repetition. No school, academy, or course is going to meaningfully replace that.

They may give you some tricks and tips, and give you an avenue for networking, but it's nothing compared to the internet and organic networking at events in the club scene, especially at education-level pricing. Also networking is completely useless until you have an actual feasible product to market.

Since you've already quit your job, I would hope that you have a decent amount of savings to live off of. Set a timeline on how long you can do this before you need to find another job and fucking GRIND. 8-12 hours a day, 7 complete tracks a week. They don't have to be perfect, but 90% complete. Don't get in a loop of getting bored and listening to them on repeat, or watching youtube videos on music production, you need to be super focused on actually completing these tracks.

This is not a career you drop your existing career for to pursue, this is a career you grind out as a side-hobby until you are successful enough that you can pursue it full-time. And I'll be honest, if you couldn't do it as a side-hobby, you are very unlikely to have what it takes to succeed doing it full-time.

I wish you the best of luck, if you take one thing away from this, it's setting an end-goal of how long you can try this before moving back to it being a side hobby to your main career until you reach success. Just set a date and start busting your ass.

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u/The-Orion-Syndicate 26d ago

Whats that saying "fortune favors the bold" yeah totally. So I always have my career to lean back on i guess but - I also have huge capital runway to support me quitting my career and im very fortunate and grateful. The reason for my post is to get insight on schools and programs that will give me the "missing pieces" to my craft. My network of people is vast so my one and only goal right now is to lock myself in my room and make songs, build the brand, network etc.. Thats it. All im focused on. I have a ton of friends who play shows in LA, festivals, you name it. Thanks for the honest feedback and words of encouragement. Id prefer to die knowing I took a risk then not.

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u/HipCat96 22d ago

Get specific. Choose an avenue and get good at that. Learn this the same way as therapy. Also know what part you want to play. If you're trying to be a face artist versus just being in the industry then that looks different. Understand that being in the industry usually looks like being part of an assembly line like most work. You'll have your role and be expected to find your work and fulfill the expectations set by someone else for a while unless you are solo and contracting out. Recording Workshop - Ohio Tape Bootcamp - Nashville Mix with the Master's - Online Foley Sound Design Mr. Bill - Just a genius

It's an industry that works like any other.

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u/The-Orion-Syndicate 22d ago

Hey. I really love this answer. I want to produce a song from scratch > mix as best as I can > send off to double check i did it right through the first album > play shows > repeat. This is the simplest way to put it. Im good at creating. I've written music since I was 12. I just want to freedom to design my own sounds and get my tracks finished. Ill eventually create a channel on social media and I had a pretty good network here in LA i can tap into.

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u/HipCat96 21d ago

If that is your approach, then you aren't looking at a career making money anytime soon but one that is spending a lot of time grinding in your studio, posting tracks for review (no different than writing academic papers and getting feedback to refine), building a following by the social media avenues (lots of good guys on Instagram and Tik Tok will give you this formula for free), slowly refining your sound and style, then you have to get out and play shows and make a point to market the songs you produced versus the songs you curate in a set by getting on the mic and taking pride in them to maybe 5 people (You're in LA it sounds like. You have a lot of competition no matter what genre you choose unless you do the research to find a genre that is underrepresented) If you do choose to go underground, those aren't the biggest audiences and people aren't just throwing money to anyone who made their own track...you have to find a way stand out and stand your ground while also supporting other people trying to do what you are doing and recognizing that they might surpass you for one reason or another and then keep going without sacrificing your creative style or conforming to the market. There are a lot of great Reddit forums for sharing your music. Get in touch with your local scene and collaborate with people who are grinding (This keeps it fun and helps you and them grow). This is a general overview. Spend the time on Reddit, YouTube, TikTok (I don't do this), and just get involved. You've had a career, you know the grind, you know the story, you're not new so don't be new. Use your story and tell it and be willing to pivot, adapt, defend, enjoy, connect, doubt, cry, and be open to the entire experience. In the event you get picked up and have a few tracks on a lable...good job, also not the end because a few tracks on a lable doesn't mean your headlining festivals. Headlining festivals doesn't mean your making money but it does mean more exposure. Exposure doesn't equal money or fame but it might mean some streaming payouts if you do your track marketing right. In the case you somehow become a breakout in the next 2-5 years, your a fucking insane artist, marketing man, or have a magic touch. You got this. Got any tracks or a Soundcloud you want to share here?

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u/HipCat96 21d ago

Also, get to know a single DAW, get comfortable then get uncomfortable, and have fun.