We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Esteven Rodriguez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Esteven below.

Esteven, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Growth is exciting, but from what we’ve seen across thousands of conversations with entrepreneurs it’s also dangerous if costs aren’t watched closely – sometimes costs can grow out of control outpacing revenue growth and putting the viability of the entire business at risk. How have you managed to keep costs under control?

Keeping cost under as I grow is very important to my business. It’s easy to spend money on the latest gear but you’ll end up in debt quickly due to the industry evolving weekly.

One way I keep cost down is I maintain and service my equipment after each project to ensure the integrity of the item or tool so I won’t end up with a failed device on my next project.

If I have a failed or damage Item, I’ll get a replacement and send the damage unit for service. When that serviced unit comes back, Now I have a primary unit for work and a secondary unit as a backup.

Try to buy quality tools for your industry or business. You’ll end up paying less in the long run and guaranteed to make your money on that investment.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello, My name is Esteven Rodriguez and I’m a Professional Sound Mixer. Born and raised from Fresno, California and currently based out of San Antonio,Texas.

I got into the Entertainment industry back in 2011. I wanted to be beat maker. Back in high school, I use to produce in my bedroom for local rap artists. I felt I needed to expand my knowledge and skills as an audio engineer, so I moved to LA for college. I Attended The Los Angeles Recording school in Hollywood, California where I was able to learn from industry professionals. While I was attending school, I was able to get my big break interning at Hollywood studios. I would prep Pro Tools sessions for re-recording dialogue and edit some projects for the tv show LAW&ORDER.

For my clients, I provide the best quality audio on-set. From using multiple microphones to delivering final post audio mixes. People forget how how important sound is when the camera and lights are the obvious visual equipment on set. My sound packages can vary from small content creators to National TV shows. I’ll use small lavalier mics hidden on talent or the most noticeable boom mics on a pole. From 1 channel to 10 channels of recorded audio in a single setup. I’ve done a few films but nothing major yet.

What sets me apart from others is that I understand how the editing process can be when audio elements are distracting or even missing from the story. Unwanted background sounds can ruin your project when nobody else is paying attention when shooting on-set, because everyone is fixated on the talent and cameras. Most projects I’m able to record, I’ll be contracted to do the post audio mixes and be certain that the audio was not compromised. In addition to my services, I provide wireless feeds to cameras for easy editing with less hassle of syncing sound after production. Also, I provide wireless feeds to producers and supervisors to ensure they are listening to quality audio and feel confident is their production.

I’m proud of the people I’ve met on set, both cast and crew and how many people we change lives with the stories we create. Nothing is more satisfying when people view your projects and love it! I continue to learn from others on-set and find ingenutity into my workflow.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy that grew my clientele is networking with the cast and crew. Majority of the TV/Film industry are freelance contractors with multiple projects on their schedule that can possibly lead to your next job. Be nice, pleasant, dependable and reliable to your cast and crew. They will remember you next time when they need to book a sound guy for their next project.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Stay positive and continue forward. Some seasons will be slow when no work will come in. You can’t give up on your business if your want to become successful in your field. Go back to your friends of network and ask them what projects are available. Also, remember to have some sort of saving account to get through droughts.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.productionsoundtexas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/productionsoundtexas
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEsmJUko26KHe5jDN6JR2NQ