Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1487666
24 W I N T E R 2 0 2 3 I C A S Q U A R T E R L Y BB: It's good to be prepared. Ahead of the first meeting with the producers on American Soul, I went back and read up on how Soul Train started and some of the funny stories from over the years. During the meeting, I could comfortably join in the discussion and establish a connection with the clients early on. There are so many things we're concentrating on, so we need to feel confident in our equipment. Often, I'll mix a show or movie mostly from my home studio, and then I'll take it to the stage to finalize. If it's a new room or I don't know how it sounds or I don't know the gear… I'm not going to play the mix for the first time with a client in the room. I want everything to be set and ready to rock and roll when they're there. And yeah, that's on my dime, but it's worth it. JC: That's good customer service, Bob! We want to create the best experience for our clients because they are our customers. And that does mean, yeah, we're putting some of our own time into that. You're preparing yourself constantly, whether you're working on your character, your attitude, or your skill set for that opportunity when you get to meet that producer. LA: For a new room, I would suggest three things. The first is asking other mixers what they think about the room. These are the fun conversations to "nerd out," so to speak. Second, come with a thumb drive of mixes that you're familiar with; Atmos, 5.1, or whatever is appropriate for your project. Lastly, and this might not be possible, but it doesn't hurt to ask for setup time so you can make your own diagnosis of the room and proceed accordingly. It's so much fun to go into a new room and see what you like or dislike, see what it can handle by giving it the stress test. If I'm mixing with a new partner, it's always good to get a dialogue going early on. Facial expressions, body language, and even the tone of our voices play a big role in the client experience. How do you like to carry yourself on the dub stage? LA: I love it when there's a sense of calm when clients walk onto the dub stage. When a client knows what they want, I like to do it for them quickly, but I think I also have an openness for collaboration. I like to give my own feedback and offer options like, "Hey, this could be fun. What do you think?" I want my clients to feel comfortable and trust that the mix is in good hands. That's the vibe I like. JC: If you have a great attitude and do your job well, and yes, the show sounds great, not only do you stay on the minds of those producers, but also the team around that producer. One of my strengths is "WOO"—Winning Others Over. Bringing kindness and grace to your relationships with your clients, that's a big thing. Everybody's got a reputation, right? And you can either choose to let that be your narrative like, "Oh yeah, they're going to be like this." Or you can choose to have an experience where you extend kindness and grace. And who knows, you might actually end up liking them. And they might actually like you because you chose to bring kindness to the project and not that other negativity. BB: I did one mix where an editor was coming in and my partner warned me that he was going to be tough. So, I made the internal decision to make sure I got him everything he wanted. That was going to be my day. I made sure that he knew that I was there for him. I always want to put myself in the client's head, I want to see how you are seeing things. Because once I do that, then I'm going to know what to do. It's my job to say "yes." I want them to feel welcomed and understood. We are working in a creative field and sometimes client comments might not be 100% clear. How do you communicate to keep everyone happy? JC: It happens, and I'm okay asking the question. That's where the communication comes into effect. It took time to evolve to that way of thinking, but I've learned that if I'm very straightforward and ask them, then that's okay. Constantly keeping them in the loop is important, too. I've been in situations where I'll be working this real "I want my clients to feel comfortable and trust that the mix is in good hands." –Lindsey Alvarez CAS