Q Division’s Recording Studio internship and trainee program is intense, comprehensive, and ultimately, very rewarding. Interns see how a professional studio is operated and learn how to run sessions smoothly – in addition to learning how to operate a vast array of equipment. Possibly the most important experience is learning how to interact with artists, producers, engineers in a creative and productive environment.
IMPORTANT! Our internship/trainee program is UNPAID:
An Intern receives college credit in exchange for the experience of learning in a professional recording studio environment and all that entails. Trainees are learning the job a recording engineer and/or a producer – and will learn by watching and helping on active sessions (Trainees are not receiving college/high school credit – but they can be attending a school).
From our perspective, these titles are interchangeable, and all interns/trainees receive one on one tutoring from our staff and can participate in occasional group workshops (as time allows). In both situations these positions are unpaid. In addition, there is no guarantee of potential employment at Q Division, but all of our staff started out as interns.
What we look for in interns:
- Enthusiastic, responsible, humble, punctual, clean, alert, pleasant, curious, and outgoing individuals.
- A love for music and the people who make the music. Involvement in the local Boston music scene is a plus!
- Knowledge and understanding of basic audio signal paths and equipment (familiarity with instrument and mic cables, for instance), is very strongly encouraged but not a must.
- Knowledge of Pro Tools and/or understanding of professional tape machines is a plus, but not a must.
- The ability to follow complicated directions.
- The ability to complete tasks on your own.
- The ability to lift heavy equipment (30 pounds).
How our program works:
- We regularly accept applications for studio interns, and conduct interviews to fill vacancies as the need arises.
- We have up to 7 interns in our program at a time – but we’re very selective about who we accept to our program.
- IMPORTANT! Interns commit to a full “studio” day a week (the same day every week). A “studio” day can be up to 12 hours. Please make sure you can commit to the same day every week for 4 months.
- We require a minimum of 4 months commitment to our program. This gives interns an opportunity to get more comfortable here before they decide studio-intern life is NOT for them (and it’s certainly NOT for everybody!).
- We review intern performance every 2 months and provide feedback and address concerns. At the end of 4 months we’d decide if continuing in the program will be productive.
- When possible (scheduling is tricky, as we’re an active studio) our engineers conduct workshops where interns get hands on experience in our rooms. In addition, our senior engineers will spend one on one time with you showing you how operate equipment and use the spaces. Keep in mind the entire engineering staff at Q Division began their career here as interns.
What we require:
- We accept applicants who are currently enrolled in a college program in a relevant major/minor (i.e. audio production), AND those who ARE’NT enrolled in any program.
While not all of our interns are in college, and not all of our interns have a technical background, this position does have a large technical component, and we do expect you to learn and internalize a lot of technical knowledge. - Interns must live within an hour drive/commute from the studio. Since our days are very long, we don’t want you driving more than an hour home at 2 in the morning. An hour or more drive might sound like no problem when you’re applying, but after a few months it will start getting old, not to mention dangerous.
- Interns must be able to answer email within 24 hours. If you are unable to do this, please do not apply.
- Interns must own and wear sensible shoes and clothes while interning. You’re just as likely to be climbing ladders or lifting gear, as you’d be tuning a vocal or editing a drum track; please wear comfortable shoes and clothes that can get dirty.
- Interns must be able NOT to TEXT or use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like the entire time they’re in a control room. If you are unable to do this, please do not apply.
Here’s a note from a former Q intern who’s currently working in studios in L.A.:
I mainly want to express my gratitude to you and everyone else at Q. I really can’t even begin to explain how crucial my time there was. I learned so much, from basic studio etiquette and work ethic, to technical things which apply to music and recording in general. Much of what I learned I didn’t even realize I was learning at the time, until I went to a place like Conway and realized that I was already well-equipped to deal with certain situations that less-experienced people are not. I really can’t say I’d be doing half as well out here without having that experience. It really affirmed for me what a great studio Q is, and how good you and the other engineers are at their jobs. So, again, thanks for everything!
To apply to our program, please send your resume (PDF format is best) to Matt Tahaney using intern(at)qdivision(dot)com or click here. Please DO NOT show up at the studio without an appointment or an interview. Please DO NOT call the studio about internships; emailing Matt Tahaney and following the instructions on this page is your best bet for getting our positive attention.
Thanks, and good luck!
(PLEASE NOTE Q DIVISION used to have a separate record company, Q DIVISION RECORDS. THAT IS NO LONGER AN ACTIVE BUSINESS and so is NOT SEEKING or ACCEPTING intern applications.)
