[quote="Art Vandelay"]I might consider heading out west for the classes if I can't find something here. Until then, I'm going to reach out to a couple of veteran TD's I know to see if they might be willing to take on tutoring me until I can get myself in to one the the classes. Thanks again[/quote] If you find someone you want to learn from I would suggest you offer to pay their half-day or full dayrate for their time especially if you are learning in a truck they have access to. That way you will get their undivided attention and knowledge during the time you are with them and show that you appreciate it. It's worth every cent to get trained by a pro and I can guarantee you will make that money back very quickly.

[quote="Bob Ennis"]That being said, I would suggest that your 1st step would be to get trained on one or more of the big switchers that are in use in your area. SONY & Thomson offer occassional classes...some that come to your area & some that you'd have to travel to attend - some classes might be free while others will cost you (SONY even offers a course-on-CD). Self-taught can be great, but you need to be at a facility where you can play in order to eventually teach yourself...the newer big switchers can do so much more & interface with so many other pieces of equipment that if you don't have the basics under your belt, you'll be spending a LOT more time getting up to speed by trying to teach yourself unless you can find yourself a mentor: and in your market the employers don't really want to hire someone that they have to train...you'll have to hit the ground running. If you can walk in the door as someone who may not know the intracacies of the facility but already knows the equipment, then you may have a better shot.[/quote] Bob, thanks for your advice, I really do value your feedback. I apologize for my lag-time in responding. I did a search on both Thomson's and Sony's websites for training classed here in NYC or the east coast ? it seems there's nothing on the schedule in the near term. I might consider heading out west for the classes if I can't find something here. Until then, I'm going to reach out to a couple of veteran TD's I know to see if they might be willing to take on tutoring me until I can get myself in to one the the classes. Thanks again

Latex sales not going so well? I know a wealthy industrialist, A.G. Pennypacker, that may help get you on a Sorny.

Is there a reason you would like to TD and not direct anymore? With the way switchers are getting you kind of have to really like to do it. What's your real name? That may help you find someone in NYC that can help you.

With the equipment that you currently know and being in the market that you are in, I would say that your job search will be limited until you expand your knowledge of current equipment. I am sure that many of the TD's from your area that frequent this site can offer tips on where to look & the skill level you'll need to succeed in your market, but without a broader knowledge of what's out there in the trucks & in the studios you may be severly hampered. If you're looking for studio work in the NYC area, most all of the "big boys" (meaning the networks) are now using the SONY 8000. Trucks & remote work still centers around the Kalypso, and the Kayak is making inroads out there too. You may find a few places who use Ross or one of the older switchers, but the 8000 & Kalypso seem to rule the roost from what I've seen. That being said, I would suggest that your 1st step would be to get trained on one or more of the big switchers that are in use in your area. SONY & Thomson offer occassional classes...some that come to your area & some that you'd have to travel to attend - some classes might be free while others will cost you (SONY even offers a course-on-CD). Self-taught can be great, but you need to be at a facility where you can play in order to eventually teach yourself...the newer big switchers can do so much more & interface with so many other pieces of equipment that if you don't have the basics under your belt, you'll be spending a LOT more time getting up to speed by trying to teach yourself unless you can find yourself a mentor: and in your market the employers don't really want to hire someone that they have to train...you'll have to hit the ground running. If you can walk in the door as someone who may not know the intracacies of the facility but already knows the equipment, then you may have a better shot.