Good Fortune Audio exists to bring high quality audio recording at an affordable cost to anyone, anywhere.

Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.

My name is Chris Galvez and I'm the owner/operator of Good Fortune Audio. I've been recording bands professionally since 2011 and I've been playing and writing music as long as I can remember!

What drove you to choose your career path?

Necessity, pure and simple! I tried the whole traditional education route and it just wasn't for me. I wanted to continue playing music and touring as much as possible, while being able to support myself and not having to starve on the road. Recording and production fit that bill perfectly.

How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?

Initially, I made a phone call. My first real experience within the professional sphere of recording was through a local record label who I heard through the grapevine needed an engineer to help take on some projects the owner didn't have time for. I sat down with him and we struck up a deal.During the two years I was there I cut my teeth and learned more during that time period than I think I could ever have doing a three or four year program in a more traditional learning environment. I'm more of a kinesthetic learner, so maybe school works well for some, but it never did for me.

What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?

Learning! My job is a constant learning process. I've worked with many people, over many genres of music and the one thing that separates the successful and the not-so-successful is their ability and drive to pick up new skills to better their clients work. I've always been an autodidact, so this came naturally to me, and it's still one of the most rewarding parts about the work I do.

What misconceptions do people often have about your job?

That hanging out with cool musicians is all fun and no work! It's great to be able to work with talented people, but they're all still just people.

What are your average work hours?

Noon to 3 am! Or whenever a client wants.

What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?

Hire others to do work you don't want to do so you can focus more on the parts of the job you actually enjoy doing!

What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?

I work harder and smarter than most others do. I'm willing to take criticism to improve my skills, and I'm always trying to think of new ways to either better my image, my brand, my sound, my interactions with clients, etc. Not to say I'm bad at any of those things, but there's always room for improvement!

Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?

I have a single spaced 6 page document I usually send to clients before coming in to record with me, but to keep it brief... Practice, be prepared to be challenged, keep an open mind, and make sure you communicate with all the members of your group/band! Communication is key!

What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?

Dealing with prima donnas in bands can get pretty exhausting. I let it all roll off my back because taking people too seriously will put you in a rut.

What's the most enjoyable part of the job?

Creating! Self-actualization is on the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs for a reason! Being able to take your idea, or another's idea, and capture it in a tangible way is extremely rewarding.

What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?

Unless you're connected, expect to live a pretty meager existence until your name starts to get around. After that, the sky's the limit!

How do you move up in your field?

There's no traditional job advancement like you'll find in other fields. In record production/engineering/mixing/mastering it's all about catching that big one that'll land your name in the ears of people who have deep pockets and cool artists.

What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?

Work hard, never stop learning, and prepare to have zero social life.