Ben explains why splitting your life into chapters isn't particularly helpful.
I always wanted to work in audio. I wasn't sure how, or where, or what, but it was the “proper job” I dreamed of.
A love of music (ping)... bedroom DJ (ping)... listening to how films and TV used audio (ping)... discovering the world around me had a soundtrack (ping)... all of these and more fuelled the fact that sound was my passion.
And then I got lucky. I got a great job working in Commercial Production and had a fabulous time doing it. Working with equally passionate people, doing something they loved too was perfect. Eventually I moved to London and worked with some of the biggest agencies and clients who really valued the work that I did for them. I created audio campaigns for a lot of big brands that went out on pretty much every station in the country. I even won some awards - from London Internationals to Campaign Magazine – and would occasionally voice an ad too.
But at the end of May this year, after 26 years, my time at the Media Owner I'd worked for was ended in less than 60 minutes. It was, to say the least, a surprise.
After a few weeks, all the initial feelings and emotions were replaced by two big scary words. What next?
And this is where my newfound dislike of “New chapters” came into being. I’d posted the obligatory LinkedIn post (#NewChapters) and realised I wasn't a fan of splitting my life and career into bite size chunks. I didn't want a new chapter...I wanted a sequel. A new part. A follow up. A similar story, but with a different narrative.
Working with Get Carter Productions is my sequel. A new cast of passionate audio people, who are creative, dedicated and fun.
And after all, that is what working in audio should be.
This isn't a new chapter – it's "The Dark Knight”. Grab your popcorn and take you seat, because “The Godfather Part II” is about to begin.
