CRAS visits leading LA studios for students
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“We sent members of our staff to the greater Los Angeles area for the purpose of visiting studios and companies that CRAS has had long standing relationships with, and additionally open up new doors for future students and graduates,” explained Kirt Hamm, CRAS administrator. “These visits help place our students in their mandatory internships prior to graduation, and then open potential graduate job placement opportunities. All of this helps our current and future students get a leg up when positioning themselves near or after graduation in some of the industry’s best available pro audio environments.”
During the visit, CRAS staff met with personnel from Touring Video, VSI TV, Evergreen Studios, Outloud Audio, Little Big Room, Transported Audio, TV Pro Gear, Record Plant, Paramount Recording, APG, Sound Factory, East West, Shangri La, Studio Malibu, Internet Money, Remote Control Productions, The Village, and The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood.
“Some of the managers we had never met in person, even though we have had long lasting relationships with them,” said Rachel Ludeman, CRAS employment coordinator. “So, to put a face to the name has a huge impact. We always see it as incredibly beneficial to create a deeper connection with managers rather than just a phone call or an email exchange. Additionally, it shows care and genuine interest when the managers see that CRAS makes an extra effort to come out to LA to visit their facilities and shake hands.”
Getting a better idea of how their business runs, what kind of staff they need, and an overall feel for the culture of the company is a massive key in CRAS better placing students in the right facilities. CRAS additionally got to see its graduates working in the field at some of the biggest studios in L.A.
“We held a CRAS graduate meet up night, where more than 30 of our graduates came out to connect with us and network with each other, and so the overall trip outcome was immense and successful on many levels,” Ludeman added.
“CRAS was the first school we started working with when we opened up in Los Angeles,” said Cameell Hanna, manager of Sound Factory. “For the better part of 10 years now, all our key staff roles have been filled by CRAS students we’ve met through the mentor program and invested in. Last year, one of those students, Roberto Moreno (2017 CRAS graduate), was the assistant on albums that received multiple GRAMMY awards and 17 nominations. Reconnecting with the CRAS team on their last visit and seeing some familiar faces who have been in this with us since the beginning was a great moment.”
