Introduction
We live in a world filled with content, competition, and comparisons. Many obligations and priorities fight for our attention, and despite our wishes, there seem to not be enough hours in the day to dedicate time to the things we want to pursue or improve upon. The abundance of articles about how to be confident suggests that many people struggle with self-assurance. I notice this often in church audio settings. I am very familiar with the feeling of lacking confidence in my abilities.
When you constantly compare yourself to others, you might feel compelled to find ways to outdo them. This comparison can hinder your own growth and, in some cases, even lead to feeling unmotivated to do anything. As a high school athlete, I often fixated on what went wrong and concentrated on areas that needed improvement rather than taking a moment to acknowledge my successes. Because of this, I found it difficult to view myself positively. There was always someone who seemed smarter, stronger, more creative, or better looking; it was hard to appreciate my strengths when I spent so much time in comparison.
Be Confident The Right Way
How you see yourself is a crucial factor in achieving success. It does not matter your age, background, or upbringing; if you cannot view yourself positively, you may never reach your full potential or recognize your accomplishments. Being confident is not about comparison, it’s about how you see yourself.
However, this does not mean you should ignore areas that need improvement. As audio engineers, we have the unique gift to identify problems and find a solution. It’s essential, though, that issues aren’t the only focus. We should also recognize our strengths and acknowledge how much we’ve developed our skills over the years, how we interact with others, and how effectively we communicate.
We need to reflect on where we are, where we’ve been, and where we are headed. Just like battery functions because it has both a positive and a negative side, we must have a balanced view of ourselves.
A study has suggested that high self-esteem can significantly impact your life and lead to positive long-term consequences. You can read this study1 if you want to know more.
How to be a Confident Audio Engineer
Unfortunately, there is no magic button that can bypass the obstacles you will encounter or eliminate all your negative habits and mindsets. So, how do you become confident? Whether you’re new to music production or have been mixing for many years without significant progress, there isn’t a “one size fits all” solution. However, the keys to confidence lie in being honest with yourself and committing to change. Most importantly, remember that progress takes time. Here are 5 essential things you should know about building confidence.
1. Take an Honest Assessment of Yourself
This principle applies to many areas of life but is often overlooked. The first step you in being more confident is to assess and know where you are. For instance, if you’re trying to sail a boat from California to Hawaii, you first need to know your exact location. Only then can you plot your course. Unless you understand where you are, you won’t know how to reach your destination.
Conducting an assessment involves recognizing both your strengths and weaknesses. If you excel at creating a good drum mix, you don’t need to spend excessive time there. Instead, focus on areas you are not good at.
2. What Area Do You Want to Improve?
After that, identify the areas where you want to improve. Do you need to enhance your technical skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, or organization? There are many aspects related to music production, so whatever you choose to focus on is likely to be beneficial.
I remember several years ago when I started taking audio seriously. I really wanted to improve my ability to achieve a great snare drum sound. At the time, the “shotgun” snare sound was very popular in worship music, and I wanted to learn how to create that sound without using expensive equipment. I didn’t want to rely on tricks or samples that require a lot of financial resources to get; I was determined to achieve that tone with the tools I had.
3. Don’t Rely on Shortcuts
As much as I love technology and all of the gear, I don’t rely on these tools for my mixes. It’s important not to depend on equipment or technology to improve your skills. Instead, focus on learning what you need to grow as a mixer. Taking shortcuts can lead to laziness. It does not make you a better engineer. Understanding how to achieve great tone and create excellent mixes is essential. Once you grasp the rules and the reasons behind them, you can learn to bend those rules to your advantage and be confident about it.
I sought to discover what creates a great snare sound, particularly that “shotgun” snare tone. If I had taken shortcuts, I wouldn’t have learned that a drummer needs to tune their snare properly or how the type of snare and the number of snare wires can impact the tone. Realizing how to achieve certain sounds taught me that 80% of the great mixes you hear come from the source itself, not from the mix engineer. You can only mix with what you’ve been given; trying to mask poor tone won’t fix the problem. If you have great tone, your mixes will shine.
4. Be Confident Now. Progress Takes Time
Very few things change overnight. Progress is not one of them, so it’s important to embrace the process. Progress takes time, and that’s how it’s meant to be. The process is a gift that allows us to celebrate our accomplishments while persevering through struggles. It helps us strip away unnecessary baggage and separates those who have the willpower to push through from those who do not.
In music production and mixing, there is so much to learn that you won’t be able to master everything in your lifetime. We are constantly learning new things, and we should never stop learning. We are not meant to know everything all at once. There is a natural progression to gain wisdom and knowledge, and we should trust that process.
5. Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself
I believe that audio engineers are artists. While we may focus more on the technical side, our work in music production is a form of artistic expression. Our mixes reflect our identities as engineers and as individuals. However, in our quest to be great, we can sometimes be overly critical of ourselves.
It’s essential to have feedback that aligns with the context of our work. Consider whether you are involved in music production as a full-time job, a side hustle, or as a volunteer. The amount of time you can dedicate to your craft should influence your expectations. For example, the expectations for someone mixing once a week should be different from those for someone for whom mixing is a career.
Maintaining the right level of feedback should prevent discouragement and encourage growth as an engineer.
Being Confident is a Process
Learning how to be confident as an audio engineer can be challenging, but one of the most important areas to focus on is consistency. A practical step you can take immediately is to work on your Gain Levels and Gain Structure. To help with this, I recommend reading my post, 6 Steps for Proper Gain Staging, and downloading the Gain Structure Guide. These resources will serve as valuable tools to enhance your skills as an audio engineer.
Being confident is a process. By cultivating a more positive self-image, you can significantly enhance your life. This journey goes beyond music production; it’s also about your personal well-being. With a better outlook on life, you’ll be more motivated to seek positive results instead of feeling stuck on the sidelines.
Remember, change starts with you. Don’t wait for circumstances to force you to change; be the catalyst for that change.