Copyright 2001-2009 The Accessible Planet, Inc.
NOTICE
The following information is intended to serve as a guide to assist blind individuals in developing a professional career in audio production and has been successfully tested. While The Accessible Planet, Inc. intends to provide accurate and up-to-date information in this guide, we do not guarantee results of any kind either technical, financial, or otherwise.

Part I.: Introduction
This guide attempts to provide you, the blind audio producer, with the essential information you will need to plan a professional career in this field of work. The particular circumstances that any blind person may face are extremely diverse, and we attempt to provide guidance for as broad a range of situations as possible. You will have to determine how your own circumstances and goals can be applied to the information provided here.

What kind of information is provided in this guide?
This guide attempts to provide all of the essential information you will need to plan a professional career. Steps along the way include:

• Identifying your business, artistic, and technical strengths
  
• Choosing between employment and self employment
  
• Selecting primary clients
  
• Developing a Business Plan
  
• Making a request for funding proposal
  
• Locating potential funding sources
  
• Designing the appropriate Technical system
  
• Packaging your services
  
• Accessing the existing knowledge base
  
  

What knowledge does a person need for this profession?
A solid comprehension of basic computer skills is absolutely required for this profession. An ability to effectively use word processing software, database software, and internet applications with screen reader technology is strongly recommended before attempting to learn to produce audio products via computers. A clear understanding of the paths that information travels through a computer is necessary. Thorough knowledge of the meaning of terms like RAM, Hard drive, processor speed, PCI slots, ribbon connector, CDR, SCSI, SMPTE, MIDI, analog vs digital, and plug-ins is also important. The most overlooked and underrated necessary information is knowledge of the audio production industry and general business principles. Current market conditions and trends vary from one geographic location to another and from one year to the next, but a good understanding of the actual business environment is a MUST in order to succeed in this profession. Who are the large and small players in the field? What services do they provide? What do they charge for those services? Who are the undeserved customers? In the long run, answers to these questions will far outweigh any answers to technical questions in terms of earning a comfortable living.

How does one obtain an accessible audio production system?
Naturally, there is much excitement involved in discovering that it is possible for a blind person to produce professional audio products. It is important to remember to focus on the most important questions first such as: What kind of audio work will I do? How will I find customers? How much can I earn producing audio?

When it is finally time to ask where can I obtain a system, the important fact is that the average local music technology retailer will not normally know what to sell to a blind customer nor how to provide support to blind customers. It is important to consult with any of the blind audio producers who are currently working in the field before purchasing a system. Sound Adventures sells music technology and understands the needs of blind audio producers. Another company associated with Sound Adventures who can serve blind customers well is MusicGear4Less.com.

In many cases, blind individuals themselves do not have the funds to invest in an audio production system whose cost can range from $ 5,000.00 to $ 25,000.00. In these cases, a blind person will need to create proposals requesting funding. These proposals can be submitted to State Departments of Rehabilitation, local arts organizations, and other nonprofit agencies that support employment for blind persons. Guidelines for creating effective requests for funding are included in this guide.

What kind of equipment is needed?
Usually, the question of what to buy is addressed much too early in the process of developing a career. This question cannot be answered properly until other issues have been resolved such as:

• What opportunities exist in the local audio production field?
  
• What applicable knowledge and skills do you already possess?
  
• What type of audio production work will be your primary service?
  
• What size budget are you likely to have?
  
  

How Does one Succeed in this Career?
As a self employed business person, one needs to develop the usual skills in marketing, sales, and customer service that any successful business requires. It does not matter how much technical understanding one has of the equipment, if the services are not packaged properly the customer will not buy them, and if the service does not meet the expectations of the customer, there will be no repeat business. The truth in this concept may be realized when one considers the tremendous number of poorly conceived products that have sold millions upon millions as well as the great number of brilliant ideas that never succeeded in the marketplace. It really comes down to ability to sell and ability to meet the customers' expectations.

Any successful self-employed person knows that the ability to motivate oneself is crucial for operating a business. Getting started, following through, and working efficiently when working alone are all important skills for success in self-employment. Self-employment also requires a diverse skill set. One must be able to wear several different hats effectively: salesperson, customer service rep, accountant, marketing specialist, engineer, and producer. It is a more difficult road in some respects but holds out great satisfaction when it works and greater earning potential too.

As an employee in the audio production industry, one needs to have the usual kind of professional attitude and work ethic that make any employee successful. As a blind engineer, one ought to be able to work as quickly as the average engineer in the field. It is also helpful to have an added value such as knowledge of music or broadcast standards. Most professionals in the industry already possess a knowledge of technical concepts and equipment, so brilliance in this area does not have the appeal that most would assume. In fact, since opinions about specific gear are very diverse, leaning on one's own opinions about specs and equipment can make for an argumentative environment that is not conducive to a good working relationship in employment situations.

Part II.: Identifying your Business, Artistic, and Technical Strengths
As the cliche goes, you must first determine where you are before you can get where you want to go. It is advisable to consider what skills, talents, and knowledge you already possess that might serve you well in the audio production industry. Below are some brief surveys to help you determine your strengths. The first two surveys, music and broadcasting, are helpful for establishing your own business, but also indicate what value added skills you might have as an employee engineer. Rate your knowledge and experience in the following areas. Use zero (0) to mean no knowledge or experience. use one (1) to mean very little knowledge and experience. Use two (2) as moderate knowledge and experience. Use three (3) to mean extensive knowledge and experience.

Survey 1:

• Ability to read music notation (print or Braille: --
  
• Music theory and composition: --
  
• Performance proficiency on one instrument: --
  
• Performance proficiency on more than one instrument: --
  
• Formal music training/education: --
  
• Ability to tune instruments with precision: --
  
• Ability to identify chord quality (major/minor) by ear: --
  
• Ability to identify orchestral instruments (Cello, Clarinet, etc.) by ear: --
  
• Ability to identify specific instruments (guitar/keyboard model) by ear: --
  
  

Survey 2:

• Proficient at writing radio ad copy: --
  
• Creating and editing sound effects: --
  
• Experience utilizing large SFX libraries: --
  
• Knowledge of music publishing/licensing contracts: --
  
• performance as a voice over artist: --
  
• Education/training in radio voice over: --
  
• Experience as an on air DJ: --
  
• Other radio work experience: --
  
• Ability to identify accents and dialects: --
  
  

Survey 3: