Meet Ryan and find out about his journey from DJing and working in engineering to launching his own company selling audio accessories. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Ryan
I've always been massively into music since, I don't know, I got my first set of turntables when I was 13. I wanted to understand about sound and music and I wanted to make things because my family are all engineers so I've always, always been involved in the family business as well. So we have always made things.
So I was down doing A-levels three times a week, I was DJing on Thursday and Friday nights and, in between that, I was working about my dad's place. So I got a grounding in education, I got grounding in music and playing to crowds and learning about all that to do with sound and then I was also working in engineering. So I was like, wow, this is amazing.
The first gig I ever did was the sixth form party that we did at school. So we did in a local pub and it was an amazing feeling that I was controlling the music for everyone who I knew. I was DJing a lot – I was DJing maybe four or five nights a week. You know, obviously got to a level where we had contracts and managers and riders and agents and things. I didn't go to university because I was starting to get gigs. You know, people were actually paying me to play records for them.
We make DJ equipment, sound equipment and we've been doing that, well I've been doing that, for about 10 years now. So I started making these little audio accessories, dishing them out to friends and saying "what do you think?" and they were like "yeah, it really helps". So that's how MasterSounds started really.
So when you're starting your own business, there are a lot of things to think about. Even if you put them on a piece of paper, there are always going to be things which come along that you don't know about. Get it down and understand what you've actually got to do and go for it.
When I started, there was no social media but now there are so many wonderful ways of promoting things online. If you want to get into music, then I think it's probably the easiest time that you're able to do it now. If you want to do something and you've got passion for it, you'll never work another day in your life if it's something that you love.
"I got a grounding in education, I got a grounding in music and playing to crowds…and I was also working in engineering."
- Ryan has always loved music and started DJing at a young age
- He grew up in a family of engineers and balanced his education with playing gigs and working for his dad's engineering company
- Combining his knowledge of music and his engineering abilities, he started making audio accessories and giving them to his friends to try. They loved the products and Ryan's business, MasterSounds, was born
- Ryan advises making the most of social media to promote your creativity if you want to get into the music industry.
What to expect if you want to be a business owner
The salary and working hours when you own a business can vary enormously but what's most important is that you work hard and love what you do.
Working for yourself looks different for each person and each business, but in general it means you:
- run your own business and are responsible for its success
- can decide how, when and where you do your work
- charge an agreed, fixed price for your work
- sell goods or services to make a profit
- can hire people at your own expense to help you or to do the work for you.
You can be both employed and self-employed at the same time. You can work for your employer during the day, for example, and run your own business in the evenings and at weekends. It’s important to for advice if you’re not sure if you’re self-employed.
You can , through the government’s business support services, for example, for advice about tax or about how to find funding to start your business.
This information is a guide (source: ).
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: , , and .
Find work experience placements with Workfinder.
Tips and advice
Help with interviews, writing a CV and all things work experience related.
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