The Assistant Engineer's Dilemma: Navigating Credits and Reality When Going Solo

I've been noticing a trend lately that we need to talk about: assistant engineers and mentees leaving established studios and immediately listing all the major artists they've "worked with" on their socials and websites. While I understand the impulse – those experiences are exciting and valuable – I'm concerned about how this mindset affects both their professional development and mental health.

Let's be real for a moment.

Being in the room while someone mixes a major artist isn't the same as being their mix engineer. Working as an assistant on a session doesn't mean that artist is now part of your client roster. This isn't about diminishing your experience – it's about being honest with yourself about where you are in your journey.

The Hard Truth About Starting Over

When you leave a major studio or mentorship position, you're effectively starting fresh in many ways. Yes, you have invaluable experience, technical knowledge, and a better understanding of professional workflows. But here's what you don't automatically inherit:

• The lead engineer's client relationships

• Their years of trust-building with artists and managers

• Their established rates and market position

• Their network of direct contacts

What you do have is a foundation to build from – but it's crucial to recognize it as exactly that: a foundation.

The Danger of Self-Deception

Here's why this matters: When you tell yourself the story that these credits are "yours," you set unrealistic expectations for your independent career. This can lead to:

1. Pricing yourself out of the market that's actually accessible to you

2. Missing valuable opportunities because they don't match your perceived level

3. Experiencing crushing disappointment when your phone isn't ringing with A-list clients

4. Skipping crucial steps in building your own client base and reputation

The Real Value of Your Experience

Instead of focusing on name-dropping, consider the actual, valuable assets you gained:

• Technical skills and workflows from a professional environment

• Understanding of client interaction and studio etiquette

• Knowledge of professional standards and expectations

• Experience with high-pressure situations

• Insight into how successful studios operate

These are your real credits – and they're worth far more than a list of artists you were in the room with.

Building Your Own Story

The path forward isn't about leveraging someone else's client list – it's about building your own. Here's how to approach this transition:

1. Be transparent about your role in past projects

   • Use clear language like "assisted on," "second engineer for," or "studied under"

   • Give proper credit to the lead engineers you worked with

   • Focus on what you learned rather than just who you worked with

2. Start building your direct relationships

   • Reach out to indie artists and local bands

   • Connect with producers at your actual current level

   • Build a network that knows you for your work, not your former studio's reputation

3. Set realistic expectations

   • Understand that building a client base takes time

   • Be prepared for a different type of work than you did at the major studio

   • Price your services based on your direct experience level

4. Leverage your experience appropriately

   • Use your technical knowledge to deliver quality work

   • Apply the professional standards you learned

   • Share insights about process and workflow, not client names

The Mental Health Factor

Perhaps most importantly, being honest with yourself about where you are in your journey is crucial for your mental health. The transition from working at a major studio to building your own client base can be jarring. It's okay to feel like you're starting over – because in many ways, you are.

This isn't a step backward; it's the beginning of your own story. Every successful engineer had to build their own book of clients, develop their own relationships, and create their own reputation. Your time as an assistant or mentee gave you tools for this journey, but the journey itself is still yours to take.

Moving Forward

Remember: Your value as an engineer isn't determined by whose records you were in the room for – it's determined by what you can do for the clients who are actually in your phone book right now. Focus on building real relationships, delivering quality work, and growing organically. That's how you build a sustainable career, rather than living in the shadow of your former position.

The credits will come. But they'll be yours. And that's worth far more than any borrowed glory.