Your Real Competition: It's a Smaller Pool Than You Think
When mix engineers tell me they're worried about competition, they usually say something like: "There are thousands of other engineers out there. How can I possibly stand out?"
Here's the reality check you need: Your actual pool of competitors is much smaller than you think. Let me break this down with some rough percentages from what I've observed coaching mix engineers.
The False Total
Yes, there are thousands of people who can technically mix a song. But let's look at who you're actually competing with:
Start with that big number of "mix engineers" and let's see how it shrinks:
Of all people who call themselves mix engineers:
~40% won't show up consistently
Of those remaining, ~30% won't deliver on time
Of those remaining, ~50% can't communicate professionally
Of those remaining, ~40% won't handle feedback well
Of those remaining, ~25% disappear during projects
Of those remaining, ~35% won't take responsibility for mistakes
Just these basic professional standards eliminate about 95% of your supposed "competition."
The Real Competition
Now, let's narrow it down even further. Of that remaining 5%, subtract:
~60% who won't invest in their skills
Of those remaining, ~50% who won't build real relationships
Of those remaining, ~40% who treat it as a hobby
Of those remaining, ~70% who give up after the first few rejections
Of those remaining, ~50% who won't adapt to industry changes
Of those remaining, ~40% who won't price their work properly
Now we're down to less than 1% of the original pool. See where this is going?
Your real competition isn't everyone with a DAW and some plugins. It's the small group of professionals who:
Consistently deliver quality work
Communicate clearly and promptly
Handle projects professionally
Build and maintain relationships
Show up reliably, day after day
Actively work on improving their craft
That's a much smaller pool.
The Reality of Reliability
Here's something I've observed coaching mix engineers: Simply being reliable puts you ahead of 80% of the field. In fact, my data shows that only about 15-20% of people who call themselves mix engineers consistently meet basic professional reliability standards. I'm not even talking about mixing skills yet – just basic professional reliability.
When clients tell me about their past experiences with mix engineers, they often mention:
Engineers who ghost them mid-project
Engineers who miss deadlines without communication
Engineers who get defensive about feedback
Engineers who won't take responsibility for mistakes
Engineers who are impossible to reach
Engineers who don't follow directions
Avoiding these basic mistakes already puts you in the top tier of professionals.
The Quality Factor
Now, let's talk about quality. Yes, there are lots of talented mix engineers out there. But talent alone isn't enough. Your real competition is the intersection of:
Consistent quality
Professional reliability
Clear communication
Business acumen
Relationship building
Long-term commitment
That's an even smaller pool.
The Focus Effect
Here's another factor that reduces your competition: specialization. When you focus on:
Specific genres
Particular production styles
Certain types of clients
Distinct sonic aesthetics
Your pool of competitors shrinks even further.
The Local Advantage
If you're serving a local market, your competition pool is even smaller. In most mid-sized cities, I typically see only 5-10 engineers who consistently operate at a professional level. Even in major music cities, the number of true professionals rarely exceeds 20-30 who:
Are actively seeking work
Maintain professional standards
Have a good reputation
Are easy to work with
Deliver consistently
Price appropriately
The Reality Check
This isn't about underestimating your competition. It's about understanding that your real competitors aren't:
The bedroom producer down the street
Every person with a pirated DAW
That kid posting mix tutorials
The hobby engineer with a day job
Your real competitors are the professionals who show up, do the work, and maintain standards. That's a much smaller group.
The Action Plan
Understanding this should change your focus from: "How do I compete with thousands of engineers?" to "How do I consistently demonstrate professional value?"
Focus on:
Reliability
Communication
Quality
Relationships
Professional growth
Business acumen
These factors alone will put you in a small pool of serious professionals.
Remember: You're not competing with everyone who can mix. You're competing with those who can mix professionally, reliably, and sustainably. That's a much smaller - and much more manageable - pool to swim in.
