#136 - Where are they now? Our OTR intern's journey to successful careers!

We started our studio (OTR Studios) 40 years ago with a 1/2" 8 track tape machine, a few microphones, a lot of wire and a dream.  When I think of all the lives we've been part of it's pretty remarkable.  Not just the artists, but those interns that worked with us daily to achieve the same dream.  We are like family.  This last week has been filled with amazing reunions with a few of those.  I thought I'd share a few with you.

Tim Jones - "Timmy" worked with us for about 10? years on and off.  He was one of the few that learned all the systems in our studio and also helped me start BlueCoastMusic.com.  Most recently Tim started a non-profit company called "New Garden Farms" newgardenfarms.org and is doing incredible work. Some of you might think it's a stretch to go from studio to gardening, but anyone that knows me, knows my fascination for citrus trees, blueberry plants, Japanese maples and other gardening delights.  I used to have my interns participate in helping me sweep up and water.  It gave us a chance to breathe fresh air, get some sun and chat about life.  We celebrated every fresh fruit or vegetable we harvested (which was pretty small... LOL).  

Tim texted and came over for a visit this week.  We shared our latest ideas for creative businesses with inspired chit chat for several hours.  He also got to meet our newest assistant, Ariana, and managed to solve a nagging Protools bug with a subtle tweak.  Thanks Tim!

Scott Thompson - Once an aspiring heavy metal guitar player, he made his way to OTR around summer of 1999 after a brief encounter at a pro audio shop in Boulder, Colorado called "Wind Over the Earth".  I knew his boss, Mickey, where I went to hang out after an engineering gig in Denver.  I don't remember the gig, but I do remember the visit.  I was complaining about the music industry (as I tend to do) with one of Mickey's customers who had just bought a LOT of gear.  Little did I know this twenty-something, Scott, was standing close by listening to the conversation.  Long story short, Mickey recommended he come to the Bay Area to work for me.  Little did I know Scott also had a gig as a chef at a famous French restaurant in Boulder.  At Scott's first OTR session he was asked to barbeque the chicken where Kenny Aronoff was the drummer.  Scott was hired immediately because we all agreed that was the best chicken we every had eaten.

The years Scott worked with OTR were some of the most memorable and probably require a book to tell the tales. After several fun filled raucous years, he eventually found his career in sales at Music Link.  There's he's a VP selling all kinds of wholesale instruments, gear and brands to the likes of Amazon, Guitar Center and Sweetwater while living the life near Santa Barbara.  He's also the only one of my friends that knows what a vlookup table is.  I texted him with a vlookup joke and we ended up talking, having some laughs and plotting a future podcast.  

Scott, if you're reading this...  we could probably write a Netflix series on the escapades during those OTR years.... 

Vincent - also known as FKJ - Vincent came to OTR from France when he was 18 based on a recommendation from my co-founder of Blue Coast Records, Jean Claude Reynaud.  It was his first time leaving France.  He was 18 and arrived without a place to live.   We cleared out the isobooth and for a couple of months, Vincent lived with us.  What I remember was his curiosity about everything, making a great cup of coffee for me and Patrick every morning, couch surfing in San Francisco to meet people on the weekends and always asking questions about the analog gear.  I remember the day I showed him my "BluCube" technique of improvising with sound looping through multiple delays, reverbs, and effects to make really weird music.  Apparently, he was paying attention - except he made really wonderful music.  LOL.

When Vincent turned 25 he was in San Francisco and invited me to his concert.  Concert?  Yep... he had sold out the Bill Graham Civic Center (1600 seats)... and was now known as FKJ.  I had no idea he had such a following.... and they were rabid fans.  FKJ took to the stage as a solo artist armed with a saxophone, bass, piano, guitar, keyboards and looping devices to create a soulful chill music that his fans adored.  Vincent backstage, was the same calm, cool and collected young man I always knew.

Now, at 31, he's married, with a child and has returned to play the Civic Center followed by the Greek Theater in LA and many more huge venues.  He's had his new album up on a Times Square billboard and a single that features Santana playing on it.  We messaged briefly this week and made plans to have him back to the studio to record on 2" tape maybe in April before Coachella.

Music is a really tough business.  It's rewarding to know that you may have had a positive effect in someone's life.  We've had hundreds (maybe a thousand) students over these 40 years wo have come to learn at our studio.  I'm hoping to one day to find out "where are they now".  If you're one of my students, send me an email.  Tell me how life is!

Enjoy your week!

Cookie Marenco