Whether it's flipping burgers, shaking signs on street corners or mowing lawns, the jobs available to most of today's teens don't have a high "cool factor." Nor do they hold much promise for long-term career dreams.
At Modesto Sound, things are different.
Modesto Sound, on Helms Lane across the street from the Roseburg Square shopping center, was established as a recording studio for teens and largely run by teens. It provides bands and musicians quality recording for a modest fee — $15 an hour for teens 19 and under, plus $20 per song for mixing — not to mention a fun, productive experience.
The studio also offers a professional audio recording experience to employees, whether they are involved in capturing the music or in the other aspects the business entails.
During November, Modesto Sound and Funworks are putting on a nonprofit concert series, showcasing the talents of several local bands. What's unique about these concerts is that they are mostly teen-run. Just as with the studio's business structure, the concerts are put on by teens for a teen audience.
"Being a teenager really doesn't make you more or less prepared," says Matthew Nunes, accountant for Modesto Sound and a senior at Downey High School. "I mean, this is my starting point, so I feel as prepared to handle the job as anyone else, no matter what their age."
Employing young people and giving them a say in how the studio is run makes Modesto Sound ideal for a company that is generally marketed around the younger generations.
Asked about how her Modesto Sound experiences vary from those of other teens, fund-raising coordinator Paige Arias said: "It is absolutely amazing. The constant interaction with people is preparing me for future jobs, and any job where you are surrounded by music is a good job.
"The atmosphere is perfect, and it is awesome to be involved in such a process," said Arias, a Downey High senior.
Brenda Francis, founder of Modesto Sound, credits her teen-based studio with making every workday exciting.
Her teen employees view Francis as a problem-solver and advice-giver. Her favorite part of her job is witnessing the young bands' excitement for recording, as well as helping others overcome obstacles or malfunctions that might arise on any given day.
The Modesto Sound studio is undeniably for the teens, whether it's someone interested in a career in music production or even a teen music act searching for a studio that offers much more than the bottom line.
On the Net: www.modestosound.com
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