SAE University College Byron Bay audio graduate Ben Rompotis took advantage of the network of SAE campuses worldwide to complete his audio degree in Berlin.
Ben said studying with SAE has unlocked the global music scene for him. When he moved to Berlin to complete his studies, he also took his psychedelic rock band, The Dharma Chain, which was founded at SAE, with him.
‘SAE has been a key to unlocking countless opportunities for me, it’s been truly unbelievable,’ says Ben.
SAE Byron Bay course coordinator, Dirk Terrill, paved the way for a seamless transition to SAE Berlin for Ben.
‘At SAE we truly are a global network of creatives,’ says Dirk. ‘Ben had a very clear goal of what he wanted to achieve, and as an educator I was very happy to help facilitate his transition from our Byron to Berlin campuses.’
Under the guidance of SAE Berlin’s Fabricius Clavee, Ben found himself equipped with all the same resources and support he enjoyed at his home campus, in the middle of building a network – since graduating, Ben has engaged with the Berlin music scene.
From interning at renowned studios like Funkhaus Studios, to his involvement with The Dharma Chain, Ben’s audio engineering skills unlocked many possibilities in the music industry.
Reflecting on the success of the band, Ben said networking is at the heart of it. ‘In Berlin, we had to rebuild our network from scratch. Opportunities don’t simply materialise, you have to cultivate and nurture relationships within the music industry.
Exploring Berlin, Ben said his immersion in Berlin’s music scene has opened his eyes to the diversity of work available to him. He has discovered a knack for orchestrating soundscapes for live events at Privat Club, and Club Dervisionaire, and has since ventured into the realm of sound engineering for films. ‘I really enjoy doing live sound, and the money is good.’
‘I started to network at one of the clubs, and found out about other opportunities through online forums and Facebook groups, which included doing sound engineering for a number of German feature films.’
Ben has found Berlin locals to be extremely adept at speaking English. ‘The language barrier doesn’t seem to have been a problem in Berlin. So far I have found German people to be very comfortable communicating in English.’
For aspiring high school students eyeing a future in live sound or feature film sound engineering, Ben had some sage advice. ‘The audio engineering fundamentals you learn at somewhere like SAE are certainly vital for one’s survival in the industry, but I would also put a lot of weight in being a good person to work with – your distinct personality, along with your collaborative and supportive traits, will set you apart.’
SAE’s audio courses are designed to build the essential skills for a successful career in the creative industries.
Enrol now for September 2024. Find out more: sae.edu.au
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